BLISS
Do good!
Nice. You are alright! Scroll down to find links to volunteer and change the lives of others…
Many people wait until life becomes painful before they change. But it’s also possible to change from a good place. If you are stable right now, you are in a powerful position. You can become someone else’s nervous system for a moment.
A calm presence. A small resource. A reminder that humans can be good. That is bliss.
The strange secret of well-being
There is a robust finding in happiness research:
Spending money on others tends to make people happier than spending it on themselves. This effect has been shown in correlational and experimental studies, including randomized experiments. Read the study from Harvard here.
Even more interesting: the emotional benefit of giving appears across cultures, including people in both wealthy and less wealthy countries.
The World Happiness Report summarizes it bluntly:
prosocial behavior (helping others, donating, volunteering) is strongly linked to well-being, meaning, and social trust.
Make it small enough that it feels almost too easy.
Then do it consistently.
donate 1–5€ each week
buy a coffee for someone
help one person with something simple
volunteer once a month
share a skill you already have
In happiness research this is often described as prosocial spending: using your money (or time) to improve someone else’s life. It’s one of the most reliable “happiness multipliers” we know.
Why giving works (psychology + nervous system)
Kindness works because it shifts attention away from rumination and into connection. It increases a sense of agency, meaning, belonging.
It also activates what many people describe as a gentle warm glow, a state of calm reward. In everyday language:
Giving makes your system feel safe, useful, and connected.
Where can I help?
Berlin (easy entry)
vostel.de
A modern platform for volunteering opportunities across Germany, including Berlin.
FreiwilligenAgentur Mitte
Local volunteering agency connecting people with nonprofit organizations in Berlin.
Berlin Volunteer Offices (Bürgerämter / Bezirke)
Example: Volunteering in Tempelhof-Schöneberg, including info for non-German speakers.
GoVolunteer (Berlin, English-friendly)
A practical overview with examples of volunteering options in Berlin.
Germany (nationwide)
If Berlin is not your city, use:
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vostel.de (nationwide)
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local “Freiwilligenagentur + city name”
Germany has a strong volunteering culture. You will find options for:
refugee support, homeless support, elderly companionship, mentorship, community kitchens, animal shelters, climate projects.
International options (if you want to support beyond Germany)
Choose one:
UNHCR (refugee support)
Doctors Without Borders / MSF
GiveDirectly (direct cash transfers)
I give to Greenpeace and
Voces Y Manos. A great project that supports indigenous youth.
The point is not which one is “best.”
The point is: pick one, do it regularly.