21/06/2013
HELPING HANDS
"No one has ever become poor by giving.”
― Anne Frank
Humans are social animals. We are at our best when we relate with others; giving and receiving. Unfortunately, more and more people are only centred on receiving. We need to help the people we meet everyday – and it has to be a constant decision. From financial help to displaying emotional support there are so many opportunitie...s to take the focus off ourselves for a bit and choose to be relevant to people.
Research indicates that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm, fewer pains and better health. They may even live longer.
• Students who performed five acts of kindness a day increased their happiness
• Providing emotional support to others significantly decreased the harmful health effects of certain kinds of stress among older people
• People who donated money to charity got a boost in a feel-good part of the brain, as revealed in brain imaging research
The following can 'help' you help!
Try to offer first. When people need your help, they'll most likely ask you first, but if you have the chance, try to offer to help before they ask you. This will show that you were willing to help from the start. Take the initiative by offering to help if you see a friend struggling to carry groceries. Or if you see someone getting maltreated, help stand up. Helping people will always make you feel better because it's the RIGHT thing to do.
Put yourself in another person's shoes. Being compassionate can give you a strong reason to help someone else. It can also show people that you really do care about someone.
Volunteer or donate. Being in charitable organizations is a great way to help the less fortunate, like donating food or money to the poor.
Listen. You obviously can't know what you need to do if you're not even paying attention. Plus, people aren't going to rely on you very much if you act like you don't even care what they're saying.
Think about what might happen if you don't. More people will feel more miserable if you just leave them when they need you, and you don't want to see people unhappy, do you? Don't stress yourself too much, but it's always nice to lend a hand.
Observe. Find out what that certain person might like. The help is about the other person, not you, so find out what resonates with the person.
Switch it up! Vary your acts of generosity to prevent the experience from becoming mundane. Look for more ways and also exciting ways for helping.
HELP THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU TODAY!
