Real joy is in choosing to serve, says Vice President

Laying emphasis on the importance of charitable work, Vice President M Hamid Ansari today said that the real joy is found not in being served by others but in choosing to serve.
In his remarks at the inauguration of centenary events of an international charity here, Ansari said that one can redefine the nature of life of an individual by choosing intentionally to help others.
"In helping others, rather than seeking our own gain, we find greater freedom. We are able to break out of the cycle of self promotion and greed. We live lives of less stress, less anxiety and less frustration. We begin to feel more fulfilled and more useful. Real joy is found not in being served, but in choosing to serve," the Vice President said.

Referring to Mahatma Gandhi's famous quotes "the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others," he said that by doing good to others "we are most essentially ourselves".
He said the international charity Toc H has been spreading the message of service to others for a century now.
"The Toc H spirit is to seek to ease the burdens of others through acts of service," Ansari said.
The Vice President expressed hope that the centenary celebrations would provide the Toc H movement renewed vigour and direction and that it would continue to serve the people in the same selfless spirit.

State Ministers K Babu, Anoop Jacob and K V Thomas (MP) attended the programme, presided by Kerala Governor P Sathasivam.