Re-discovering Phuket: the art of giving back this season

Posted on February 4th, 2016

Category: Absolute Hotels Absolute Resorts

Making a positive impact every time you travel is truly a rewarding experience, and as Mahatma Gandhi once said: “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. More importantly, when it comes to giving back, everybody wins.

Surprisingly, you don’t need to devote huge chunks of time to doing good activities to reap their benefits. Research shows tangible positive changes by volunteering just 100 hours per year-a figure that works out to a not-too-onerous two hours per week. so on your next trip to the beautiful land of smiles, why not opt to spend a few hours out of your vacation to help someone in need; it could be a child or an animal every little bit truly goes a long way.

Before we share with you a few places in Phuket where you can spend your time giving back, here are some reasons why doing such an activity is good for the mind, body and soul.

1. GIVING TO CHARITY MAY IMPROVEYOUR SENSE OF WELL-BEING Knowing that you sacrificed something such as time or finances to help others in need can give you a sense of purpose in life, creating an improved sense of well being.

2. GIVING BACK CAN STRENGTHEN YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE Selfless giving is a critical component to many spiritual and religious belief systems. Recognising that you have taken action in line with your spiritual beliefs by offering your resources to others in need can bring a sense of inner peace and contentment.

3. VOLUNTEERING WITH A CHARITY MAY RESULT IN PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS After making a financial donation to a charity, you may feel an inner pull to become more involved with the cause by donating your time and skill as well. This will result in the building of your social circle while reaping the physical, mental and spiritual benefits.

4. VOLUNTEERING HELPS YOU TO DEVELOP NEW SKILLS Gaining skills, knowledge and expertise are common side effects of volunteering. Giving others your time brings you interesting and challenging opportunities that might not come along otherwise.

5. GIVING BACK HELPS YOU TO GAIN A NEW PERSPECTIVE Life can be hard and when you’re feeling down, your problems can seem insurmountable. Volunteering can offer a new perspective—seeing people who are worse off than you are, yet still hanging in there, can help you see your life in a whole new light.

6. VOLUNTEERING ENABLES YOU TO SEE THAT YOU ARE NEEDED/ APPRECIATED When you volunteer, you realise just how much you are truly needed. Meeting people who need your help is a strong incentive to continue people are depending on you.

7. GIVING BACK BOOSTS YOUR SELF-ESTEEM Many volunteers experience a sense of increased self-esteem and self-worth, as helping others makes you feel good about yourself, as you know that what you are doing is impacting someone else’s life in a positive way.

8. VOLUNTEERING KEEPS YOU INFORMED ABOUT ISSUES OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE When considering donating to a charity, many people tend to research the issues connected to that organisation.

As a result, you become more educated about social injustices around the world. You may discover new points of view and opinions on topics about which you were previously uniformed. This knowledge may position you to help increase the awareness of social problems among those in your sphere of influence from a balanced and educated standpoint. With all the positives associated with giving back and making an impact circulating through your mind, here are a few charities that we believe will be instrumental in making you feel completely satisfied on your next visit to Phuket.