6 Qualities of Genuinely Altruistic People

We all have that altruistic friend always ready to help us no matter what. Altruistic people are just like this, helpful, kind, and warm-hearted by nature.

My friend Maria is probably the most altruistic person I’ve ever met. She’s a volunteer in a few associations. She helps people with financial problems paying bills and getting food to bring home or feeding and providing shelter for the homeless.

When I share my problems with her, she’s always ready to help me come up with a solution. Every time she’s driving me around, she stops to let pedestrians cross the street, or other cars change the lane. Maria is always sharing something with someone, a piece of cake, a band-aid, a smile.

But she wasn’t always like this. One day, she confessed to me she was going through a tough time. She was unemployed for several months, and her funds had decreased drastically. She was having trouble paying bills, rent, and even food.

She couldn’t ask her parents for help as they were barely making through, so she asked for help from one of those associations she’s now an active member. Maria met amazing people who helped her find a job and pay off her debts. Touched by their actions, she made helping others her new mission.

See, my friend Maria wasn’t selfish; she wasn’t an altruistic person either. She now wants to help others because someone helped her when she needed the most. Being altruistic makes her feel helpful and fulfilled; she’s happy to give, expecting nothing in return. And trust me when I say, her eyes sparkle every time she does something kind for another person.

If being altruistic is, in part, generated by a neurological predisposition, being generous and able to empathize with others are qualities that can be improved by taking the right actions or experiencing altruistic relationships.

“Altruism raises your mood because it raises your self-esteem, which increases happiness. Plus, giving to others gets you outside of yourself and distracts you from your problems.” — Karen Salmansohn

1. Altruistic People Are Open-Minded

Altruistic people care about others, even if they are far away or don’t know them directly.

The empathy altruistic people feel makes them sympathize with environmental and social situations all over the world. It’s no surprise most altruistic people are involved in the organization of events and movements with the sole mission to raise everybody’s awareness about the world’s problems.

Altruistic people don’t care about your skin color or how much money you have in your bank account. They treat everyone the same way, with kindness and unconditional love. Usually, people tend to identify themselves with a specific “tribe”, a group of individuals who share the same origin, beliefs, and traits. On the other hand, altruistic people seem to embrace the whole of humanity as a unique tribe to help and support in difficult times.

How you can improve this trait:

Keep yourself updated with news about what’s going on in the world. Don’t discriminate against people for the color of their skin, religion, or sexual orientation but try to find what you and those who might seem so different from you have in common.

Learn more about the community you live in and participate in social events to improve life’s quality in your neighborhood. Help the people living close to you, those who you meet at work, or when having free time.

Be generous with everyone despite a questionable first impression; sometimes, we have preconceptions based on what we overhear on the news with no real facts to support them.

“We must remind ourselves that at a deeper level, all human beings are the same. We all want to live a happy life, and to be happy is our right. Throughout the universe are sentient beings seeking peace and happiness. What distinguishes the human beings on our planet is that we can communicate with each other — we can convey a sense of the oneness of humanity. If we develop peace of mind within ourselves, I believe we can make the 21st century an era of peace. We must heed the ways of achieving inner peace. There are no natural boundaries between human beings on this earth, we are one family.” — Dalai Lama, Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall in Tokyo, Japan on November 17, 2018

2. They Are Confident and Prone to Forgiveness

By helping others and receiving thanks, altruistic people feel gratified and proud of their work. The gratitude they see in people’s eyes makes them honored and confident they’re doing it right.

When Maria was facing a hard time, she was always questioning herself and her abilities. She thought she would have never been able to get a job or accomplish anything meaningful in her life. After she got back on her feet and started helping others, she became more confident and willing to try new experiences.

Altruistic people are also prone to forgiveness. There is no reason to hold a grudge against someone who made a mistake and already apologized.

How you can improve this trait:

While helping others, ask for feedback in return; the helped ones will always tell you if you did right and how you can improve. Knowing you’re doing helpful tasks for others will boost your confidence with time and increase your sense of purpose.

Forgiveness might appear hard for someone. It involves accepting what happened in the past, even if it might seem unreasonable, and let go of your anger, hurt, and desire for vengeance. Forgiving someone who committed a harmful action isn’t only a way to show compassion but also a method to move on toward a self-healing process. Holding anger can also ruin other relationships and your health. So don’t own a grudge to anyone; understand that everyone can make a mistake or two in life. You have the right to go past those mistakes and live a better life with nothing holding you back to older situations.

“When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.” — Catherine Ponder

3. Altruistic People Are Proactive

Proactive people don’t wait for something to happen; they take action and face even adverse situations with a smile and a plan. Whenever I talk to my friend Maria about a problem I’m facing that requires some extra information to be solved, she actively starts looking for them. People used to proactively look for a way to solve a possible dilemma before anyone else realizes something wrong is going on.

Being altruistic and proactive is a fantastic combo. These people seem to be always a step forward and ready to help anyone, even before they start asking.

Some people are too proud or are ashamed to request help. Taking the first step toward someone in need can be enormously appreciated.

A proactive person isn’t only altruistic. He also has many other notable characteristics, such as self-confidence and flexibility; he is disciplined and positive.

How you can improve this trait:

There are many tasks you can do to be more proactive. For example, ask your friends and family if they need help with something every time you can. If you can’t help them directly, put them in contact with another person you know who has the abilities require and will be happy to help them out.

See if a volunteering association needs an extra pair of hands to prepare food for the homeless or promote their fundraising activities. Every time you see someone in need, offer help before they start looking around for assistance.

Try to be proactive in every area of life, take action if you want something to happen, and stop blaming circumstances for your condition.

4. Altruistic Feel Good and Happy After Helping Others

Altruistic people feel realized when they help someone. They don’t see giving comfort to others as a waste of time or energy. Also, they don’t care if nobody sees them making a kind gesture or a brave action. They do it because it is the right thing to do, and that’s enough for them to feel fulfilled and satisfied.

Being altruistic and providing support to people in need is, most of the times free but comes with several benefits you might have never think about.

Helping others promotes a physiological change in the brain connected with happiness, gives a sense of purpose, and increase the sense of belonging to a community or the chances to make new friends.

Studies have shown how helping others contributes to altruists’ health and well-being and can relieve physical pain like chronic pain among cancer patients.

How you can improve this trait:

Every time you help someone, take a moment to focus on what you are feeling. Are you happy while aiding? Do you find yourself smiling when doing a kind action? Appreciate the positive emotions you are experimenting, recognize what you can learn from a good action, and how it enriches you and makes you grow.

If you are struggling to find joy in taking altruistic actions, try to change your behavior. When doing something for others, do it with a smile and positive intentions instead of huffing for a few minutes of your time invested differently than planned.

Start by doing simple tasks that cost you nothing more than a moment of your time before rushing into a great altruistic adventure.

5. They Worry About How Their Actions Will Influence Others’ Lives

Empathy and altruism go hand in hand. Altruistic people never act to hurt others. They are moved by the desire to benefit somebody for that person’s sake. They don’t feed feeling like jealousy, but they rejoice for others’ happiness and successes.

They inspire and ignite everyone around them to grow and follow their dreams. Altruistic people look for opportunities to contribute and support others rather than undermine and ruin another person’s life.

How you can improve this trait:

Before taking any action, think about the consequences it might have on others’ lives. “If I do this, will I put someone in trouble?”

If you’re not sure of what is best, imagine what someone you consider altruistic will do and try always to choose the option that helps more people.

An excellent exercise to do when thinking about how our actions affect someone else’s life is to imagine ourselves in others’ shoes. What do you wish others will do for you if you were in the same situation?

6. They Know How to Take Care of Themselves

Altruistic people value and respect other people’s lives; they apply the same concept to themselves.

They nurture their skills and hobbies; they spend time relaxing and taking care of their minds and bodies to be ready to support who is in need.

Practicing self-care brings many benefits like improving physical and emotional health, increasing productivity and ability to take care of others, developing self-knowledge, and enhancing self-esteem.

In her piece about self-care, Cheshta Mann explains, “The essence of self-care lies in being consistent.” and shares a few self-care tips that changed her life.

How you can improve this trait:

There are several activities you can do to create a healthy self-care routine. Some are cheap and can be done daily, while others can be taken every once in a while and require a little investment. A few costless activities you can do are reconnecting with nature, spending some time alone, cultivating a hobby, taking a hot bath, or reading a book.

You can also go to the spa, meditate or take a trip to a place you love, maybe with someone dear to you.

“Self-care is never a selfish act — it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.” — Parker Palmer

Some people are naturally more kind and altruistic than others, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be more selfless if you want to.

Altruism is a quality that can be grown day by day, merely by doing some actions to help someone in need. Look around you, who can you help today? You don’t have to give away all your belongings like St. Francis did.

Support a friend in need, distribute food to homeless people, or donate an old blanket to an animal shelter.

Being altruistic has many benefits; it will improve your confidence and sense of belonging; it helps keep things in perspective and reduces stress.

Do at least a generous action a day, and enjoy the feeling that will spontaneously rise inside you. Inspire your friends and family to do the same.

“Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.” ― Brian Tracy