Helping others is a selfless act referred to as altruism. Although most people help others without themselves in mind, there are many benefits to the helper. You reap mental, physical and societal rewards when you assist and support people. Although true altruism does not ask for anything in return, it is reasonable to enjoy the rewards.

Helping others generates the idea of "paying it forward." This mentality says that if you help someone, that person is then more inclined to go help another person in need. Ideally, "paying it forward" could spread to everyone alive and make the entire world a better place. Even if this does not happen, helping others increases the amount of giving, accommodating and helping people in society.

As you help others and they realize you do not have any ulterior motives, their appreciation will grow into trust, according to Power Essence. Your reputation will grow and people will label you a trustworthy person. Due to this trust, more people will confide in you and relationships will grow easily.

Helping others allows you to meet people you wouldn't have otherwise met. This makes it easier to network, using people to connect you with more resources and more possibilities. A benefit of networking is synergy, creating connections with other like-minded people. Synergy empowers, inspires and motivates people.

Helping people creates an inherent sense of well-being and can lower depression, according to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. It can make people happier, with higher self-esteem and life satisfaction. In some cases, people feel happier due to the social effects of volunteering and feel less lonely.

According to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, helping people helps to reduce chronic pain. Volunteers have a sense of purpose and connection in their life that helps with the physical pain in their bodies.