If someone asked you, “Are you a generous person?” — most of us would probably answer “yes” without hesitation. After all, many of us try to be good people and help others. But intention alone is not enough. If you were asked to provide specific examples of your generous actions, would you have enough to name?
When I asked myself this question, I realized that I give less than I thought. The desire to “be someone who brings more value to others” came precisely after understanding this reality. Although I don’t consider myself selfish, it still took deliberate effort to turn generosity into a habit. The methods below helped me most on this path.
1. Start with small steps
Saying “I will be more generous” was easy. The difficulty began when I tried to put that decision into action. We often associate generosity with large acts — big donations, big time commitments, big responsibilities. Naturally, this can feel overwhelming.
I realized that starting small was the right approach. I made a list of tiny acts of kindness that I could realistically implement — behaviors that wouldn’t take me too far out of my comfort zone, but would still help me grow.
What surprised me most was how deeply satisfying even these small acts felt. Research confirms this: generosity increases happiness levels. So as we help others, the biggest reward often comes back to us.
2. Sometimes put others first
Modern life teaches us to protect our interests and prioritize ourselves. And this is true to a certain extent — if you completely neglect yourself, you may burn out or miss important opportunities.
However, in some situations it is essential to put another person ahead of yourself. This allows you to see the world through their eyes, understand their needs, and create real impact. Sometimes a small act of kindness toward one person can influence their family, environment, and even a wider circle.
Charles Darwin said something very relevant to this:
“Communities whose members exhibit loyalty, sympathy, courage, and mutual support — always ready to help and sacrifice for the common good — will prevail.”
In other words, survival is achieved not by moving alone, but by moving together.
3. Celebrate the success of others
Ask yourself: how often do you truly celebrate someone else’s joy?
Not just saying “congratulations,” but genuinely recognizing and honoring their achievement.
Start with someone close to you —
• a family member
• a friend
• a colleague
Then choose any of their accomplishments — big or small. It could be finishing university or simply losing two kilograms.
If your sister has graduated, organize a small celebration and prepare a special keepsake. If your friend has lost weight, give her a piece of clothing that makes her feel confident.
Such gestures create a powerful emotional impact. Because you are not just acknowledging the achievement — you are valuing it.
4. The “Pay It Forward” principle
Random acts of kindness provide double benefit:
you do something good without expectation,
and you inspire others to do the same.
This is known as the “pay it forward” principle.
Small acts of kindness include:
-
Buying a meal for a homeless person
-
Paying for the drink of the person behind you in line
Bigger acts may include:
-
Donating blood
-
Offering your services for free to someone in need
-
Supporting someone’s education
Once you begin noticing these opportunities, you’ll be surprised by how many exist.
Conclusion
These steps helped me become a more generous person. The more I helped people, the more natural and automatic generosity became for me.
Now it’s your turn.
Let’s see what you will do when this torch is passed to you.