10 TINY ACTS OF KINDNESS TO LIFT YOUR SOUL

You don’t have to go large to make the world better and to feel better about yourself. Doing a small, good thing could make you feel great on even the worst days.

---

Simple deeds can make the world a better place. We’re not talking taking on charity or volunteer work – that can take a lot more time, commitment and planning. We’re talking things that won’t take long, won’t take much effort and might seem like almost nothing.

Kindness is good for you, according to many medical studies. Even seeing an act of kindness produces oxytocin, the "love hormone", which lowers blood pressure and increases self-esteem and optimism. People tested say they feel stronger and more energetic after helping others. They get a "helper's high", which means the brain’s pleasure and reward centers light up, as if something good was done to them instead of them doing something for others.

Kindness lets the brain produce endorphins, the brains natural pain killer which also helps with stress, anxiety and depression.

The quickest way to feeling good is to make someone else good. Don’t fake it. Make it real and feel the satisfaction. Here are some ideas to get you started.



TURN ON TO KINDNESS
Tell a friend this coffee is on you. You know how good it feels to be treated to even the smallest thing. So you can be sure your kindness will stick in their head.

Reconnect with a friend you haven’t seen in a while or a loved one you may have neglected a bit with a special walk in a spot where nature will amaze you and fresh air will clear your head – a beach, a forest, a lush public park. It gives you perspective on the size of the world, your place in it and how small that seemingly huge problem probably is. Even without talking much, you’ll feel like you’ve had a special moment together.

Turn your kids on to kindness. Ask them how it felt when they were kind. Good? That’s the reward. They don’t get extra TV time or sweets for being kind, they get to feel good about themselves. Don’t tell them to be kind. Say how impressed you were by their kind acts of sharing toys, helping someone without being asked and so on.

Write something nice on Facebook. Not some reposted meme, not your favourite quote – make it specific and original. Go to your neighbourhood page and thank the guy who stopped so you could get the kids across the busy street. Thank a friend for a fun evening. Tell the people a few blocks down you walked past and loved how they repainted their home.



TALK… AND LISTEN
Nice work. Well done. How often do you hear that in the office? Become the one who says it. Make sure you mean it. If you can add a sentence about why you were impressed, so much the better.

Sit down with people who need to talk. You’ll know, because they signal it or tell you straight out. Listen and try to figure out why the problem is so upsetting or confusing to the person talking. Don’t say “uh-huh”. Don’t say you know the feeling. Finishing their sentences is not a sign that you know what they mean – it sounds more like you wish they’d finish. They might not even want an answer or a possible solution but you’ve helped them a lot. Being known as a good listener is a big plus anywhere.

If someone is kind to you, say “thank you, that’s very kind of you”. It may seem cheesy or old-school, but it confirms to the other person that they did something good. Accept a compliment with a smile. Don’t play it down: “Oh, I don’t think it’s that great…” Just don't. Are you telling them they were wrong to compliment you?



BE HELPFUL
Volunteer. Not to score points with your boss or parents at your kid's school, but because it's good for you and it gets noticed. Just don't be those people who offer to do something and moan afterwards about how hard it was for them. Be realistic. Do it if you really have time and the skills. You're not helping if you can't finish the job or do it properly. And do it with a smile.

Help someone do something they’ve always wanted to but are a little scared. Encourage them (unless it’s obviously a bad idea). If you’re up for it, do it with them. That’s a memory made for life.

Just be the good person in the office, in morning traffic, in busy shops, in your neighbourhood. Don’t let anyone use you; do what you can, when you can. Feel that warmth spreading through your body. Happy hormones. Feels good!

Sources: bucketlistjourney.net, www.randomactsofkindness.org, www.developgoodhabits.com, www.skilledatlife.com, www.dartmouth.edu.