Pay Your Rent

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. -- Muhammad Ali


In my travels in the U.S. and beyond, I have the opportunity to meet people from a variety of backgrounds. 


But whether I am speaking to alternative high school students in inner-city Atlanta or corporate executives in a board room halfway around the world, I find one thing to consistently be true: the people who are the happiest are the ones who focus less on themselves and more on how they can serve others. 


Constantly worrying about whether you are getting full recognition for your talents or efforts can be exhausting - and that sort of anxious focus does not bring true, long-term happiness.


People focused on money and fame also often find that their appetites are insatiable - the more they have, the more they want. And they never reach a point where they can truly say, "Yes. Now I have enough to be happy."


But when I see people who are focused on giving back in big or small ways, I almost always find that they are happy - even when they are facing difficult circumstances.


That giving doesn't require you to sell all your posessions and move to a Third World country - unless that is your true passion and calling.


Serving can be as simple as being sure to give away clothing and other items you are no longer using. 


Or volunteering to mentor a teenager or young adult for just an hour a week.


It may been coaching a youth sports team in an area where coaches are tough to find. 


Or spending a weekend building a house for a low-income family. 


It may even mean something as easy as making an effort to share a smile and an encouraging word whenever you can. 


But whatever your "rent," be sure that you pay it. Because that service doesn't just help make the world a better place - it also is likely to make you a happier person.