Heart to heart: The importance of looking out for others

Before we begin, it is important to point out that this article was inspired by the movie, Joker.

To be truly successful and live an exemplary life, it is important to look out for others, to be in service to others.

Whether you make a donation to your favorite charity, you help out a friend in need, or you just kick a stone out of the way, contributing to other people’s lives is something that is so important and very underrated.

Sadly, many people in this world are still living in survival mode, for understandable reasons.

However, staying in survival mode is not all that life is about. If you jump straight from survival to success, you may get the material things that you need, but you will not feel very fulfilled.

This shows that giving back and helping each other is very human.

There is a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”

In that spirit, we have compiled the top seven tips to apply in order to look out for others and thus, improve your own life.

1. Listen when people talk:

The world we live in is so very fast-paced. It is so easy to pretend to listen to someone when in fact, we’re thinking about the super important next thing that we must do.

Listening means more than nodding your head at the right intervals so that the other person can be convinced that you’re listening when you’re not.

Listening means actually opening your ears and your heart so that you can be there with any solutions if they need it.

It also improves your fulfillment and helps you feel better when you’ve helped someone.

So, the next time you’re having a conversation with someone, actually listen, and they’ll thank you for it.

2. Empathize:

Did you know that primates and rats also show empathy? Then why can’t you?

Empathy is the ability to share and understand the emotions of others. It is the extra motivation you need when you’re trying to decide whether to help someone or not.

To be more empathetic, try putting yourself in other people’s shoes. Would you like it if that was happening to you? Would you want someone’s help in that situation? Yes? Then help.

3. Acknowledge people:

A simple acknowledgment can be all it takes to turn someone’s day around. A simple acknowledgment or a smile while passing them can be all it takes to change someone’s day from horrible to not-so-bad.

Make a decision to pass kindness around and to acknowledge people. It keeps your heart lighter, seriously, and Joker could have used some of this.

4. Talk about others:

It can be soo hard sometimes, to not talk about yourself. Maybe you’ve just gotten a new bag and you desperately want to show it off, or you won a huge contract and you want to talk and talk and go on about it.

Well, maybe now is not the time.

Allow yourself to take deep breaths then step back from the situation to allow others to shine.

5. Help people:

Help people, but don’t do it so that they can help you in return.

Helping a colleague with a small project that won’t take anything from your day, helping an old person cross the road, and just generally helping people will feel you with so much joy and put a bounce in your step. Try it today!

6. Show that you care:

Showing people that you care does a lot for them. It improves their belief in themselves and improves their self-confidence.

Showing people that you care really is a game-changer. It can make a situation and turn things around.

7. Tell the people you love how you truly feel about them:

Tell people you love how you truly feel about them because they won’t know if you don’t tell them.

if it doesn’t come naturally to you, it’s all the better. The more you do it, the better you’ll get used to it, and it’ll become a part of your day.

They’ll even return the compliments (or not, but don’t let that get to you) and you’ll feel all mushy inside.

In conclusion…

An eye for an eye makes the world blind. But imagine us sharing kindness instead? No, just imagine it.

If kindness was shown to Arthur Fleck, then maybe, he wouldn’t have turned into Joker. Or what do you think?