Sometimes it feels as if everyone is struggling these days. In response, if you wanted to improve someone else’s life, what would you do?
Chances are, first and foremost you are worried about your own well-being. You need to pay the mortgage, get the shopping done, score tickets to the game, and so on. And everyone else is doing the same.
It would be nice, though, if other people made your life a little easier. Even something as small as letting you merge in traffic rather than cutting you off. A little bit of slack in one area might mean you have more time or energy to put toward something else, and it all could snowball to great effect.
Well, then, what about the reverse? What can you do, without it being too onerous to you, to improve the life of the people you come into contact with?
Obviously, the people you spend the most time with provide you the greatest opportunity. You might see your family members every day, and your co-workers and friends almost as much. You know about their lives, and you probably have a pretty good idea what would make them better.
But there also people you have minimal contact with. Folks in line at the coffee joint. Fellow commuters on the freeway. Shoppers at the local grocery store. Without knowing as much about them, there are still things you can do.
And of course, you know yourself best of all. What would make your life better? What could someone else do to help you out, even a little bit? Can you do that thing for someone else? Is there something you might even be able to do for yourself, to make your own life better?
Related questions: What are you doing to make the world a better place? What can you do to improve your surroundings? What will you do today to make your tomorrow better?
When Lee and I chose this question, I initially approached it on a macro scale, which is where my mind naturally goes. I planned to focus more on issues like making housing and childcare more affordable, recognizing healthcare as a right, ending malnutrition in this country, and doing everything in our power to ensure young children’s brains develop in ways that give them a real chance at a prosperous life. I’d also argue that we should do whatever we can to end wars and prevent atrocities, whether that means , for example, ending the war with Iran or stopping Russian aggression against Ukraine.
To achieve goals like these, we can take at least three kinds of action. First, we can contact our elected officials and urge them to use their power to advance these causes and address these injustices. Second, we can support organizations working toward these goals through donations or volunteer efforts. Third, we can participate in marches, protests, and other public actions that demand change.
Of course, after Lee drafted the context for the question, it became clear that this was not the direction he intended us to take. So, shifting to a more personal scale, I do try to improve the lives of the people around me whenever I can. I’ve found that a few simple actions can meaningfully improve a family member’s, friend’s, or colleague’s day.
First, I try to publicly recognize people for the good work they do. Too often, we overlook small victories—the moments that put wind back in someone’s sails when they are trying to make a positive difference. Along similar lines, private recognition can also have a powerful impact, especially in writing. I often send emails or notes thanking people for their work and letting them know it mattered.
I also think it’s important to tell people how they have positively affected your life. I make an effort to thank people for being there for me during difficult moments and to let them know how much their support means.
Finally, because others have been there for me when I’ve struggled, I try to make it clear that I am available to listen, offer support, or simply give someone a hug when they are going through a hard time.