Life is chaotic, even on a good day. Unfortunately, all the excessive noise can keep you away from the things that matter most. Still, every day provides the opportunity to be kind to others, yet many folks let the chance pass them by.
When you become intentional about bringing happiness to others, it will only improve your outlook and level of positivity in life. Plus, it feels good to be a decent human being in a world filled with so much negativity.
A Common Fallacy That Equates Kindness to Weakness
You have no clue how the other party will react, but you put yourself out there and show humility. Thankfully, most people will appreciate your kindness, but there’s always the chance that you could be rejected. For instance, what if you were to offer to pay for someone’s groceries in the checkout line?
The person might view your random act of kindness as an attempt to say that they look like they cannot afford their groceries. Then, there will be those people who just flat out feel they don’t need your gratitude as it feels like a handout. When you show someone kindness, it’s like going out on the end of a big tree limb and hoping that it holds.
If you’re on a personal growth journey, then you should know that being kind to others is an excellent place to start. It’s not always easy to be kind, especially if you’re dealing with a rather challenging person. Still, your actions will be rewarding, and you’re paying dividends into the bank of karma.
Why Being Kind to Others Is Important?
Each person has a purpose and a reason why they’re on this planet. Your goal may be to teach young children how to read and write, while another person may be here to help those in need of medical attention. While your purpose isn’t to please others, it’s quite admirable when you go out of your way to be kind.
Some people find being kind to others more comfortable than other folks, but it’s because everyone has unique wiring. Thankfully, the benefits of kindness are remarkable, and anyone can learn how to be a decent human being. Being kind makes the other person feel good, and you will also benefit.
Have you ever heard the saying that kindness makes the world go round? Well, where would society be without the goodness and humility of others shining through the darkness? Now, you should also know that there are medical reimbursements behind these acts.
You have two neurotransmitters in your brain that control your mood. Serotonin is known as the feel-good hormone because it acts as both a mood-altering agent and a hormone, according to the National Institute of Health. When you go out of your way to make someone else feel good, you automatically give yourself a boost of this neurotransmitter, making you feel good.
Have you ever lifted weights to gain strength? The more you work those muscles, the stronger they become. Being kind to others is like working out your muscle groups; the more you work on it, the easier it will become. Additionally, you will become a stronger human being in the process.
31 Habits to Help You to Show Kindness to Others
- If you’re wondering how you can show kindness other than telling someone they look nice, then here are some ways to help you out.
- Go out of your way to smile at others.
- Greet others with a “Good Morning when you enter your workplace.
- Leave your problems behind and focus on those around you.
- Be friendly and cheerful to everyone you meet.
- Say “please” and “thank you” often to show your good manners.
- Give a genuine compliment to someone well deserving.
- Take time to give family and friends warm bear hugs.
- Don’t complain about your life when you are in front of others.
- Listen more than you speak.
- Be eager to forgive because no one is perfect.
- Show gratitude and the things you appreciate about an individual.
- Be a shoulder to cry on when someone is sad.
- Remain honest and keep a high level of confidence.
- Be considerate of others, even if you have differing views or opinions.
- Deliver a card or gift to an individual who is going through a difficult time.
- Be gracious and jovial to those you meet.
- Be patient even when you don’t feel like it.
- Look for approaches to assist others.
- Respect the personal boundaries of folks.
- Be a tutor, teacher, or counselor to someone in need.
- Never gossip or complain about how bad you have it in life.
- Use a nice, gentle voice when communicating with others.
- Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and look at life through their eyes.
- Never interrupt others when they’re speaking.
- Try to learn people’s names, and always address them by it, which makes you seem warm and endearing.
- Believe the best about people, and always give others the benefit of the doubt.
- Go out of your way to speak to those who are lonely or shy.
- Always make time to volunteer to help the less fortunate.
- Apologize when you’ve done wrong, and always be the bigger person.
- Never let a person’s anger or hostility bring out the anger in you.
Being Kind to a Difficult Person
The world would be a boring place if everyone were the same. What if everyone had the same personality as you? Diversity is the spice that keeps this planet unique, as you can learn a great deal from others.
When you want a pear to eat with your salad, you want one that is fresh, juicy, and ripe. You might avoid prickly pears based on their appearance, and you may believe that they are sour and don’t have a good taste. People can be categorized as pears; some are prickly, and others are juicy and sweet.
It’s easy to judge the prickly pear based on the outward appearance, as they seem unappealing. While it’s not a traditional fruit, the prickly pear is often used for medical purposes according to Britannica. Though it’s part of the cactus family, it’s widely used for its fragrant taste that makes amazing jellies, pastries, and teas.
How many times have you judged a book by its cover? If the surface doesn’t have an appealing look or a picture that draws your attention, then you pass it by. You might be missing one of the greatest stories you’ve ever read simply because you were unwilling to look beyond the exterior.
It’s relatively easy to do the same thing when it comes to people. You might catch an individual on a lousy day and judge them based on this one interaction. You didn’t see the argument they had with their spouse that day or the bad news about their health that they received from their doctor.
It’s easy to make snap judgments about people when you don’t have the whole story. While you may pass over the prickly pear, it can be quite valuable and delicious to you. The fact is that sometimes you just catch people on an off day.
Thus, you must show kindness to even those “difficult people.” Perhaps, they’re the ones that need it most.
Final Thoughts on Being Kind to Others
In a world full of negativity and pessimism, you can be the optimist by being kind to others. When you pay for the order in the drive-thru of the person behind you, you’re putting positivity into the atmosphere, and it’s infectious. In many instances, the person who received a blessing from you will go and pay it forward.
When you are kind, you’re blessing another person. If you see someone at work who has been crying, hugging them might be just what they need to make it through the day. What about feeling an unction to give a gift card for groceries to someone at your office?
Perhaps, there was a reason why you felt to do this random act of kindness, and the Universe will make sure all good deeds come back to you. Life is about the journey you make it.
If you choose to be kind to others and live a joyous life, you will be blessed with abundant living. While you may not have a million-dollar home and a fancy car to drive, the payback for kindness will be more prosperous than any monetary value you could assign.
Starting today, go out of your way to be kind. You will see what a positive effect it will have on your life and overall wellbeing. Plus, being kind just makes you feel good.
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