Instead of asking yourself, what do you love? Ask yourself, how are you helping others?
Recently, I watched a beautifully filmed documentary about Ethel and Robert Kennedy. It chronicled their many triumphs and hardships. Following John F. Kennedy’s assassination, his brother, Robert Kennedy wrote a letter to his eldest daughter explaining what had happened. In it, he also wrote words of hope and encouragement that read,
“Be kind to others and work for your country.”
What powerful and compassionate words from a man who just lost his brother. He set aside his anger, despair and loss to loudly and clearly remind himself and his family the importance of service and kindness.
So how are you helping others?
You don’t need to volunteer abroad or become a civil servant to do some good. You can help someone in your everyday life, starting with your daily interactions with family, friends and co-workers. And as an entrepreneur or business owner think about how your product or service can help resolve a problem.
The benefits of helping others might surprise you. Here are some shifts that will take place:
- You’ll stop focusing on problems and become a problem-solver
- You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment
- You’ll awaken your curiosity
- And best of all, kindness is reciprocated. Kindness will ripple far beyond your reach.
There are also proven physiological benefits from helping others. Here’s a Huffington Post article outlining the 4 Amazing Health Benefits.
Bring your natural curiosity, kindness and compassion to your work and life. Figure out how you can make a difference, because through this process you will find purpose and happiness.
Here are some last words I’d like to leave you with from an amazing and inspiring woman.
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”- Maya Angelou
Mishka Alarcon 