"If you knew, as I do, the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing some of it."
— Buddha
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One thing that helps—and by “helps,” I mean improves life for everyone, including yourself—is helping itself.
Funny that.
It doesn’t have to be anything big.
Just adopting a simple mindset of “How can I make someone else’s day a little easier today?” can profoundly impact your life. It can boost your sense of balance, remind you of what truly matters, and even create a sense of fulfilment, purpose, and connection.
It’s such a small thing, really—
Letting someone merge in traffic, holding a door open, smiling and saying good morning, buying someone’s coffee, checking in on an elderly neighbour, or simply asking, “How can I help?” ... the options are endless.
But when done regularly, these small acts make a huge difference.
In today’s world of virtual connection, we’ve never been more alone—lost, searching for reasons to live, and yearning for meaning.
It turns out that when we help, those empty spaces in our lives start to fill up.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince, beautifully captures why this works:
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
We’re deeper beings than our possessions and careers, status symbols and consumer pleasures, holidays and new shoes. Don’t get me wrong—those things are lovely. I love new shoes. But they’re not essential.
We’re not isolated beings either. Yet, our culture increasingly pushes us to act as if we are, and when we do, we suffer.
As Buddha wisely said, “We only suffer when we forget who we truly are.” That wisdom resonates on many levels. One part of it is that we suffer when we forget we’re the sum of the relationships we cultivate.
In this, you get to lead the way, you get to go first. You know those who do—who reach out willingly—but they are rare. So don’t wait. Smile first.
And especially when you’re stressed or struggling, try stepping back and asking how you can give.
It works wonders—but like all transformative practices, it only works when you do it regularly.
Start today. This one practice has brought me so much joy and meaning.
Let me know how it goes.
Go well,
Arjuna
PS. I'll be back on my feet after travelling in New Zealand very soon. If you're looking for more, some tools and understandings on how to live this life with style, to find meaning and fulfilment and balance, I have some ideas that'll help. I'll let you know about them soon.