If you go out of your way to help someone, then do not expect anything in return. Do not even expect a thank you. You do not know what you are going to get and cannot demand something, because you went out of your way to help the person and expecting something will hurt you. When you expect something in return, you are setting yourself up for bitterness, disappointment, and people will think of you solely as a user. You cannot treat helping people as a simple exchange. If you do, then people are not going to want to freely help you. Instead, they would rather push you down, prevent you from having opportunities, or stay as far away from you as possible. There is no need to burn bridges when you can actively build them and support them.
Gifts are sweeter if you do not expect it
Have you ever done something for someone and expected to at least receive a thank you? You probably have, but what if that thank you never came? Did you feel a little annoyed and angry? Probably were and rightfully so. How would you feel if you were never expecting even something so small like a thank you? I 100% guarantee that your emotions would have been the same when you were helping that person. I highly doubt that you would be angry or annoyed. You would have been happy to help and that is it.
So, what if you never expected anything in return? How amazing would it feel if that person, the one you helped, wanted to return the favor? They could maybe put you in connection with someone you want to meet, give you a job opportunity that you could not refuse, or maybe you gained a friend for life. Would that not feel great? Would it not be better if you were not expecting it? Again, I guarantee that you would feel amazing. You would have seen more success in your life.
The possible reward of what you can gain is so much sweeter if you never expected it. When you anticipate what you will receive and do not receive it, you will be annoyed, so do not expect anything in return when you help someone. Instead of thinking about what you can get, just give it your all. Simply, help the person just because you want to. Also, do not develop the mindset that you will do everything for everyone just to try and get people to do things for you. People will be able to tell that all you want is something from them. Not everyone will return the favor or want to help you in return, but that does not matter. Focus on serving others, making your community a better place, and growing as an individual. Just do it just to do it. You will eventually find your biggest supporters who will want to help you even more and you can find them by helping others while expecting nothing in return.
Helping others will grow you
By focusing more on willingly helping others instead of thinking about what you can get, you will grow immensely. No longer will you be bitter when someone does not even say thank you for when you hold the door open. You will see more opportunities as more people will have an intense desire to help you, because you help others without any other thought. Your success and you yourself will grow. Therefore, stop focusing on what you can get. Instead, aim for helping others, giving it your all, and expect nothing in return