Help Others. Help Yourself.

There is a two-word phrase that always put a smile on my face whenever I hear it: be kind. You hear the phrase at the end of every episode of Ellen; it is certainly so much more than just a phrase. Being kind to others and helping them with their problems is always great, especially since you’re also helping yourself in the process.

Aside from the immense happiness that comes from seeing the smile on other people’s faces after you help them, there are actually other ways helping others is equal to helping yourself. We are going to take a closer look at them in this article.

Good Karma

Whether you believe in karma or not, there is a simple equation that makes helping others well worth the efforts. The more people you help, the more people you will have assisting you when it’s your turn to need help. Helping others with their problems is a great way to bond and improve the community as a whole, too.

It always starts with a single person in need. Once you’re done helping that person, you will feel so good that you’ll want to help another immediately; and another one after that. Before you know it, you’re actually affecting the lives of hundreds of people around you.

The best way to start is by helping those closest to you. Close friends or relatives who are struggling with problems are the easiest to reach out to. Offer your assistance and be willing to give them space if they don’t need your help just yet. You will get the ball rolling in no time.

It Can Turn into a Career

There is actually an increasing demand for professional social workers, counselors and community leaders today. The demand for counseling for substance abuse, for instance, has been increasing steadily. As more people try to stop depending on drugs, more qualified counselors are needed to assist them every step of the way.

Universities such as Rutgers Online have been offering counseling degrees for a few years now. You can, for instance, take one of the best substance abuse programs and acquire a degree in social work and substance abuse. The courses are designed to help you acquire the skills and knowledge needed to work effectively as a counselor, preparing you for a bright career ahead.

Make a Difference

It may seem like you’re helping just a handful of people, but you’re actually affecting change on a bigger scale. The students you help as a school counselor, for instance, will soon be the professionals and business owners helping to drive the economy. They may even hire hundreds of other people and affect more change in the process. To make it even better, it all starts with you helping them with the problems of their teenage years.

The financial rewards are lucrative, but the best rewards you can get from helping others is the priceless smile on their faces. This, along with the previous things we have covered in this article, is more than enough reasons to start looking for opportunities to be kind.