Be Inspired Every Day

Helping others is the best way for you to master the lessons you have learned in life. In The Secret to Mastering Your Success – Help Other Succeed, I covered 7 benefits of sharing your success with others. In this article we’ll cover the practical ways you can do this.

7 Ways to Use Your Successes To Help Others

1. Volunteer. There are 101 different ways you can volunteer your time and talents. Besides the usual, conventional ways, you can also share your story with those less fortunate, work with children at a school, help plan events, etc.
2. Share with family and friends. If you have friends or family who are looking for solutions to problems you have already solved, share your story with them. Share it in a personal, non-expectant way. Rather than saying “you should do this,” say “I was in a similar situation and you know what really helped me?”
3. Join group of people who have a common goal. About a year ago, I started a raw food meetup group in Green Bay, where I live, that focuses on sharing raw foods and healthy lifestyle support. It helped me go from feeling alone and at odds with everyone around me with regards to my lifestyle and eating habits, to feeling like an integral part of a community of health enthusiasts. You can go to Meetup.com to find groups of people who meet locally for any number of common purposes such as diet, meditation, exercise, business, etc. If a group doesn’t exist that meets your needs, start one. Other well-known groups include the many 12 step fellowships such as AA, NA, etc.
4. Write about it! This just might be my favorite one :). When you write your success stories and the lessons you’ve learned, it helps solidify things in your mind. There is something about seeing something in black and white on paper (or computer screen) that makes it intensely real. Rarely do I ever write an article and not learn something in the process. As an added bonus, you can then share it with as many people as you wish. Even writing in a personal journal will help you see and understand your successes more clearly.
5. Speak. Share your story at public speaking events, in schools, Toastmasters meetings or other places where there are people who can learn from your experience. When I joined Toastmasters International a couple years ago, I was absolutely petrified of speaking in front of people. Today, not only can I speak in front of people, but I enjoy it! One of my favorite things about speaking is that I get immediate feedback from the audience.
6. Spend time with children. Children are learning machines. Even when they are not trying, they are still learning. When children are around us, they learn from the things we say, and more importantly, the things we do, our attitudes and how we treat them.
7. Be available. If a friend or loved one is struggling, offer to help. Be willing to set aside other distractions and give your undivided attention to someone in need if you believe you can help, even if it is not convenient for you.

This is really just the tip of the ice-burg. I invite you to add to this list in the comments below. I am always interested in reading your perspective.

Continue reading to see if you are practicing any of the 7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Helping Others.