If there is anything I have learned in my 20 years of living it is that thinking about others is an action that has power. Consciously being a little selfless has the capacity to lead to happiness.
Therefore, each person should perform at least one generous action each day.
That may sound overwhelming – selfless actions do not have to be extravagant, world-stopping gestures. The proportion of effort it takes to put someone ahead of yourself for a moment is often minuscule to the impact a good gesture can have. Selflessness comes in many forms, which only take a couple of minutes to accomplish
The stereotypical example that often comes to mind for is the simple act of holding a door open for another person. Of course, this sometimes backfires and the person you are trying to help is left to do that awkward shuffle jog to the door, but the sentiment is there.
Another effortless way to be selfless is to give compliments. Cultivate a mindset of speaking every good thought you have about someone. Eventually, giving compliments will become second nature. Compliments have the power to make someone’s day, and they take no effort at all.
Along the same line, being encouraging works too. More often than not, life can be stressful and to give someone an encouraging word goes a long way in reducing their stress. It shows that you support them and that you have confidence in their abilities to get through whatever life throws their way.
If you are as shy as can be leaving an encouraging note in your path is another idea. I know that I find little notes written all over the place, and while I know they were not directly intended for me they have a positive impact. (Of course, this would best be done on a post-it note left somewhere - defacing public space is never a good idea).
If you’ve got these mastered, do not stop there. Do not be afraid to ask someone about him or herself. This is a great way to show interest, make friends and demonstrate to someone that you genuinely care.
If you are feeling brave, pay attention to the details about people and act on them. This can look like asking someone follow up questions about the trials he or she is facing or spending a couple of extra bucks to treat someone to their favorite coffee drink.
If you are visiting a store, a restaurant, or have just finished a good book, sacrificing a little time to leave a positive review can go a long way. Reviews acknowledge that you appreciate the work and effort someone put into the service they are providing. A good review makes the individual feel good about what they have done, and it has the potential to lead to some positive attention at work.
These ways of being selfless do not take much, but they show that you are interested and invested in the people and places that you interact with on daily basis.
In the wise words of Macklemore, "The quickest way to happiness? Learning to be selfless. Ask more questions, talk about yourself less."
If that is not enough to motivate you, being selfless does have the added, potentially selfish but not bad, consequence of making you feel good, too. There is no denying that making someone feel good makes you glow. Being selfless in little ways benefits everyone involved.
Of course, I am not calling out to you all to drop your own personal wellbeing in the favor of the wellbeing of others, but the power of taking the time to do something for someone else has the capability to make everyone involved shine a little brighter. So step outside of yourself, and be a little selfless.
