Unfortunately, many of us spend at least some of our time being angry at people and making judgments about others. We may think that being like this is natural and we’re just venting some of the frustrations that we are getting from life. We may also think that this venting is a good thing; we’re letting off steam and therefore reducing stress, right?

Wrong!

Most of us will have heard of the phrase “random acts of kindness” and, believe it or not, there is actually a Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. This non-profit foundation’s sole purpose is teaching people to be kind to each other and they encourage this teaching in schools.

This is not just a modern waste of time either, as it not only improves the way pupils interact with each other, it improves their self esteem, their social skills and their academic performance.

Demonstrating acts of kindness is not just good for children; it’s equally good for adults. It’s a fact that when we carry out a kind act, we produce oxytocin, a hormone sometimes known as the love hormone! This hormone calms us and gives us a feeling of wellbeing.

Let’s be honest… did being angry and judgmental ever really make you feel better? Probably not; it just meant that you were re-enforcing in your own mind that the world was full of bad things and bad people. How would that make you feel better or reduce your stress?

Try changing your usual train of thought. Next time you feel angry or are feeling judgmental, try swapping those feelings for something more positive and do something kind instead.

Carrying out random acts of kindness will:

  • Help to re-assure others that the world is not such a bad place after all
  • Make someone smile
  • Make someone’s day
  • Reduce stress and increase feelings of wellbeing in yourself and others
  • Spread kindness

The act of being kind to someone and making them feel happy is likely to encourage make them be kinder to other people too and the more people that you give a random act of kindness to, the more chance that those people will do the same for someone else, and that someone else will pass it to someone else, and so on.

So what things can we do for people to bring some kindness into their lives?

  • Give someone your seat on the bus or train
  • Help someone with directions
  • Speak to a homeless person
  • Check on an elderly neighbour – spend some time chatting with them or if you are going shopping, offer to pick up groceries for them.
  • If someone does something for you on a regular basis – remember to say thank-you and sometimes do so with a gift.
  • Care about the gifts you buy – make the effort to get an appropriate gift for someone. Listen to them and get a feel for their interests and what they like so that you can apply that to your gift buying.
  • If someone you know is going through a tough time – make sure you check in with them to see if they are OK and offer your help and support.
  • Pick up rubbish – if someone has dropped rubbish outside your front gate but on a public pathway, pick it up and put it in the bin, don’t just wait for the council to come and sweep up next week. The longer rubbish is present on the street, the less respect people will have for the area in which they live and this leads to more rubbish being dropped, then graffiti can appear and so it goes on. Take responsibility and take pride in the street you live in.
  • Be kind to the planet – make the effort to recycle as often as you can.
  • Buy your partner, close friend or family member a gift every now and then – even if it’s something small, it’s just something to say that you are thinking about them when they’re not around.
  • Write a note to your partner saying “I love you” and leave it in a place for them to find after you have left the house.
  • Make sure you say thank-you and compliment people that have provided you with a good service. There are so many people that don’t really care about how they carry out their jobs so it’s important to acknowledge and compliment those who do their job well or go the extra mile for us.

These are just some ideas to help give you inspiration. If you use some of them they will enrich both your life and the recipients lives greatly. If we all make more of an effort to be kind, the world will become a better place. Even just a simple smile can brighten someone’s day.

Don’t think small by asking yourself, “What if I do it, but no-one else bothers?” That doesn’t matter, it’s what you do that’s important. You will find that the “warm and fuzzy” feeling you get from carrying out random acts of kindness will make it all worthwhile!

 

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