How to be More Kind

“We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.”

-Mother Teresa

Kindness is a simple act.

It doesn’t take a lot of time, money or resources unless you want it to. The smallest acts of kindness often go the longest way to changing lives. You can cultivate more kindness in your life in many ways.

Here are some examples:

1. When you believe in someone, tell them and show them your support. This support may be just what they need to drive them to achieve things greater things.
2. Think about your words before you speak. If what you’re thinking isn’t kind, stop what you’re doing. Think about how to better phrase what you’re thinking or perhaps don’t say it at all. Remember to be kind in how you deal with the person.
3. When you receive kindness spread it around. Continue to spread the kindness by paying it forward.
4. Everyone faces challenges even if they don’t outwardly show it. Don’t discriminate on who you are kind to.
5. Be an example. Be a role model to others by always being kind.
6. It doesn’t matter if it’s a close relationship or a stranger, it’s important to be mindful of how you treat others. Be considerate of everyone.
7. Practice having good intentions. Try to have good intentions when you say something nice. Don’t expect something in return.
8. Reach out when others don’t.
9. If showing kindness is hard for you, try to remember how you felt when someone was kind to you.
10. Be kind every day. Holding the door for someone while giving them a genuine smile is an easy way to brighten someone’s day.
11. Create a kindness calendar. Add some type of kindness you can do to each day. For example, take a cup of coffee to your coworker, help your elderly neighbor with their groceries, thank the mail carrier with a card, give your umbrella to a mom and her kids waiting for the bus in the rain, share your lunch with a homeless person or any other act of kindness.

There are many ways you can be kind.

Some acts of kindness take only a few moments, such as a smile or quick complement.  Some acts of kindness take more time and/or effort on your part.  Don’t dismiss the impact of those that only take a few moments.  They are often the most powerful.

If you are stumped for ideas, here are a few to get you started.

• Let someone in front of you at the grocery store because they have fewer items.
• Smile at someone who really needs it. Maybe you see a struggling mom trying to shop with her three kids. Give her an encouraging smile.
• Talk with a friend who is having problems. Lending a ear may be all they need.
• Buy food for a homeless person the next time you go for fast food or a restaurant.
• Compliment a stranger.
• Help a coworker on a project even if you have a full schedule.
• Let someone in your lane in a traffic jam.
• Donate old clothes to someone in need.
• Call your grandparents or parents instead of waiting for them to call.
• Say please, thank you and your welcome.
• Compliment someone on their hair, outfit or something else.
• Offer your seat on the bus or train.
• Bake something for a neighbor, older relative or nursing home and visit with them.
• Text someone good morning or good night.
• Plan to meet with an old friend you haven’t seen in a while.
• Wash someone’s car for free.
• Have a sick neighbor? Mow their yard or shovel their snow. Take out their trash. See if they need you to pick anything up for them – medication, groceries, etc.
• Stop and help someone broke down on the road. Or see if they have help coming.
• Plan a surprise party for a friend’s birthday.
• Wish someone a good day.
• Leave a nice note on someone’s car or in their mailbox.
• Tell someone how much you appreciate them.
• Smile at everyone.
• Help a stranger in some way.
• Actively listen when someone is talking to you.
• Give an unexpected gift to someone.
• Thank someone for something specific they’ve done for you
• Make a donation to charity.
• Volunteer your time.
• Share a memory with a child or friend.

Be discrete when carrying out acts of kindness.

When carrying out your act of kindness, be sure to not intrude or embarrass the receiver. Discretion is key. Give your smile or gift then move on, unless the receiver wants to talk. Some acts of kindness can be carried out anonymously as well.

Above all else, carry out your acts of kindness because you genuinely want to make yourself and others feel good. Not because you expect something in return.

Contemplation for this week:

1.  This week, create and intention to carry out one act of kindness per day.  More if you would like.

2.  At the end of each day, notice if you remembered or not.  Be kind to yourself if you forgot.  That can be your act of kindness for the day.  Reinforce your intention.

3.  If you did remember to carry out an act of kindness, take a moment to remember how it felt and how the other person responded.

4.  Pat yourself on the back for each act of kindness your carried out.

5.  Continue this practice indefinately.

May kindness fill your heart with love and compassion for yourself and others. 

Bindu

Close your eyes and take in the hug I am sending you right now.  

Feel it full of love, unconditional love. 

We all need hugs.

Physical touch is grounding and calming.

No words needed.

A gentle hug says more than words.

With hugs, both the giver and receiver get full benefit.

If you don’t have anyone nearby to hug,

wrap your arms around your self

and give yourself a hug.

Afterall, your own self love is the greatest love of all.

May you get a hug every day, 💕Bindu

Personal Benefits of Kindness

The benefits from kindness are more than just feeling good. Kindness affects both our emotional and physical body in different ways.  Here are some of the benefits of being and showing kindness to others.

• Kindness slows down the aging process. People who volunteer tend to experience less aches and pains than others. Kindness and helping others will protect your health in the same way aspirin helps against heart disease.
• It improves our relationships and connections with others. Kindness helps us relate to other people and have more positive relationships with everyone we encounter.
• Kindness increases happiness. In a study by The Journal of Social Psychology, who practiced an act of kindness or tried something new each day enjoyed a higher level of happiness than those who didn’t make any changes.
• The release of feel-good hormones happens from acts of kindness. Doing nice things for others can increase your serotonin levels. These are the neurotransmitters responsible for our feelings of satisfaction and well-being. Kindness also releases the endorphins known as the “helper’s high”.
• Kindness improves our own self-respect and self-love. It makes us happier and in a better mood more often by doing kind acts often. Buy someone coffee or lunch, help someone in need or volunteer your time to get the pick-me-up you need.
• Kindness helps prevent illnesses caused from inflammation. These health problems include diabetes, cancer, chronic pain, obesity and migraines. Volunteering seems to lower the levels of inflammation. Oxytocin is released, even from small acts of kindness, which in turn reduces inflammation. Share a smile, make a donation, help others in some small to feel the effects of kindness.
• Kindness eases your anxiety, whether it’s mild nervousness or you’re having severe panic. Being nice to others is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to fight of anxiety. Look for ways to help others when you are feeling anxious. Smile at someone, call a friend or lend your time to an organization.
• It is good for your heart. Kindness not only makes your heart feel good; it also affects the actual chemical balance of your heart. It releases the hormone oxytocin which reduces blood pressure thereby protecting the heart.
• Kindness helps reduce stress. Helping others lets you move away from your own worries and problems.

For those of us with fibromyalgia, taking on extra responsibilities may be daunting or impossible.  If that is the case, begin at home.  Begin where you are.  How can you offer simple acts of kindness in your everyday life?  A smile, a kind word, a compliment.  Holding back on an unkind word.  

Remember yourself among those you are kind to.  Compliment yourself.  Remind yourself of the things that you are strong in.  Counter an inner criticism with a compliment.  Stop a moment to take a breath or gaze at a flower.   

Incorporate the smallest acts of kindness every day. You’ll notice changes in how it affects your life and begin to see the ripple effects on other people as well.

May you experience kindness in your heart.

Until next week, 💗Bindu