“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.”
― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
This world is full of horrible realities and people where no one can rely on one another. Everyone is learning that they have to build up figurative walls around them to avoid getting betrayed. The people are turning cold everyone is too scared to help another due to their past experiences where they were betrayed when all they did was ‘give’.
People think that by distancing themselves from other people they will not only be safer but, they will be happier. That is extremely wrong. Sure, one must cut out the toxic people from their lives who constantly brought them down and made them feel bad, but, this does not mean that they completely isolate them from everyone else.
Although, that is, quite understandably a natural reaction. It is true that one should mind their own business but, not when you see someone in distress. That is the time where you should lend a helping hand and give them hope. Given below are six reasons as to why helping others will make you live better.
1. Human Beings are Natural Helpers
You may have heard before that human beings are “social animals”, and that is true. We cannot thrive by just minding our own businesses because it does not provide personal fulfilment. Helping others makes a person feel good about themselves because that is how we are functioned.
Ralph Waldo Emerson has very nicely put it together by stating that, “the purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well”.
2. Give and Receive
The energy that you put out is what goes around and comes back to you. So, if you help someone, then you will, at some point in your life, receive help when you most need it.
The help might not come from the same person, but it will come. One of the most awful way to help others is by expecting the same from others. Helping is not a business deal or a loan; it is a gift.
3. Helping lowers stress
There is a phenomenon known as the ‘helper’s high’ which advocates that after helping, the helper automatically feels happy. Due to this, the helper also feels his stress levels going down because he feels like he has achieved something positive.
4. A chain reaction of hope
By helping others, you bring a positive change in their lives, which leads them to help someone else, and the chain goes on and on. Not only do you start a chain reaction, but, you also give that person hope that there is still some good left in this world.
5. Purpose of life
A mass of people walks around confused and frustrated because they do not know their purpose in life. Who says that there has to be one purpose for your existence? What if that purpose changes on a daily basis? Maybe on Monday, your purpose is going to be helping a colleague with a deadline, or maybe the next day your purpose is going to help someone buy a sandwich which they were not able to afford.
6. Building Connections
Last but, not the least, helping others brings you closer to your loved ones and builds new connections. It brings the opportunity to meet and get to know new people who might have an amazing effect on your life.
So, for all those folks who have started piling cement on their hearts, in an attempt to avoid feeling emotions and getting hurt, this one is for you. Go out and help others, and notice how good and refreshing that feels.
