Helping sucks – Day 52/139

Every human being is at times in need of assistance. On the other hand everyone gets the chance to help someone else.

But why do people actually help one another?

Here are some stereotypes of the motives people have for helping:

1. Some people have the innate ability to help others. They feel the destined to put others first and themselves last but these people are a clear minority. These people usually find their careers in helping people in charities or churches etc. These people can even be abused for their gullibility.
2. Most people feel positive about helping others when it’s convenient to them. These people will usually give directions when asked and help their friends like normal people do. These people are willing to help if it isn’t a major inconvenience to them.
3. Some people see helping others as the path to personal gain. Helping someone now might leave them in gratitude for the future. These people are willing to help if they consider the future gains bigger than the current losses.

What is the right way to help people?

I will argue that the right way is the one that makes both the helper and the receiver happy. Everyone should go through the trouble of thinking what motivates them in helping others. When you know that it’s easier to start analyzing the way you behave when asked to help someone.

So whatever is your motive for helping, you should always do it from your own standpoint. Doing it for anything else will eventually backfire. This is also the reason why helping is so poorly valued in our society.