By Henrik Edberg | Positivity Blog
“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes the ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”
Albert Schweitzer
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind, and the third is to be kind.”
Henry James
Kindness is often a pretty simple thing to spread in the world.
But we sometimes forget about it. Or don’t remember how it can help us all.
Three things that I like to keep in mind and that help me to try to be a kinder person are these:
- I get what I give. Yep, some people will be ungrateful, miserable and not reciprocating no matter what you may do. But most people will over time treat you as you treat them.
- By being kinder to others I am more likely to be kinder to myself. It may sound a bit odd but my experience is that when I am kinder towards others then my self-esteem goes up and I think more highly about myself.
- It creates a happier place to live in. Being kinder simply makes my own little world a nicer and happier place to live in.
So how can you start spreading kindness in your daily life?
Here are 15 simple ways to do it.
Pick one of them that resonates with you and start spreading the kindness today.
1. Express your gratitude.
Think about what you can be grateful for about someone in your life. Maybe that he is a good listener, that he often is quick to help out or that he always adds great songs to a Spotify playlist. Or simply that he held up the door for you.
Then express that gratitude in a simple “thank you!” or in a sincere sentence or two.
2. Replace the judgments.
No one likes to be judged. And the more you judge other people the more you tend to judge yourself. So despite the temporary benefit of deriving pleasure from the judgments, it is not a good or smart long-term habit.
When do you feel the urge to judge ask yourself: what is one kind thing I can think or do in this situation instead?
3. Replace the unconstructive criticism.
Try encouragement instead of excessive criticism. It helps people to both raise their self-esteem and to do a better job.
And it will make things more fun and more light-hearted in the long run.
4. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
It is quite easy to resort to unkindness when you see things just from your perspective. Two questions that help me to see and to better understand other viewpoints are:
- How would I think and feel it if I were in his or her shoes?
- What parts of this person can I see in myself?
5. Recall how people’s kindness made you feel.
Just sit down for a few minutes and try to recall one time or a few times when other people’s kindness really touched you and helped you out.
Then think about how you can do those very same things for someone in your life.
6. Express kindness for something you may often take for granted.
It is easy to remember and to feel motivated to express kindness when someone is having a rough time or have just finished an important project.
But also remember to express kindness for how someone continues to put so much love into the dinners you eat. Or for being on time every day and doing their job well and keeping deadlines.
7. Hide a surprising and kind note.
Leave a small note with a loving or encouraging sentence in your partner’s or child’s lunchbox, hat, tea-container or book that he or she is reading right now.
That minute of your time will put a smile on her face and joy and motivation in her heart.
Tell that to your Muslim friends.
May Peace dwell on those who rein with Love. The world will see the true meaning of Love, Harmony and Peace when God opens the doors of heaven.
Peace to all.
Sachooo!!!