As the year 2009 draws to a close and we approach the threshold of a new year, we can take a moment to look back over the year. It has been a very difficult year for almost everyone. Many are out of work or saddled with debt, schools are overcrowded and understaffed, the number of homeless persons is alarmingly high and charities are receiving fewer donations to care for an increasing number of people. There is hardly anyone who has not been affected in one way or another by the economic crisis.

Many of us are finding our lives thrown into chaos by forces that seem beyond our control. This can be frightening in many ways. But let me suggest that while the forces that drive events and conditions may be out of your control, the actual outcome is very much in your control. For each of us the real question is not how the situation affects us, but rather how we experience and respond to the difficulties it presents. While it may be comforting for some to know that others are experiencing similar difficulties, the question still remains, “What does this experience mean for you?” How is it affecting your life, your health, your marriage and relationships? How can you turn what may be perceived as a negative experience into a positive one for yourself and your immediate surroundings? What can you do to help bring yourself closer to the light at the end of the tunnel?

Even when your circumstances are extremely difficult, there is one thing you can always do. You can do something, no matter how small, to help someone else. Not just the people you know and love, but really step out of yourself to do or say something helpful to a stranger or another person in need. Perhaps it’s a kind word, or a small favor, or simply acknowledging someone else. There is a basic law of life that dictates that in giving we receive. So, while we pray for help for ourselves, and our loved ones, the single guarantee of that help reaching us is when we give whatever help we can to others as often and in any way we can. Even to those whom we may perceive as our competitors.

In fact, once you start to open your eyes, you’ll be surprised at how often we pass up numerous small opportunities to practice helpfulness, while focusing on big politically or socially driven endeavors as an expression of our willingness to do good to our fellow human beings.

In his book In the Light of Truth, the author Abdrushin writes:

“For this too Jesus has already shown you simple ways leading unerringly to the goal; for deep truth lies in the simple words: “Love thy neighbor as thyself!” With these words he gave the key to freedom and ascent! Because it is an irrefutable fact: What you do for your neighbor you do in reality only for yourselves! Solely for yourselves since, according to the Eternal Laws, everything returns to you without fail.”

The Law of Giving and Receiving is actually an expression of the same Law that says that whatever you sow, you will reap. In other words, whatever you put out always comes back to you multiplied a hundredfold. Just as sowing a grain of corn yields many ears of corn. If you put out genuine love, caring and consideration, not just to those whose good opinion matters to you, but to all whom you encounter, then you can be sure that life will always return the same to you in various aspects of your life.

This is such a small thing to incorporate in one’s daily life and yet so powerful because it can completely transform a person’s life in a huge way. Again the same Law that says small actions lead to big results! Think about this and perhaps, this New Year can become the turning point for you who are reading this article. You can start today to practice small acts of kindness everyday, to everyone. And you will be amazed at what the coming years will bring for you.