Pay it Forward: The Joy of Helping Others

Do you ever feel like you just can't do everything alone? You need help, but sometimes it's really difficult to ask others for that help. It feels like a burden.

Not only that, but oftentimes when you think of "helping others," it involves some sort of financial contribution, which can be difficult and uncomfortable to discuss. 

But guess what? The concept of giving aid to others can be as simple as holding a door open for someone or providing a listening ear to someone who just needs to talk out an issue or unload.

There are so many ways to help your fellow humans. In fact, life coach (and basketball coach) Cornell Thomas truly believes that our purpose on this Earth is to help others.

We live in such a "me-dominated" society that you often don't realize the personal benefit you get just from lending a hand to someone else. When you DO provide some sort of help or assistance, it has a ripple effect on others. That's where the term "pay it forward" has such impact. When you give, you also get. Even something as simple as smiling at others can bring both you and them joy in an instant.

Giving can be so rewarding.

You may come to understand this, but how can you inspire your children to help others and help them understand it's such an important factor of life?

When you're a kid, one of the most important things you're taught is to share. Even if you don't want to, it's something that's instilled in you at a very young age.

Sure, you can teach your kids to share their toys... but there are other ways you can truly show them what giving and sharing is all about. Take your kids to a soup kitchen over the holidays, or have them donate some of their toys to charity. This will go such a long way in helping them understand the power of giving.

And, team sports are an excellent way to teach giving and getting help.

Also, your actions will set an example for your kids to follow. You can lead by example. Make sure the people you surround yourself with are giving, unselfish individuals.

Tune in as Cornell joins Andrea to share more about how you can help others with even the smallest gesture, and why this is so important for living a happy, healthy life.