Kindness, compassion and sharing are part of our human nature. We are hardwired for it. Unfortunately, our subconscious programming and cultural conditioning often override this natural tendency. How then, do we bring our natural kindness to the surface? By engaging in deliberate acts of kindness.
Deliberate acts of kindness are different from random ones
With random acts of kindness, we don’t know when we might feel inspired to smile at someone for no reason or give a genuine compliment. Deliberate acts of kindness require intent, a bit of front-end planning and actively looking for opportunities to be of service.
Here’s the thing about kindness. Not only does the recipient benefit from your kind word or generous tip, you do too. Big time. You feel great. You help others. Anyone who happens to witness it is also uplifted. Seeing an act of kindness reminds us that we are all connected. It renews our faith in the goodness of human nature.
“The happiness of life is made up of the little charities of a kiss or smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment.” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Let your inner kindness out
Get creative. What action or words might brighten someone’s day? Challenge yourself to identify a deliberate act of kindness that puts you just beyond your comfort zone. Leave something nice on your neighbor’s doorstep. Compliment a stranger’s smile, clothes, garden or dog. Think of interesting ways to strike up a conversation, such as “accidently” dropping something of yours near them. Mail a hand-written note or an inspirational book to a friend. Smile at someone you pass in the street. The opportunities are endless! Add some human-ness to every transaction – to the person who makes your food, delivers your package or makes your coffee.
“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.” – Chinese Proverb
Kindness matters
Kindness is important not because it’s the right thing to do or because it makes you a good person. It is important because it contributes to your own happiness and self-transformation while positively impacting others. When you acknowledge someone else’s kindness and say thank you whenever possible, you add to the beauty of all that is.
A beautiful, peaceful and happy world starts from within by cultivating our own inner peace and self-love. Practice gratitude and kindness toward yourself, especially when you don’t feel like it. Daily practice rewires your brain. You become more positive and optimistic. You begin to see the glass as half-full instead of half-empty, which in turn increases your overall level of happiness and contributes to the world.
What’s one thing you could do today to show genuine kindness to yourself? Take a bubble bath, sleep in an extra two hours, read a physical book outdoors, buy yourself flowers or keep your phone off for an entire day. Engage in an activity that makes you feel more alive, such as dancing, hiking, yoga, stargazing or coloring.
Consider setting aside an entire day for kindness
When you wake up in the morning, for example, appreciate something about yourself. Say or do something to uplift every personal interaction or encounter you have that day. When alone in your car, think something positive about yourself. Bring some kindness into each email or text you write during the day.
The impact of a single act of kindness is immeasurable. Brightening one person’s day matters. Picking up a piece of trash in the park matters. Every thought and action coming from a place of kindness, love or compassion plays an important role in shifting the collective programming of fear, separation and scarcity to one of genuine kindness and generosity.
When you look for opportunities to spread kindness, you notice your surroundings in a new way. Actively paying attention and looking for ways to share kindness has the added benefit of quieting the monkey mind. You become present. The more you do it, the more kindness – and therefore happiness – becomes a daily part of your life.
