Most people in this world like to help others, which is a kind thing to do. But how much of that help is truly selfless?
In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says one should help others as selfless service (Seva), as one's moral duty (dharma), without expecting anything in return. I believe other religions share the same philosophy.
But what I am sharing today is a little different. Maybe you can say I am showing another side of help.
The first type is the one I already shared above. Help without expectation.
The other type is help with expectation. Sometimes we help people for the sake of return. For example, if I help someone, they'll do something for me. Or someday they'll return the favour.
And there is one more type. We help people not to get any physical, financial or other kind of help, but to get back our own mental peace.
Let's understand this with a simple example.
I am spending my days in peace, living a smooth life. Then something happens to someone close to me. I start thinking about the person, the problem and the possible solutions, day and night. And what happens? It affects my mental peace. It creates a bump in my smooth life.
So I try to help in whatever way I can. Being there in person. Financial help. Emotional support. Or even praying for them every day.
Why am I doing this? Just to get my mental peace back, so that I can live my life smoothly again. I want good for the person, but at the same time I want the same for myself. I don't expect anything from them in return. I just want my inner satisfaction, my inner calm, back.
I am sharing this today because I have gone through all this at some point in my life. And I know the difference between the intentions behind all three.
None of these is bad. We are human, and we keep moving between all three, because that's life.
The important part is how aware you are of your intention.
Next time you help someone, pause for a moment and ask yourself: why am I doing this?
Tell me in the comments which kind of help you have done most.