If someone does a good deed, they do it out of the kindness of their heart, right?...CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Well, not always.
A worrying social media trend that I’m seeing more and more is people showcasing their “good deeds.”
I’m sure you’ve seen the videos – people filming themselves offering to pay for someone’s grocery shopping or handing a stranger a $100 bill in the street.
The truth is, most of these people are simply doing acts of kindness for the likes.
Are you the same? Or do you help others because you find joy and fulfillment in making a positive impact?
This article will help you decide…
Here are eight signs, according to psychology, that indicate genuine enjoyment in helping others.
1) You’re highly empathetic
Firstly, if someone lacks empathy, they feel no desire to help others.
Someone lacking empathy will only help someone if they believe they will get something in return or if it will make them look like a good person.
But they certainly don’t enjoy doing acts of kindness.
However…
If you’re highly empathetic, when you see someone in need, you can’t help but feel compelled to offer assistance and support.
As this 2021 study shows, people with higher levels of empathy are more likely to participate in volunteering.
This is because empaths and highly sensitive people (HSP) are deeply affected by the emotions and experiences of others.
If this is you, you can put yourself in another person’s shoes, which allows you to understand others’ perspectives.
This understanding motivates you to take action to alleviate the suffering of the person in need.
Once you’ve accomplished this, you will feel great relief, almost like you were the one suffering!
2) You’re observant
Some people are so consumed in themselves that they go about their daily lives not noticing anyone else’s needs.
In contrast, some people are highly observant of their surroundings. They always notice the subtle cues and signals that indicate when someone could use a helping hand.
Whether it’s a friend who seems unusually quiet or a stranger struggling with a heavy load, observant people can quickly identify opportunities to lend assistance.
If this is you, you will pay close attention to the needs of those around you.
And when you see someone in need, you don’t hesitate to offer aid.
Sometimes, you will even go a step further…
3) You actively look for ways to help
Rather than waiting for opportunities to present themselves, if you genuinely enjoy doing good deeds, you may actively seek ways to make a positive difference.
One common interest among people who like to help others is volunteering.
Whether helping at a homeless shelter or getting involved in community projects, people who like performing good deeds are always keen to volunteer.
You may also actively look for ways to help by offering a listening ear to someone who seems upset or stressed.
You do this because contributing to the well-being of others increases your well-being.
This shows that being of service makes your life feel purposeful, which brings me to the following sign…
4) Helping others feels meaningful
If you want to determine if you’re doing good deeds because you enjoy them or because you want something in return, ask yourself this…
How do you feel after you’ve done an act of kindness?
If you feel a profound sense of fulfillment and purpose, you do good deeds without any strings attached.
The joy you experience in making a positive difference in someone else’s life far outweighs any recognition or reward you may receive.
Knowing that you have the power to brighten someone’s day or alleviate their burdens fills you with a deep sense of meaning and contentment.
That’s why, no matter how bad your day has been, doing a good deed never fails to turn your mood around.
5) You’ve experienced acts of kindness before
People also like doing good deeds if they’ve been on the receiving end before.
If you were once in a difficult place and someone stepped up to help you, you understand the positive ripple effect of such actions.
These experiences have instilled in you a deep appreciation for the power of kindness.
As a result, you feel inspired to pay it forward and help those who may be in the position you were once in.
Research studies back this up, too.
Researchers from Northeastern University carried out surveys on over 200 people on the subject of post-traumatic growth.
They found that the more adversity participants had experienced in the past, the more empathy, compassion, and generosity they possessed.
What’s more, people who had experienced help in the past donated more money to charity AND were more willing to help out strangers.
People who have experienced hardships are also more likely to feel the following way…
6) You see everyone as equal
People who see themselves as superior are less likely to help others.
When selfish people see others in need, they believe that it is that person’s problem.
They say things like, “They got themselves in that mess; they have to get themselves out.”
This attitude shows they think individuals who are struggling are lower than themselves, and so do not deserve help.
So selfish people go about their lives only looking out for themselves.
However, people who enjoy doing good deeds see everyone as equal.
They believe in every individual’s inherent worth and dignity, regardless of their background, status, or circumstances.
If this is you, you will treat everyone with respect and compassion.
Whether someone is homeless or wealthy, young or old, you extend kindness and assistance without judgment or prejudice.
Your belief in the equality of all people guides your actions to do good and make a difference.
It also fosters a sense of unity, which is why selfless people are often heavily involved in the community.
7) You have an abundance mindset
People have a mindset of abundance or scarcity.
An abundance mindset is the belief that there is an unlimited amount of growth, opportunity, and abundance for everyone.
A scarcity mindset is an underlying belief that there are limited resources, so there is not enough for everyone.
How do these mindsets relate to good deeds?
People with a scarcity mindset typically refrain from helping others as they believe they must sacrifice something themselves.
Research shows that a scarcity mindset can reduce empathic responses to others’ pain.
People with a ‘mindset of lack’ feel they will lose out if they give someone else an opportunity.
So, these people focus only on ensuring things go well for themselves.
This isn’t the case with an abundance mindset.
But if you believe there is more than enough goodness to go around, you can give freely without fear of depletion or loss.
As a result, giving makes you feel satisfied and fulfilled rather than anxious or worried.
8) You stay true to your word
People who stay true to their word demonstrate integrity and reliability.
And…
A person with high integrity is someone who is committed to living to their core values.
If you offer to help someone and always follow through with that offer, this suggests you value kindness and support.
Whether it’s a small favor or a significant undertaking, you approach your commitments with sincerity and dedication because you know that helping others is the right thing to do.
This is a stark contrast to someone who lacks integrity.
This person will make grand offers to help but fail to follow through.
This is because they are motivated by what they could get in return for doing so.
Because their offer to help comes from an ulterior motive and is not in line with their values, these people are typically all talk and no action.
Final thoughts
Engaging in acts of kindness without expecting anything in return is a noble yet rare quality.
Most people are only concerned about looking like a kind and compassionate person rather than being one.
If you resonate with the above signs, chances are you genuinely enjoy performing good deeds and derive immense satisfaction from helping others.
By embodying empathy, observance, equality, and integrity, you’re helping create a more compassionate and caring world, one good deed at a time.
Lost Your Sense of Purpose?
In this age of information overload and pressure to meet others’ expectations, many struggle to connect with their core purpose and values. It’s easy to lose your inner compass.
Jeanette Brown created this free values discovery PDF to help clarify your deepest motivations and beliefs. As an experienced life coach and self-improvement teacher, Jeanette guides people through major transitions by realigning them with their principles.
Her uniquely insightful values exercises will illuminate what inspires you, what you stand for, and how you aim to operate. This serves as a refreshing filter to tune out societal noise so you can make choices rooted in what matters most to you..CONTINUE READING>>
