I heard Dr. Joe Dispenza say something interesting in an interview recently. The video may have been an old one, I’ll look it up and include the link to the YouTube video at the end of this post. Anyway, to paraphrase what he said: when you are lacking, your efforts are directed toward obtaining more. But if you are living in abundance, you have plenty to give away.

Now, whether you agree with his whole philosophy or not, there’s no denying the truth behind this statement. I believe that everyone on the personal development journey will sooner or later end up at that point where they realize it’s not about what you can achieve, or at least not only about that. It’s all about what you can contribute.

If personal development is about finding fulfilment in this life, then you have to agree that the most fulfilled people are not just those who meet impressive milestones. Rather, they’re the ones who have lifted others up with their success, skills, and influence. You would think this is a side quest, but it’s not. Giving back is part of the process of becoming a grounded, impactful, and genuinely happy person.

If you’re interested in leadership or influence, you’ll have noticed how important this principle is. The most effective and appreciated leaders are not the ones who accumulate the most. They’re the ones who give the most.

So, in today’s post, we’re looking at why giving back is transformative, and how it affects not only your personal fulfilment, but also your ability to lead and inspire others.

Giving Back Expands Your Sense of Purpose

Searching for meaning is one of the biggest struggles in personal development. Reaching goals and earning promotions are great results. Building a business is amazing. But, even if you achieve all that, you may still feel something is missing. That’s usually purpose.

Whether mentoring, volunteering, donating, or simply offering some of your time, giving back gives you the feeling you’re connecting to something larger than yourself. It reminds you your life can matter even outside of your own bubble.

Purpose grows through contribution.

Leaders who understand this aren’t driven only by metrics or milestones. They’re driven by meaning. And people love to follow leaders who radiate purpose.

Contribution Strengthens Your Leadership Identity

Leadership is more than just a title. It’s a behavior. In fact, generosity is one of the defining traits of a true leader.

When you give back:

• You demonstrate empathy
• You show that you value others
• You model the behavior you want to inspire
• You build trust and credibility
• You create psychological safety

People don’t follow leaders because they’re powerful. They follow because they feel valued and supported. Giving back is an effective way of cultivating that kind of relationship.

Think about the leaders you admire the most and what makes them admirable. You’ll probably find that they weren’t just high achievers, they were key contributors. Investing in people, sharing their knowledge, and opening doors for others made them valuable leaders.

Generosity Enhances Your Influence

Influence isn’t about persuasion techniques and charisma under false pretenses. True influence comes as a natural result when you bring value to others.

Something interesting happens when you give back consistently. Your influence grows naturally.

People trust you. You’ve proven your worth. So, they listen more closely. They seek your guidance. They want to collaborate with you. You see, generosity is a sign of integrity. It shows you’re not just in it for your own gain.

In a world where people often seem to focus more on what they can get out of any situation, being someone who gives without expecting anything in return sends a powerful signal. It makes you magnetic.

Giving Back Builds Stronger Relationships

Humans have evolved through connection. We all need each other to function as a society. In that context, meaningful relationships don’t develop because of what you can take. They develop because of what you can give.

If you contribute to the wellbeing of others, you’ll create strong bonds based on mutual respect and appreciation. These relationships form the foundation of your personal and professional life.

This principle is a double-edged sword. Isolate yourself, and you will indeed be isolated.

In leadership, relationships are vitally important. Influence is acquired through connections, and those connections are the result of generosity.

Mentoring a colleague, helping a friend overcome a challenge, or supporting a community project: all these are acts of giving that help strengthen your relationship ecosystem.

Contribution Creates a Positive Feedback Loop

Giving back is truly magical. It doesn’t just help others, it helps you too.

Positive psychology teaches us that acts of generosity increase:

• Happiness
• Life satisfaction
• Emotional resilience
• Sense of belonging
• Overall well‑being

Giving makes your brain release dopamine and oxytocin. These chemicals are associated with joy, bonding, and emotional warmth. The result is a self-reinforcing cycle: the more you give, the better you feel, and therefore the more you want to give.

As a leader, giving back regularly results in higher levels of fulfilment and lower levels of burnout. Giving becomes an energy source rather than a drain.

Giving Back Helps You Stay Grounded

Giving back is a great way to keep your ego in check once you become successful. It helps you avoid getting caught up in ambition, comparison, or pressure. It acts like an anchor.

Giving back reminds you of your values. It puts you back in touch with your humanity. Using your influence to uplift others, you maintain alignment with the person you strive to be, not just the goals you want to reach.

And to be a great leader, you need to stay grounded.

Contribution Fuels Personal Growth

Giving back is altruistic, but it’s also key to your development. When you help others, you are also sharpening your own skills.

• Teaching strengthens your expertise

• Mentoring improves your communication
• Volunteering expands your adaptability
• Supporting others builds emotional intelligence
• Community involvement enhances your perspective

Constantly engaging with new people, new challenges, and new ideas when you give back makes you grow faster as a leader.

Contribution is an underrated personal‑development tool.

Giving Back Creates Ripple Effects

You’d be surprised how some people will remember even the smallest of kind gestures. I once worked in a clothing store. One day, a man walked in looking to upgrade his wardrobe. It didn’t take me long to figure out he had only recently immigrated to my city, and that a lot of the things he was looking at were a little over budget for him at that time. It was a slow day, so I had time on my hands. I took him to a corner of the store where we kept all the items left over from previous seasons, at discounted prices. I helped him pick out shoes, belts, and complete outfits. The clothing was good quality, and it cost much less. He left the shop smiling.

That was it. I didn’t work in that store for much longer. About five years later, I was tending bar in the same city but an entirely different area. I was tired, and feeling a little down that day. A man and a lady walked into the bar. They were both well dressed and clearly out for a good time. Long story short, he was the guy from the clothing store, and when he recognized me, he was so happy to see me. He got all emotional in front of his lady friend, excitedly telling her all about our first encounter. As it turned out, the clothes I helped him choose for a good price had helped him do quite well for himself, and he was still grateful for my help all that time later.

You see, every act of generosity creates a ripple, even the tiny ones you don’t remember yourself.

Your generosity inspires generosity in others. As a leader, you have the power to model a culture of contribution. You can influence your community and shape your environment.

Leadership is not about being controlling. It’s about creating the conditions for positive change to happen.

By giving back, you become a catalyst. Your actions encourage the rest of your team to step up, participate, and make their own contributions. With time, these ripples can transform teams, organizations, and even entire communities.

How to Start Giving Back (Even If You’re Busy)

Start small and stay consistent. It’s not (necessarily) about turning your whole life upside down. You can make a difference even with small changes.

Here are a few simple ways to get started:

• Mentor someone who’s a few steps behind you
• Share your knowledge through writing or speaking
• Volunteer for a cause you care about
• Support local initiatives or small businesses
• Offer your skills to nonprofits
• Donate to organizations aligned with your values
• Practice micro‑kindness: encouragement, gratitude, listening

It’s not all about grand gestures. It’s more about where your heart is.

Further Reading and Research

If you’d like to find out more about the science and philosophy behind generosity, leadership, and fulfilment, here are some great places to find more information:

• The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky
• Give and Take by Adam Grant
• The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
• Harvard Business Review – Articles on leadership and generosity
• Greater Good Science Center (UC Berkeley) – Research on altruism and well‑being
• Stanford Social Innovation Review – Insights on social impact and community leadership

These all go deeper into what makes contribution such a powerful force, and how it relates to personal and professional growth.

Final Thoughts

Not only is giving an awesomely nice thing to do, it’s also a transformative practice that will enrich your life, make you a stronger leader, and expand your influence. By giving, you’ll grow, connect, and find meaning in ways that are impossible through achievement alone.

Surprisingly, giving doesn’t make you lose anything. Instead, you grow. You become grounded and more fulfilled, more aligned with who you want to be. And while you’re doing that, the world around you becomes a brighter place.

I almost forgot: here’s the link to that Joe Dispenza interview with Lewis Howes.