If You Want to Feel Good About Yourself – Pay it Forward

A positive self-esteem is something that many people struggle to find. A low self-concept often leads to mental health disorders. Around 280 million people worldwide suffer from depression,[1] and another 359 million are diagnosed with anxiety[2]. This number doesn’t include those who are silent and never seek help. Factors like isolation, dissatisfaction, poor nutrition, dysfunctional environments, and many others affect a person’s sense of worth.

Regardless of the circumstances that lead to low self-esteem, it’s possible to turn a negative self-image into a positive one.

Exercise, eating healthy, abstaining from mood-altering drugs, hobbies, socialization, and acts of self-care are all esteem boosters. However, even though they are impactful ways to build a better self-image, they require time and effort.

There’s one thing you can do that requires minimal effort and will produce immediate results.

You simply focus on making someone else feel good. No matter where you are, there’s always an opportunity to open someone’s heart. A warm smile to a stranger, a kind word to a checkout clerk, letting someone else have the parking space, showing genuine interest in a neighbor, or making a phone call to check on someone guarantees an emotional boost for yourself. You can’t feel down when you’re focused on making others feel good. And the better you make them feel, the more joy you’ll experience yourself.

I realize that there’s usually that one person who glances at you harshly or ignores a kind word or gesture, but in those moments, you can feel empathy for their misery and move on to the next person.

It’s impossible to think of two things at once. When your goal is to make someone else feel good, you can’t also think about how low you feel. The more you do this, the more you add a warm, fuzzy feeling to your emotional bank account. Over time, your self-esteem rises from being bankrupt to overflowing.

I used to be so inwardly focused that I never even noticed the people all around me. I didn’t realize how my self-centeredness made me judgmental and negative toward myself and others. Over time, through spiritual training and growth, I learned to be loving instead of selfish. Thoughts like, “Am I too important to speak to the server in a caring and friendly manner before I place my order,” or “Am I too rushed to bring the checkout clerk a cup of coffee when she mentioned she didn’t have her morning cup?” or “Am I too upset about my personal problems to listen to someone else’s?” “Am I too busy to respond to a friend’s need when it will only take a few minutes?” often crossed my mind. I often resisted extending myself because it was inconvenient, uncomfortable, or, in truth, I simply didn’t care much about anyone other than myself. But over time, the rewards have been overwhelmingly positive.

Currently, I’m in a good mood most of the time. Why? Because I’ve learned to be a loving and caring person. Instead of waiting for someone or something to make me feel good, I take the initiative.

Is happiness important to you? If the answer is yes, then no matter how busy or preoccupied you are, take the time to be kind or do something kind for someone else. There are needs all around you. When you fill them, your own cup overflows. You’ll find an instant return on your investment. You won’t have to step on the scale, attend personal growth meetings, or check off the calendar days for your reward. Instead, it will be like pulling the handle on a slot machine (or pushing the button these days) and hitting the jackpot every time.

JOIN OUR MOVEMENT TO SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES FROM ADDICTION.