Virtue of the Week – Helpfulness

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Virtue of the Week focuses on building peaceful and caring communities through understanding and fostering the practice of virtues. The Source supports the Virtues Project and will publish one virtue developed by the project each week.

Helpfulness

Helpfulness is doing useful things for others -things that make a difference to them, no matter how small. It is taking the time to be thoughtful, reflecting on what people truly need and assisting them respectfully. We help others by doing things they cannot do for themselves. It is often easier to give help than to receive it. It takes courage to ask for help when we need it. There is always plenty of help when we are willing to ask. When we work selflessly to benefit the lives of others, we always bless our own.

Quote: “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” —

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Practice of Helpfulness

‘I look for to make life easier for others.

I do a service without being asked.

I offer my support in respectful ways.

I give people what they need, not always what they want.

I allow others to be helpful to me.

I strive to be a blessing to others.

 

I am thankful for the gift of Helpfulness.

It allows me to make a difference.

 Questions for Discussion

  • What are little ways we can make life easier for each other?
  • How do we celebrate helpfulness in our community?
  • What does helpfulness look like as we deepen our social justice journey?
  • How can we be of helpful service in our community?

Virtues Matter was started by a passionate wife-husband team of social entrepreneurs seeking to positively uplift as many lives as possible. We aim to inspire and empower, to build capacity, strengthen relationships, and help everyone lead lives of passion and purpose.

Virtues Matter believes in a world where people are committed to kindness and respect, strive to be their best, and live with hope, courage, and in unity. We built the Virtues Cards mobile app, an interactive personal and team development tool, to help people identify and develop key virtues skills. We also offer dynamic workshops, online training, and customized programs to help people cultivate these positive qualities of character. To learn more, visit www.virtuesmatter.org.