Self Kindness
To become kind, you must begin the kindness-habit journey within yourself. It would be so much easier to be kind to others when you're feeling good about yourself. Do one of these acts of self kindness each day for the next 30 days and notice how much better you feel.
- Recognize one positive aspect of your body.
- Recognize one of your positive personality traits.
- Initiate one self-care act today.
- Spend a full day without whining or complaining.
- Buy yourself flowers.
- Forgive yourself for something you regret.
- Forgive someone's unkindness to you.
- Meditate and be one with the Universe.
- Learn something new.
- Relax and read a book
- Take a walk by yourself in silence.
- Get pampered.
- Buy a special treat for yourself.
- Remind yourself throughout the day that you are loved.
- Take a nap.
- Self love.
- Smile at yourself in the mirror.
- Laugh out loud.
- Think happy thoughts.
Kindness to those Close to You
Now that you're feeling good about yourself, doing kind acts for others will come naturally and easily. Select from any of these suggestions or create your own kind ideas.
- Give someone a long, warm hug.
- Call an elderly relative and chat about their day.
- Before your grocery trip, call a shut-in neighbor or family with small children and offer to pick up something for them.
- Tape a note of thanks to your mailbox for good service.
- Treat a co-worker at coffee break.
- Order pizza and share with co-workers.
- Write a note of appreciation to a co-worker.
- Congratulate your boss for an aspect of leadership well done.
- Congratulate a co-worker for work well done.
- Tell your child how much you love him.
- Tell your child the qualities you most admire in her.
- Tell your spouse or partner their qualities you most admire.
- Thank your family for the routine chores they do.
- Surprise your family by doing one of their chores.
- Put a love note in your family's lunch, briefcase, or book bag.
- Plan a family fun activity every week.
- Have a weekly game night with your family/friends.
- Have a good laugh with your family after dinner with an appropriate story or joke.
Kindness to Others
Being kind to others not only feels good and benefits other people, but it also tends to spread... Those who receive an act of kindness often pay it forward.
- Greet a stranger with a wave, a smile, and a sincere "good morning."
- Smile and be tolerant of morning commuters in a hurry.
- Yield your place in line to someone obviously in a hurry.
- Tape a note and some change to a vending machine for someone who's short of change.
- After a restaurant meal, seek out your server and offer a generous tip along with your personal thanks.
- Pay for the coffee or tea for the person behind you in line.
- Pay for the lunch or coffee break of the person behind you in line at work or school.
- Leave an inspirational quotation on your bus or train seat when you exit.
- Greet a store cashier warmly and sincerely ask about her day.
- Spend an hour at a senior's home reading or chatting.
- Volunteer once a month at a facility that brings you into contact with people you would not normally interact with.
- Leave a positive comment on a website that you enjoy.
- Send a thank you email to the author of a book or article that you enjoy.
- Feed a parking meter that has expired.
- Walk through your neighborhood and pick up trash in other's yards.
- Pack an extra lunch and give it to a homeless person.
- Stop and chat with a homeless person who's a regular near your work or home.
These are great ideas! One thing I do is for every complaint I make to a business re customer service or other problem, when I have a positive experience I ask to speak with a supervisor to let them know the employee did a great job. It's actually fun because they're so used to hearing complaints that it often catches them off guard! Example: On one highway exit ramp I'm on frequently where trucks routinely go much too fast and occasionally roll over, I once followed a truck that slowed down and was very cautious. I called their toll-free 'report the driver' line and said I really appreciated the truck driver driving so safely on the ramp. The cranky woman on the line kept asking me what my complaint was and after saying multiple times I was calling to thank the driver she started laughing and said "well that's a first!", thanked me and cheerfully said she'd tell the owner.
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