The world we live in is fast-paced, technologically advanced, and highly competitive. We are too busy running the race of reaching success, earning money, and getting a job title that we forget that we are humans and others around us are humans too. We are so caught up in our lives we don’t think about our loved ones who are struggling and might need our help.
Not everyone will directly ask you for help. You need to be compassionate enough to understand when someone is going through a hard time and try your best to help them in any way possible. There are little, effortless things you can do to help others. Helping others is also not always about money. It goes beyond that. Here are nine ways you can help others.
- Comfort a Grieving Person
If someone has lost a person and they are going through a hard time, support them emotionally. Lend them an ear, hug them, and tell them it will be alright. Show them that you are there for them; they are not alone. Just your verbal affirmation can support them so much. In case of such an event, the other person is so overwhelmed with grief and sorrow that they can’t perform some necessary tasks like funeral or memorial preparation. You can do this task for them. Arrange a memorial funeral for their loved one. Many companies provide funeral services depending on any religious preferences, like a Buddhist funeral package or a Freethinker Funeral package, etc.
- Say Thank You
Develop a habit of always showing gratitude and thanking the person who has done something for you. Doesn’t matter if what the other person has done is a major thing or a daily routine thing. Thanking others will make them feel happy, as they will know you recognized their effort. The taxi driver whose taxi you rented and the barista that makes your daily coffee; all deserve your gratitude.
- Teach
Knowledge is power, and it increases when you share it with others. As simple as it sounds, you can teach a person a skill you have or something you know to help them out. Teach your parents or grandparents how to use the latest applications, tutor a friend’s kid for free, teach a kid how to ride a bicycle, etc.
- Provide Company
Many times, people want to try new things or develop better habits, but they are too shy to do it alone. Your friend might want to start a healthy routine by starting exercise, but they want a partner so that they are better able to stick to it. Start exercising with your friend. Provide your company; this will give them your support to take action.
- Praise People Publicly
Kind words are the best way to help anyone. Even kindly greeting people can help lighten up their mood. So try to appreciate and praise others as much as you can and do so in public. Your appreciation will make others feel important, worthy, and confident. And doing it in front of others, like a positive comment on social media, or in front of coworkers, or boss, etc., also develops others’ trust in their abilities.
- Be an Ally
The best way to help someone out is to be their voice and stand up for them. Many people get ignored in this unjust world. People don’t get their rights, and they sometimes don’t even have a voice impactful enough to protest. Take part in protests against discrimination, sign petitions, speak up in council meetings, raise awareness or write letters, etc., to make their voices heard.
- Do Chores for Someone
No doubt, no one has much free time on their hands, but your friend who is working two jobs and taking care of their family might be having a little more tough time than you. You can help them by doing a chore for them. Taking some time out of your routine or even only offering your help when you have free time can immensely lift the weight off their shoulders. Do the dishes, do laundry, clean, babysit their kids, pick them up from school, etc.
- Give Back
You can always help people through donations, charity, volunteering, etc. There are thousands of charities for all important causes dealing with social, cultural, medical, and other concerns to which you can donate. Charity does not always have to be financial; you can donate clothes, food, or any other thing. You can take part in charity walks, provide meals to the needy, distribute food in shelter homes, help a family with their child’s education expenses, etc.
- Listen
Sometimes to help the other person, you have to do nothing but lend them an ear and listen to their problems. Many times, people search for someone they can vent to and let all their emotions out. You don’t have to do anything; just provide them a judgment-free company where they can trust you and talk or even cry their heart out.
When you look at your long-term goals or even your daily to-do list, do you see the goal of helping someone out? If not, you need to re-prioritize your goals. Go out of your way to help others with these nine things.
