“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” —Booker T. Washington

Good morning! We all have seasons in our lives that are more challenging than others. Seasons in which more things seem to weigh on our shoulders, or our problems seem larger (or are larger!). When faced with such seasons, it is easy to fall into negative thinking, pessimism, or a general sense of the doldrums.When I face these seasons personally, I have noticed that Booker’s quote speaks to the simple truth of how to exit this turmoil. The quickest way to step out from under the weight of the world is to reach out to another and help him or her. We may feel like we have nothing to give when we are sad or hurting; but when we reach out we discover that not only do we have something to give what we can give is unique, wanted, and needed.

Are you down in the “doldrums” or feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders? Reach out to another.

I push past emotional resistance and lend a helping hand 

to others.