Expect Nothing In Return
“What else did you expect from helping someone out? Isn’t it enough that you’ve done what your nature demands? You want a salary for it too? As if your eyes expected a reward for seeing, or your feet for walking. That’s what they were made for.”
—Marcus Aurelius
Meditations
Helping others is not a special occasion that warrants a parade; it's simply what we, as human beings, are built to do.
Just like our eyes are made to see and our feet to walk, assisting those in need is baked into our very nature.
It's easy to get caught up in the web of expecting thanks or recognition when we lend a hand. But think about it—doesn't the act of giving itself enrich your spirit and strengthen your character? Next time you help someone, notice how it feels to do it without looking for an applause. Is the simple act of living up to your inherent human role not rewarding enough in its own right?
Imagine you hold the door for a stranger or share your lunch with a coworker who forgot theirs. If they don't thank you, or if they don't reciprocate the favor, does that diminish your deed or your decision to help? Not at all.
Just as your feet continue to take steps forward without a pat on the back, your generosity should flow freely, unchained from the need for external rewards.
Why not redefine reward as the act itself and see how this perspective shifts your daily interactions? Are you ready to practice kindness merely because it is part of who you are, not because of what you hope to receive in return?