Spread Kindness! 8 Great Ways to Be Kind to Others
The other day I was at the tire shop and it took longer than expected. There were also some unexpected problems with my vehicle that needed addressed. It was going to cost more and I wasn’t thrilled. But you know what? It was actually a very nice experience.
How could a day like that be nice? Simply put it was because the people that worked at the shop were very kind and helpful. So was one of the people there waiting with me. It was so refreshing and a little bit surprising.
At the end of the day I wanted to spread kindess like they had shown me. I was actually looking for chances for spreading kindness to anyone I might meet.
Why Do We Need to Spread Kindness?
I am sure that you have been shown kindness by someone recently. There are still a lot of good people in the world.
That being said it is becoming more rare to see people spread kindness during their busy day in public with strangers.
Why is that?
Well, most of us are stressed out and busy. When we are in survival mode we tend to get tunnel vision and only focus on our concerns. It’s natural to be that way.
But imagine you were on a long drive across the country and you never looked out the window. It would be boring. It might even be excruciating. On the other hand if you noticed the blue sky, the puffy clouds, the mountains and trees or the beauty of the desert you might just love your drive.
It’s the same with kindness. It’s like looking out the window and seeing beauty when you notice other people and spread kindness as you go. You will still have the same obligations but you will enjoy the journey a lot more.
So how can you and I spread kindness in our daily life? What are some simple things that we can do for strangers, our coworkers, our family and our friends?
1: Smile
The first and easiest way to spread kindness is to smile. When you catch someone’s eye in passing it takes nothing to smile but the benefits of smiling are amazing!
Smiles are contagious and your smile will often make the other person smile as well. Smiling makes you more approachable and people will trust you more. When you smile it even makes your brain happy. Suddenly your mind feels like things are going to be okay and your stress levels will decrease.
If you spread kindness by smiling you will also spread the benefits of smiling to everyone who smiles back!
2: Listen
Another thing that you can do to start spreading kindness is to become a better listener. When you take time to listen to another person you are giving them the rare gift of your undivided attention. You can be the unique person who isn’t looking at their phone while a person talks to you.
When you resist the urge to interrupt with solutions you show that you understand that sometimes the person just needs to work through their emotions.
When you ask for someones opinion and you listen it is a sign of humility. It shows that even though you may have a differing viewpoint you can see the value of seeing the other side.
Listening is a great way to spread kindness to your family, friends, coworkers and even strangers.
3: Be Courteous
Spreading kindness can be done with very simple gestures. If you are on public transport do you offer your seat to an older person? Could you wait a second and hold the door for the next person behind you? If you see someone is struggling could you help them out? Or could you just patiently wait your turn?
These courteous acts are small but they mean a lot and can help a person through a rough day. Add a smile to a display of common courtesy and double your impact as you spread joy.
Another courteous thing to do is to say hi, please, and thank you to those around you. Sometimes we are on autopilot and we forget those simple things that show others we acknowledge they are people too.
4: Check In
Recently I found out that a friend I hadn’t been in touch with has been going through a really hard time. I felt terrible that I hadn’t been more present.
One simple thing you can do when you want to spread kindness is to check in with your friends. How often does something remind you of someone you care about but haven’t talked to in a long time? What is holding you back from shooting them a quick text message to check in?
When you check in you can rejoice when your friends and family are doing well or you can help if they aren’t. Dropping a line shows you care and don’t we all want to feel cared about? Spread kindness by acting on the kind thoughts you have.
5: Remember Names
Spreading kindness is all about showing that you care about the other person and want to make them comfortable. That being said we all know how uncomfortable it can be when we don’t remember someone’s name.
While remembering names can be really hard it also shows that you remember and value a person. When you meet someone new make a real effort to remember their name. If you have to spell it out, write it down or relate it to someone you already know that can help.
I have a kind of unusual name and I know that I am very impressed when people remember it and say it. It makes me feel like they must like me when they can remember my name right away. I don’t get offended when people don’t remember but it sure feels nice when they do.
Spread kindness by doing your best to remember names.
6: Be Patient
I mentioned waiting your turn before but that is not the only way being patient can spread kindness. Sometimes you have to be patient when it’s not technically the way things are supposed to go.
For example you might have to wait to get in your car while a mother puts her baby in the car seat next to your car. Maybe you have to be patient when the waitress brings you the wrong order. Or perhaps you have to be patient when someone ahead of you in line is having a problem.
Often in these circumstances the person who is taking a little extra time is stressed and very apologetic but if you can patiently put their mind at ease by saying something like “no worries” or “no problem” it will help them to get through the situation in a calmer state. It will help you stay calm too.
Another way your patience can spread kindness is when you are patient with friends and family during difficult times. Maybe they make a bad mistake. You can patiently continue to support them and help them get through it. Or perhaps they need your help with something you have already explained to them. Your patient willingness to help them more is much appreciated.
7: Give Commendation
Good job! You did great! You look so nice today!
Doesn’t it feel great to get a compliment or some recognition for your hard work?
Remember how much a positive statement can lift your mood and remember to give commendation freely. When someone you work with does a good job tell them so. If your kids complete a difficult project at school tell them you are proud. Did you husband help you clean the house? Tell him that you really appreciate it.
Receiving commendation can brighten anyone’s day. It builds their confidence and motivates them to keep doing their best. Don’t hold back on telling someone what you appreciate about them if you want to spread kindness today.
8: Help Out
When we talk about spreading kindness what we are really talking about is helping the people around you feel comfortable. One of the best ways to spread kindness is to help out.
The easiest way to do this is to do courteous acts like I mentioned above. But that’s not where it ends. Look for ways to help out more.
When you are at home and your family member is cooking dinner while you relax go ask them if they need help chopping vegetables. If your friend is sick ask them if they need anything from the store. When you see that your friend is feeling down ask them over for a movie night or take them out to coffee. If you bake a cake share some with your neighbor.
Looking for ways to help includes looking for practical things that need done as well as simple things that could cheer someone up. Instead of waiting to be asked offer to help.
9: Be Accepting & Reasonable.
Sometimes we have very strong opinions and standards. Honestly there is nothing wrong with that. But we don’t spread kindness by pushing those feelings on others.
That being said how can we hold onto our values while still being kind? The answer is that we need to be accepting and reasonable.
We can accept that others want to live their lives in a different way without approving of it or doing it ourselves. You can accept that someone has an opinion that is different from your own without feeling threatened. You can be reasonable about what others ask for even when you don’t understand why the need it.
You can show kindness to all people no matter how different they are from you because you want others to be kind to you too.
10: Pay it Forward
Last but not least we can all spread kindness when we pay it forward. There are many little moments when we can focus on ourselves or spread kindness.
Have you ever had the person ahead of you pay for you at the drive through window? That’s always pretty cool!
One time we were at the store and a guy was buying a buy 1 get 2 free Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream deal. He said he was staying at the hotel across the street and wouldn’t be able to eat it all so he gave the 2 “free” ones to us. That was a little treat that made our day.
What if you have a great waitress? Could you give them an extra tip? As a cleaning lady I’m often offered free fruit, clothes, and even furniture by my sweet clients. I left a coffee table book about lighthouses as a gift for the hosts of my Airbnb by the beach.
Do you give money to the guy playing an amazing violin solo on the corner of the street? Can you donate your things when you declutter or give some money to a homeless person?
There a million small ways to show kindness to others. We can even pay it forward to people we may not know well. It is easy to feel a scarcity and want to hold on tight to our money and things but when we loosen our grip we can spread kindness.
You Will Love Spreading Kindness!
I know that I can improve in spreading kindness. There are plenty of times when I could do something nice but I feel too tired or busy and I make excuses. What about you? Would you like to spread love and kindness more often?
One thing I have learned from experience is I never regret a kind act. I always feel happy and proud of myself for extending the effort to make someone else happier and more comfortable.
We are all dealing with struggles and when someone treats you unkindly it is probably because they are dealing with something too. But that’s even more reason to put on a smile, say something nice, show appreciation, and give a little help when we can. Always choose kindness.
What are some of your favorite ways to spread kindness? Share in the comments below!