One of the most enriching things you can do for yourself is giving back to others.
It is a win-win for everyone and the benefits are endless for all involved. We get so caught up in finding ways to make ourselves happy, that we forget the greatest happiness can come from helping someone else in some way.
Helping others doesn’t have to be something huge to you. It can be as simple as helping an elderly person who is struggling to reach a milk carton at the grocery store. I had that happen recently and at first, I almost just walked by, because in the past that kind of gesture wasn’t received well. That day I decided to try again and I am so glad I did. The look in the woman’s eyes was so grateful for something that was really not a big deal to me. I could tell she was in pain and had a hard time lifting her arms up that high. Yes sometimes people don’t want help, they would rather get angry and frustrated at their struggle. That day I made up my mind, that was their decision. My decision was to be of help and to at least offer it. It was also my decision to be okay with it if they chose to be angry at my offer. That is about them not about me.
Seeing the look in that woman’s eyes and her grasp on my arm afterward, made me feel so good about such a simple act. The future opportunities like this are endless and my plan is to offer it as often as I can.
Even while working with The Healing Codes you can include others, that you would like to help with their issues. This is a great way to give easily and lovingly.
Remember even a smile is a gift.
Well….this one has been a hard one for me lately. I have always been a person who wants to help friends and family all the time and never expected anything in return. How do you keep your spirits up when you help people and in turn they take advantage of you or others?? I have gotten a little bitter about people and am tired of getting “crapped” on. I tend to keep more to myself now and don’t want to put myself out there to get hurt or see others get hurt.
That’s a good question Jenny. While we can’t control anything others do we can choose to work on how we FEEL about the situations and our responses to them. Finding the strongest feeling you have about this would be the first place you would start. For instance, if you feel mostly resentment, then that would be in the Love category. Your way of showing love may be by helping others. When that isn’t reciprocated then there may be a feeling that you aren’t loved in return. After going through that for a period of time bitterness may settle in and you become impatient with those people mistreating you. Bitterness is in the Patience category and that would be the next category to work.
If you have the Universal healing code target the emotion that is strongest right now. That is the one you are going to work on first. If you have an earlier memory with the same emotion, then shift your focus onto working on that memory first.
After you release these feelings you are free to make decisions that feel good to you. This may be that you still want to give but now it doesn’t bother you either way if you aren’t appreciated. To others there may be a realization that it is healthy to need a sign that you are appreciated and choosing people that are more sensitive and appreciative of you in the future may be a better fit.
Either way when the underlying emotion is removed you are able to move forward peacefully without judging yourself or others and build the relationships you want. You wont feel that fear of being hurt and will see that when people do hurtful things it is more about THEM and really nothing about you.
I hope this has been helpful to you and if you need any further help let me know.
I can totally relate to this one when I think about my future career as a nurse. It is so hard when all you want to do is help an individual who is struggling but in return they show anger. But I have realized over time that it is not me they are angry at, but instead they are angry about their illness. I think that if you keep that in mind and realize that they are struggling with such a difficult event in their lives, it makes helping them feel that much MORE rewarding! You are so right about this win-win situation because it has really helped me to be more grateful for my life. While little things sometimes do go wrong I stop and think about what other people are going through, and many times my problems don’t even begin to compare! A little perspective can totally change your outlook!
Shannen, what a beautiful outlook you have! I love knowing there are nurses, with hearts like yours, out there working with people that need loving care. The way you have worked through how you feel about these situations is so genuine and giving. Realizing that you don’t have to take responsibility for other people’s emotions is huge in your career choice. Your perspective on this will keep your heart soft even during those difficult times with patients.
God Bless You!
Great post Melissa, I so agree! I have found recently that sharing the knowledge I have gained over years of working on my translation business with others just starting out with their own businesses has given me tons of energy and confidence, a benefit I didn’t expect! Also, in my work as an interpreter at the hospital, I find that even just giving someone directions in the hallway helps me relate to all patients better as human beings trying to navigate the huge, sometimes incomprehensible health system, and I walk away with a spring in my step, having made it just that little bit easier for someone. All this has made me reflect on how when you set out to help others, you end up helping yourself, too! Thanks for another reminder! 🙂
Thanks Ingrid! The gift you give in being able to translate for people, that would otherwise not have the ability to communicate, is a gift all by itself. Talk about reducing stress for another person in that way. The relief they must feel probably can’t be expressed enough. Everyone has different gifts and there is so many ways to give back. We all can feel better from it!