“The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley
As humans, we have evolved to feel pleasure and fulfillment from serving others.Your first reaction may be, "I've got enough problems of my own, I have no time and energy to help others!".
Counterintuitively, helping others helps us deal with our own challenges! When we focus on how we can help others, we shift our focus away from ourselves and thus dwell less on our own issues.
When we take the time to care for others, it strengthens our feeling of social connection and boosts our happiness.
Moreover, you will more likely to find your life purpose/mission if you find ways to serve others and improve the world around you (check out the 5 Benefits of Finding Your Mission In Life). That’s why people often find meaning in parenthood - a large part of it is service to another human being!
Now, you may wonder how you can help others more in your daily life?
Of course, if you have the time and money, you can volunteer and donate money to charity. But there are alternate ways you can help that don't require significant amount of time and money:
💡 Think about all the Ways You are Already Making a Difference!
No matter what you do each day, you are already helping someone in some way or form! Make a list of all the ways you are already helping others in your life right now. It could be cooking for a family member, offering to talk to a friend, or taking the extra-mile to help a coworker at work.
Think about all the ways your role at work and your organization benefits others and society. Then, put the note somewhere visible at work to remind yourself how you are already helping others!
By simply reminding yourself how your work already helps others can encourage you to give more. It can also go a long way in boosting your sense of purpose in your daily life!
💡 Make Yourself Helpful at Work!
Now, think of ways you can offer to help at work. Is there something you could do to make your coworker and manager's work easier? Is there something you could help them with in some way? It could be as simple as taking some extra time to communicate things more clearly or volunteering to set up the next meeting.
💡 Turn Your Hobbies Into Something that Helps Others!
Think of the hobbies you already have. How does it help others or benefit society?
For example, writing this blog is a hobby of mine that also helps to inspire others to improve their well-being. If you don't think your hobbies provides help to others, think of ways you can reshape that hobby into something that benefits others as well.
The easiest way you can use your hobby to help others is to teach others! For example, if you enjoy drawing in your free-time, offer to teach drawing to your friends/family who may be interested.
💡 Share How You Overcame A Challenge!
We all have experience overcoming some challenge in our lives. I encourage you to tell others about it. It could be through writing about it and posting it on social media, or simply telling a friend/family. This will encourage and inspire those who are going through a similar challenge.
For example, during the most challenging times in my job search, I wrote my very first article in this blog: How to Thrive During Job Search. By writing this article, I wanted to help others who are going through the same challenge as me, which also helped me cope with the stress of job-search.
Take Action!
Choose one tip above and put it in practice this week!
Like, Comment & Share (Another way you can help others!)
Please like this post if you found it helpful and share it with others who may benefit from seeing this!
Leave a comment below on how you are helping others and/or what other tips do you have to help others?
You may also be interested in...
Check out the story of a girl with cancer who found new life and happiness by helping others - The Magical Power of Giving: Lynne Dale
Learn the science behind how helping others makes us happier - Helping others makes us happier -- but it matters how we do it: Elizabeth Dunn -
An inspirational story of how we can help others and improve our community: The Easiest Way to Help Other People: Blake Canterbury