In this day and age, when everyone seems to be fighting tooth and nail for everything, it is difficult enough to get what you want and need, let alone think about anyone else. However, it may surprise you to know that helping people is actually the easiest way to get what you want, and that it takes a lot less time and effor than one might imagine. The most difficult thing for people to understand is that when you help someone, you actually gain the most out of the experience, and that one should be grateful that they are in a position to be able to help others, rather than one in which they are in need of help.

If one can take a moment to think about the last statement. A Chinese proverb goes something like this: "A giver is more fortunate than a receiver". It is perfectly logical, because someone who is able to give must be in surplus, while someone who is in need of help is lacking something. Therefore, not only is it a way of restoring balance in the world, often one tends to find that by giving out positive energy and channeling it into your actions, you will receive the same thing in return.

This is not to say that we should do something to feel good or to receive something else in return, but that when you associate your actions with positive attitudes (or think positive thoughts and act on them), you will nurture a positive mental state. For example, getting involved in volunteering work helps one to appreciate their own life much more by learning about the difficulties other people have to overcome. Helping someone with an assignment or homework develops your teaching skills, and also reinforces your own understanding and knowledge about something. Helping a friend with rennovations might give you a hint or two about the best place to buy certain goods.

If you've ever helped someone, and realized what an enjoyable experience it was, then you'll understand what I mean. If you feel like you're always giving and not receiving, then it's because you're either expecting too much from helping people (which should not be your motivation) or that you've got pretty much everything you need (which you should be grateful for). The only thing you can't get by helping people is selfishness, so if you've got too much of that, then you should start helping yourself get rid of some excess by helping others.