Helping Others Can Also Help You Better Help Yourself

[unspeakablehorror]

I often see the sentiment expressed that a person cannot afford to worry about others if they have their own problems. And I have to say, that in my experience the opposite is true: when I focused the most on myself, that worry spiralled larger and larger, interfering even with my ability to address those personal issues that were so important to me. And even small failures might loom large in my mind, making a mountain from a molehill.

But now that I do occupy myself much more with doing what I can in the face of the enormity of the problems our world faces, I have also been able to better address my own personal problems before they overrun me.

It turns out that that the more practice you have solving problems, the better you become at it. And that caring for others can also help you better care for yourself.