Find joy in seeing the smiles on other people’s faces. Think about how you would feel having a good deed done for you. That will help you connect to the joy or change you create in another person’s life.
For example, if you are passionate about the environment, don’t just preach to people that they should recycle. Try to start an environmental club at your school or get your friends to help you build a compost bin in your backyard. If you’re passionate about helping the homeless in your area, you could organize your neighborhood and advocate for positive change with city administrators, city council members, and county supervisors.
Remember that everyone thinks differently. What seems comfortable or easy for you might not seem that way to other people. You might feel really confident going to a karaoke night with a bunch of strangers, but your friend or date might not. Consider what others want in addition to what makes you happy.
Stick up for a friend, classmate, or coworker you feel is being treated unfairly. Buy a meal for the homeless person everyone keeps walking by on the street. Notice the underdog or the less fortunate and give them a helping hand. You can also focus on creating safe spaces for individuals who suffer from injustice or prejudice. This could be advocating for a space on your campus for LGBTQ students, or a club for women of color to network and connect.
Raking your neighbor’s leaves for them. Helping to pay a student’s tuition. Buying lunch for the office. Washing a friend’s car for them. Buying groceries for someone in need. Taking an elderly neighbor to an appointment.
Help build houses for low-income families. Join a community garden. Get involved with your neighborhood watch. You don’t always have to volunteer in such an official way. You can offer to help a friend move or give up some time to listen when a family member is in need of emotional support.
Perhaps you are a great public speaker, or maybe you have a talent for craft projects or building furniture. Perhaps you are a great listener and can be an empathetic ear for an elderly neighbor. You can also use your professional skills and knowledge to help others. If you are a teacher, you might volunteer some time to help tutor students who are having trouble in school. If you are an artist, you might volunteer at a senior center to help teach senior citizens how to paint or sketch.
Think about what you had a hard time with when you started your job. Offer to assist new employees with working the copy machine, getting to know certain procedures, or setting up their email.
Even offering someone kind words can help you grow as a hero. Say thank you to service workers. Tell a friend you appreciate them. Give a friend a hug. Write your teacher a thank you note. Wave to the driver, who stopped to let you cross the road, even if it is at a crosswalk. Send a family member a surprise email or text telling them you love them.
Think about things in terms of “Pro” instead of “Anti”. Be pro-peace instead of antiwar. Be pro-environment instead of just antipollution. [7] X Research source Be a good leader. If you are a teacher or in charge of a team at work, know that you have people that look up to you. Lead them by example. If they see you thanking people for their hard work, highlighting the achievements of others, and going out of your way to make the classroom or work place safe, they are more likely to do the same.
If you are in line at the grocery store and the person behind you seems like they are in a hurry, let them go through in front of you. If you recognize that a fellow classmate is struggling in a class you excel at, offer to study with them after school. Watch for people on the subway who may need your seat. The elderly, a pregnant woman, someone on crutches.
You can ask some of your own heroes for advice. Ask them how they are able to put others before themselves. Don’t be afraid to imitate. [11] X Research source Chances are that the way someone helped you will work for other people as well. If a friend helped you by being a good listener, you can do the same for someone else.
