Each of us can do good things for other people and the world. But constrained by the pressing need to take care of ourselves and our loved ones, we often lack the will, motivation, energy, time, and money to make much of a positive difference to the social order.
Still, you can make a big difference by taking small actions. Over time, your contributions will grow into something bigger and more significant.
We’re all capable of making a change for the better to help other people out but are often too preoccupied with our own problems, difficult life situations, or inner turmoil to reach out and make a difference. We may also feel a little helpless in having a positive influence on a troubled world.
The first step is simple: make a commitment to be more mindful of your actions today. Here are some other steps you can take.
1. Be Kind to Everyone
Kindness is the antidote to distress—your own distress over whatever is happening in your life and the distress of the person you are helping with your kind word or gesture.
You can even be kind subtly. If, for example, you’re a restaurateur, you can use a commercial water softener to improve the quality of the water you use to serve your customers. While no one may notice, you’ve made a difference in other people’s lives.
Kindness is essential for living a good life, a life of nobility, honor, compassion, and goodwill. Without empathy, you cause yourself and others unnecessary emotional pain, often without realizing you’re even doing it.
When you adopt an attitude of kindness, you also drop any beliefs you have that it’s a dog-eat-dog world where you must fight for every little scrap you need to survive. The narrow-minded view that the world is a dangerous place will only make you paranoid and miserable. While it’s hard to deny that terrible things happen to people, your constructive efforts to do what you can to serve life will also make the world a safer place, too.
2. Practice Altruism
Altruism is a philosophical doctrine. It views human beings as intrinsically obligated to help other human beings. It can even extend to deciding to contribute to all of life in whatever ways are made available to be of service.
People often prioritize rational self-interest. But there are also people who prioritize kindness to others. At some point, their expanding sense of compassion includes all living things.
Someone who has adopted altruism as a primary value may decide on a career as a vegan nutritionist, volunteer at an animal shelter, or make small donations from their paycheck to organizations dedicated to healing our planet.
3. Be Gracious
A simple way to open your heart to be a more caring person is to simply focus on being more gracious with everyone you meet.
This is not about trying to win people over with your mastery of social etiquette. That’s a mere side effect. Adopting the mannerisms of a gracious person will give you an opportunity to be effortlessly kind.
Think of graciousness as a spiritual tool to use in your interaction with others. It’s difficult to grumble or complain or criticize someone else when you’re committed to being as gracious as possible. It’s also easier to be patient and listen to someone instead of waiting for them to stop talking so that you can straighten out their misguided view of things.
A Prescription for Happiness
You might be wondering why you should bother opening your heart in a world that teems with individuals and groups eager to exploit you for their own gain. The answer is simple: adopting a benign attitude will help you see past your own frustrated wants and desires. When you’re busy helping others, contributing in small ways to improve the world around you, you no longer feel the egoic need to brew up your own misery. Living as a kinder, more generous, more giving and forgiving person will make you happier.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
