How to Lift Up Yourself by Lifting Up Others

We’re always trying to find new methods in an attempt to build up how we feel about ourselves. Many of the methods I see people employing are very inward or all about them. This might include reading a particular book, self-meditation or daily affirmations. I am not trying to put any of these methods down. They are all very useful and should be part of your personal arsenal. To me, the most trusted method of building up your self-image is to lift the spirits of another.

I get the most joy out of lifting up a stranger. It could be as simple as a smile and a friendly, “Hey, how are you doing?” Not a mumble while you’re looking at the ground greeting. An honest to goodness, enthusiastic, look them in the eye greeting. Say it like you mean it! That little gesture let’s them know that you really do care and you can instantly see and feel the warmth well up from their heart. That warmness then spreads to your heart.

There are so many little things that you can do to elicit the same response. One of the most powerful of them all is just listening. It is also probably the easiest. The only thing that you have to do is focus your attention on that person and really listen. When they are finished getting out what they really needed to get out, they will feel much better and probably realize that what they were stressing about really wasn’t that big of a deal. They just needed to get it out. By you being there to allow that to happen, you receive their gratitude and warmth which is really hard to beat.

It’s that feeling, that warmth that seems to lift you. You stand up straighter, you fill up with pride and you become much happier. When you’re happy, you have more confidence, patience and self-esteem. You just feel better about who you are and what you’re capable of. In turn, that leads you to do more kind acts, which swells you up even more and so on and so on. It’s really not that hard. Just make it a point every day to try to lift someone up and feel the snowball build!