Can you remember the last time somebody, be it a friend or family member, was kind to you? How did it feel?
Chances are, it made you feel loved and happy. You can do the same for others!
Kindness is contagious – when you are kind, you not only make others feel good, but you also end up feeling good yourself. It’s a win-win situation!
In this article, we’ll share 7 tips on how to spread kindness to those around you.
How To Get Better At Being Kind
To get better at being kind, you first need to want to be a kind person. It might sound obvious, but it’s the truth!
If you don’t consciously make an effort to be kind, it’s not going to happen.
If you want to develop your ability to spread kindness, you’ll need to learn and practice. Only through practice will you make kindness an important part of who you are.
You also need to be aware of the opportunities to be kind. If you’re not paying attention, you might miss a chance to make a positive difference.
Finally, you should also be patient. It takes time to develop the habit of being kind. Change doesn’t happen overnight. Be patient with yourself and keep at it!
Spread Kindness With These Tips
Now that we’ve gone over how to get better at being kind, let’s take a look at some specific ways to spread kindness.
1. Be Generous With Your Smile
One of the easiest ways to be kind is to share your smile. Not many people remember to do this consciously.
Think about it. How many people smile at the cashier when you’re in your local grocery store?
Your challenge is to make it a habit to smile at people!
You don’t need to say anything – a simple smile will do.
A smile is a universal sign of kindness. It’s easy to do and it costs nothing, but it can make a big difference in somebody’s day.
Don’t forget: smiling is contagious! When you smile, you’ll most likely get a smile back.
2. Donate To A Cause You Support
Another great way to spread kindness is to donate money or resources to a cause you care about. Many good causes are under-resourced, so your donations can make a real difference.
We live in a society where not everyone has the privilege to live the life they want. Supporting these people is important. You could donate care packages to children with health conditions, or supplies to a homeless shelter.
Donating isn’t limited to causes specific to human beings. The environment and animals also need your love! Consider donating to an animal shelter or a conservation organization.
3. Volunteer Your Time
Volunteering is a great way to spread kindness. It allows you to give back to your community.
Many charities rely on volunteers and donations to continue their operations. Charities that can’t afford to pay their staff rely on volunteers like yourself to reduce their financial burden. When you volunteer, you help them increase their impact on the community.
There are so many volunteer opportunities available. All you need to do is find one that suits your skills and interests! You can mentor someone, work for your community’s anti-bullying program, assist with a fundraiser for a refugee camp, or provide entertainment for the residents at a nursing home.
Aside from spreading kindness, volunteering benefits you as well. You can build self-confidence, gain new skills and connections, and develop a sense of pride and identity.
4. Be Mindful Of Your Manners
It’s easy to forget our manners when we’re busy with our lives. But minding our manners is important if we want to be kind!
Practicing good manners is an art that can help others feel at ease. It can also make somebody’s day being treated with kindness and respect.
Here are some ways to be more mindful of your manners:
- Say please and thank you.
- Hold the door open for someone.
- Offer your seat to someone who needs it more than you do, e.g. a pregnant or elderly person.
- Don’t walk with your eyes glued to your phone.
- Let someone know if they dropped something.
- Ask how someone is doing and genuinely listen to their answer.
- Practice social distancing around people wearing masks.
- Give your mail carrier or delivery person water or a cold beverage on a hot summer day.
By being thoughtful, you show others that you care.
5. Perform Random Acts Of Kindness
A random act of kindness is a small act that you do for somebody without expecting anything in return. It’s a spontaneous act of goodwill that can brighten somebody’s day.
Some examples of random acts of kindness include:
- Buying coffee for the person behind you in line.
- Leaving a generous tip.
- Helping someone carry their groceries.
- Passing up a great parking spot.
- Donating blood.
If you make it a point to regularly perform kind acts, you’ll soon find that it brightens not only other people’s days but also your own!
6. Be Compassionate To Those Around You
A compassionate person is someone who shows care, sympathy, and concern for others during a tough time.
So, if you want to be a champion of spreading kindness, learn to show compassion, especially to those close to you.
Here are some ways to be more compassionate:
- Practice active listening when someone is talking to you.
- Put yourself in other people’s shoes.
- Respect other’s feelings and opinions.
- Don’t hesitate to offer help when you see someone struggling.
- Learn to forgive.
- Learn how to remain calm and considerate during emotionally-charged situations.
Self-compassion is also important! Treat yourself with the same care, understanding, and forgiveness that you would show to somebody else. You need to be kind to yourself in order to be able to effectively show compassion to others.
7. Spread Positivity Not Negativity
Showing kindness isn’t always about giving or how you treat people, it’s also about how you speak and think.
Your thoughts and words are powerful. They can influence your emotions and the emotions of those around you.
So, if you want to spread kindness, you need to spread positivity.
Here are some ways to do that:
- Cultivate gratitude and focus on the good in your life.
- Compliment other people more.
- Spread encouragement online – give positive reviews, likes, and comments.
- Avoid gossiping and speaking badly about others.
- When you make a mistake, admit it and learn from it.
- Choose your words carefully and try to be mindful of how they might affect others.
Remember, your thoughts and words matter. Use them wisely.
Final Thoughts
Kindness matters! If everyone were to spread kindness every day, we would be living in a completely different world.
By spreading kindness, you can be the change you want to see in the world!
The next time you find yourself in an argument with family members, speak kindness, instead of anger. Give your nice parking space to a coworker who hurt their ankle.
Send care packages to people you haven’t seen in a while. When you’re out and about, go out of your way to perform a small act of kindness for a stranger.
Use your kindness to positively influence those around you. The world needs more kindness, so be the change and spread it everywhere you go!
If you want to promote kindness and positivity in your everyday life, download the Do Happy App. The app will help you stay accountable to your happiness and kindness goals!
