Paul Brian
Our society is very focused on individual success, but not everybody toes the party line.
In fact, there are many exceptional individuals who put others first. They want to make the world a better place and start by giving their time and energy to others.
This can go too far when somebody forgets about their own wellbeing, but generally speaking it’s a very good thing.
People who think of others first have certain qualities that define them. Let’s take a look.
1) They’re empathetic
There’s no replacement for empathy.
People who put others first are able to understand the experiences and emotions of others.
They connect on a deep emotional level to those around them and understand that with a few twists of fate they could be standing in that person’s exact position.
Helping others first becomes the logical next step.
2) They’re compassionate
Compassion goes hand-in-hand with empathy.
Understanding the emotions of others takes away the idea that they are less important or real than our own emotions.
As a result, the selfless person feels compassion as well.
They hate to see others in pain, and they want to do what they can to alleviate that pain and make a positive impact.
3) They’re generous
Generosity is definitely a quality of selfless people who prioritize others.
Whether it’s sharing resources, time, or support, selfless individuals find joy in giving without expecting anything in return.
They aren’t generous in order to be considered a “good person” either.
They do it because it’s in their nature and who they want to be to be a generous and giving individual.
4) They’re patient
Putting others first often requires quite a bit of patience sometimes.
Selfless individuals understand the value of taking the time to listen, to teach, and to support those around them.
They know that putting others before themselves sometimes means having extra patience. Not everybody learns at the same speed or can be helped on the same schedule.
Change and improvement takes time.
5) They’re open-minded
Open-mindedness is a key quality of those who think of others before themselves.
They keep their judgments to a minimum and do their best to see each person for who they really are.
They know that if you really want to make a difference in the lives of others then you have to sometimes reserve judgment.
Even when you may not agree with a person’s lifestyle choices or beliefs, prioritizing their humanity leads to much better outcomes.
6) They’re humble
Humility goes hand in hand with being a generous and giving person.
Those who give their time, energy and compassion to others tend to be very humble.
Even if they are enormously talented and exceptional, they don’t focus on that or seek praise and validation. They don’t help others for rewards either or to get a great reputation.
They do it because they can.
7) They’re grateful
Along with being humble, those who always think of others first tend to be very grateful.
They already recognize the blessings in their lives and have a sense of deep gratitude.
This focuses the generous individual on others, rather than on themselves, because they are working out of a sense of surplus instead of a sense of lack.
8) They’re cooperative
Putting others first is often a matter of working together with others in a cooperative way.
Whether this is helping somebody find a job or assisting a friend in addressing a health problem, cooperation is often the key.
For example, the helpful person may tap into their network of contacts to help the individual find a job or address their health problem.
Cooperation is the key.
9) They’re sensitive
Sensitivity is a powerful tool in understanding the needs of others.
Those who put others first are often very sensitive, which goes hand-in-hand with their empathetic nature and compassion.
They feel things deeply and have a fine-tuned conscience. Seeing something wrong or unjust weighs them down like an anchor. They can’t just let it go.
They want to help when they see a problem and it’s partly because they’re so sensitive.
10) They’re forgiving
Forgiveness is a vital trait of those who put others first and truly care for others.
They know that patience and forgiveness are necessary when trying to help other people, because many folks who need help are not gracious about taking it.
Sometimes they need to put up with a person who takes a lot of effort to help.
Other times they may need to deal with some unpleasantness or resistance by people who aren’t putting their own interests first.
This can take forgiveness, a trait that empathetic individuals often display in droves.
11) They’re loyal
Those who think of others before themselves tend to be very loyal.
They don’t just do a nice thing one day and then forget about it the next. They truly keep others in mind and expend emotional and mental energy on being of help to them.
They’re loyal and stick by their friends and even strangers when the going gets tough.
This leads to the generous person being highly respected and sought after wherever they go in their professional and personal life.
12) They’re optimistic
Being a person who thinks of others first requires a lot of faith.
The giving individual has trust and gratitude that their own needs won’t fall short or be forgotten and focuses their attention on being a blessing to those around them.
They’re optimistic at a primal level, aimed at trying to make the world a better place for others rather than for themselves.
Happily enough, it often ends up becoming a better place for themselves as a side-effect, too.
The giving individual
Being a giving individual is a very special thing.
Not everyone is born being generous and putting others first, and it’s also possible to become more empathetic and giving.
By thinking about the traits above and doing our best to embody them, we can also begin putting other people first (at times) in our lives and feeling the joy of giving.
