In Helping Others, You Help Yourself

What is it that you truly want in life? What is it that you truly desire that will bring you great happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment, and joy? These two questions should be relatively easy to answer, as undoubtedly, we would have many such rewards and riches swirling through our minds, that we would dearly love as part of our life. Now, what about your neighbor though, what is this that they truly desire to have as part of their future? What about your friends? What about your workmates? What about other members of your extended family? What about even your partner? Do we actually know, or even care for that matter, about what others are trying to achieve in their own life? It's easy to become infatuated in, and desperate about, trying to achieve our own goals, that we quite often forget about those around us. After all, we have our own life to live, and we want to ensure that we live that in happiness, satisfaction, and success. Let's be honest here though, most of us live a life of pure selfishness and greed. Sure we may help out others from time to time, acting upon pleas and requests for urgent help, but realistically, unless we are asked to help, or a natural disaster occurs and we feel obliged to help, we normally don't. Why? Because we are too invested in our own interests. Now let's get one thing straight here, there is no issue with striving to achieve our goals, or trying to create a future filled with success, happiness, and prosperity, for ourselves. We are all on borrowed time, and the time we spend alive, we want to ensure we are happy and satisfied. We don't get a second shot in life, so we need to make sure that we are utilizing our time effectively, in order to create a life by our own design. The problem is though, we go totally the wrong way about it.

As much as life is about creating our own happiness and success, we also have a duty to our fellow man and woman. Now many may claim this statement as being complete rubbish, and our only obligation is to look out for ourselves, but what results does looking out for ourselves truly bring? The evidence is all around us, where those who look out for themselves don't tend to flourish in life. Most people I know only truly look out for themselves, they always seek out what's in it for them, and none of them are living a life of great success, or ongoing happiness and satisfaction. It is proven that those who are the most happiest, successful, wealthy, and fulfilled, in life, are those who live to help and serve others rather than just themselves. A classic example of such a person is country pop singer Shania Twain. Throughout the early to mid 1980s, Twain was working hard to establish herself in the music industry, and was progressing successfully, however in 1987, her mother and stepfather were tragically killed in a car accident, and this completely disrupted her plans, to an extent. Twain opted to take on the responsibility of looking after her siblings, whilst her music career took a back step, as she was left to perform only at a local resort near the family house. It's not only a great example of sacrifice, but it is also a fantastic example of living to serve others. For 6 years she remained at the family household looking after her siblings, however she never took her eyes off her ultimate goal of becoming a professional pop singer. Granted that this was her own family she was looking after, and serving, but she could have taken the option to place her siblings in alternative care, whilst she continued her journey towards stardom. She chose to serve as her first priority though. Despite the tragedy and sacrifice that Twain made, life rewarded her abundantly only a few years after, as she made her presence felt big time in the music industry worldwide, gaining herself massive fame, popularity, and success. But she didn't stop her service there. Twain has since gone on to donate to various charities and causes, especially those who assist people and families in desperate need of food and shelter, having suffered through a childhood in hunger herself.

We like to think that life is all about us, but the truth is, it's all about how we help others. Life isn't about waiting for the moment where someone puts their hand up and asks for help, to which we then feel a moral obligation to assist, it's about being proactive in helping others. Even the smallest act of generosity and kindness can go a long way, and make a huge difference to the life of another. I'd love to know the percentage of people who actively part with a portion of their income, and allocate it to helping others, or those in need. I know one thing is for sure, it would be an extremely low percentage. Why? Because people want the money all for themselves, to the extent they basically worship it. They work hard for it, therefore they believe it is warranted that they keep it for themselves, and invest it in themselves. The other common belief is that people have their own responsibility to work hard, make their own money, and look after themselves. Whilst that is true to an extent, we can't just assume we know the circumstances as to why someone maybe struggling financially, or are in desperate need. Because there are, and have been, a select few people who have spent their money on alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, or drugs, we have simply adopted the belief that everyone who cries out for help, spend their money in such a way. It's the same theory when we think about people who are without a job, and living on unemployment benefits, we just automatically categorize them as being dole bludgers and lazy, when many of them are actually genuinely seeking out a job, however are struggling financially in the meanwhile. To put it bluntly, we seriously need to pull her head out of our rear end.

There are millions of people worldwide who are suffering, or in desperate need of help and support, many of whom we actually know dearly, or who live by closely. Perhaps we know their situation and circumstances, but yet we turn a blind eye to. Each and every one of us are responsible for our own decisions, actions, and welfare, there's no disputing that, however there will always be times in life where every one of us need help and support desperately. We shouldn't wait to be asked, instead we will often hear signs of where help and support are needed in everyday general conversation. That's where we need to be proactive, step in, and help. Then there's our job or our business. Whatever work we do, we should always do with the intention to help, benefit, serve, inspire, and uplift others. What product and service do we offer that can help and benefit others? How can I operate a business that can enhance and improve the lives of others through the products and services I sell? Many of us purely think of work as nothing more then an income generation tool, when realistically, we should be viewing it as a wonderful opportunity to be helping and serving others. Each of us could make a truly positive influence on the world through the work we do. If we can contribute to enhancing, improving, and provide inspiration, to the lives of others through the work we do, whilst being compassionate, courteous, kind, helpful, and understanding, in the process, then that is genuine service.

Service is the ultimate opportunity to discover our purpose. Imagine starting a business to which the product or service you were promoting, was creating a wave of positive impact on others. I want to ask you how you would feel about this? You'd have to feel pretty chuffed and proud, yeah? And right there, ladies and gentlemen, is the secret to happiness, satisfaction, success, and ultimately, prosperity. It's funny that just by redirecting our attention away from our own personal gain for one moment, and focusing it on how we would actually feel, if through our work and actions, we created a wave of positive impact, benefit, and help, to others, that we are filled with a sense of happiness, satisfaction, and accomplishment. All along, if we have continually felt unhappy, unsatisfied, unsuccessful, and unfulfilled in life, perhaps we simply haven't been giving or serving enough, or at all. Do we volunteer our time to help local clubs and causes? Do we donate to charity or specific causes? Do we help out an elderly neighbor? It's not about giving to receive back, or giving when your heart's true intention is just to test out generosity, to see if it really does reward you. You must give, be generous, and serve, with the sole intention to help, support, inspire, and uplift others. It may sound silly, but when we live to serve and help others, we then live to serve and help ourselves. It's not about pleasing others, doing what others instruct us to do, or adhering to their advice about what journey we should take in life, it's about helping, supporting, and uplifting them. It's not hard to give, show compassion, be kind and generous, or help others in life. The only thing that is holding us back is our own selfishness and greed, and the longer we continue to harbor these traits, the longer we will endure hardship, unhappiness, failure, and dissatisfaction in life. That's just how life works. Be proactive, not reactive! Help someone today and continue to demonstrate acts of generosity and kindness. Remember, in helping others, you help yourself!

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