Teach others they can, too

One good way to help ourselves believe we can is by helping others learn they can, too.

Some of us call this “being of service.”

In Twelve Step programs, they call this “carrying the message.” No matter how much recovery time we have, we can share our experience, strength, and hope with others. We can tell them how we were set free, how it felt it the beginning, and how it feels now, so they’ll believe they can do it, too.

I’ve found even in skydiving that it helps me to share my experience, strength, and hope with sky divers newer to the sport than I am. When I am telling them that it’s okay, that they can do it, I’m really telling myself I can do it, too.

Often in my everyday life, the things I’m telling others they need to do, or can learn, are the very things I need to be telling myself. Repetition forms belief. If we tell others, we’re telling ourselves. The belief in them grows stronger. The belief in us is strengthened, too.

Some people say, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” That may be true. But sometimes when the student appears, it’s because the teacher is ready to learn the lesson, too.

Sometimes helping others is how we help ourselves. And giving it away is often how we get to have some ourselves.

God, help me be of service. Help me remember the value of serving others—that it strengthens and uplifts them and blesses and helps me, too.

From the book: More Language of Letting Go

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