Be kind to yourself, especially when things go wrong or when you feel self-critical, by acknowledging you tried your best and not blaming yourself excessively. This practice is protective of mental health, reduces the risk of depression, and allows you to learn from mistakes without harsh self-judgment.
Intentionally perform acts of kindness for others, whether small or large. This practice improves your own well-being, mental health, and relationships, and can even help you achieve your goals.
Actively look out for and notice acts of kindness happening around you, no matter how small. This helps counteract the negative bias often presented in news and media, giving a more accurate and positive view of the world, and builds on itself by making you more aware of kindness.
Believe that empathy is a skill you can improve, and actively read novels to gain insight into diverse perspectives and experiences. Reading novels helps you understand others’ feelings and thoughts, thereby enhancing your empathic abilities.
When someone is speaking, give them your full, undivided attention, making them the center of your world in that moment, rather than being distracted by your phone or other people. This is a profoundly kind act that strengthens relationships and shows genuine respect and care.
Before reacting to an annoying situation, pause and consider if your heightened irritation is due to external stressors (e.g., tiredness, other annoyances) rather than solely the current situation. This helps in responding more kindly and less reactively to others, acknowledging that your state influences your perception.
Offer help in situations where you think you can make a small difference, even if you fear misinterpreting the situation or looking foolish. The potential benefit of kindness outweighs the small risk of embarrassment, as most people appreciate the gesture.
As a leader or manager, prioritize ethical and kind behavior in the workplace. This approach leads to higher success rates, increased employee retention, reduced absenteeism, and greater job satisfaction among staff.
Strive to ensure your external actions, especially in challenging situations, align with your inner values of kindness and compassion. This alignment contributes to personal happiness, contentment, and overall well-being.
Make a conscious effort to perform small acts of kindness for your partner or family members daily, such as making them a cup of tea or bringing them water. These simple gestures, though small in effort, have a disproportionately large positive impact on strengthening relationships.
Deliberately choose one day to perform multiple (e.g., five) acts of kindness rather than spreading them out, to experience a more concentrated boost in well-being. Performing multiple kind acts in one day can lead to a more significant and immediate boost in personal well-being.
Take time to recall kind things you have done for others. This practice can immediately improve your mood, boost your well-being, and even have surprising physical benefits like increased strength.
At the end of each day, reflect on and note down three kind things you observed, received, or performed, similar to a gratitude practice. This practice intentionally shifts your attention to kindness, making you more aware of it throughout the day and priming you to perform more kind acts.
Ensure all employees feel valued in the workplace. Valued employees are more likely to engage in “organizational citizenship behaviors” (e.g., helping with shared tasks, watering plants), which significantly improve overall workplace morale, job satisfaction, and reduce absenteeism.
If a staff member is underperforming, engage in a kind, honest conversation to understand the underlying reasons, explore if the role is a good fit, or if adjustments can be made. This approach is kinder to the individual and the team, potentially leading to a better outcome for all, including long-term loyalty and improved performance.
When making difficult decisions (e.g., redundancies), be transparent, objective, and fair in your communication. Honesty, delivered kindly, allows people to process difficult news better and can even open up unforeseen opportunities for those affected.
Deliberately follow and engage with people who post positive, reasonable, and nuanced content on social media, while avoiding engagement with negative or hateful posts. This helps to shift algorithms to promote more positive content and contributes to a more constructive online environment.
If introverted, start with small, low-pressure acts of kindness for people you know, or simple interactions like asking “How are you?” to a shopkeeper. This approach helps build comfort and confidence without triggering social anxiety, making kindness more accessible.
When performing a kind act, do not take a neutral or seemingly negative response personally; assume the other person might be busy or preoccupied. This prevents misinterpretation and protects your own well-being, especially if you tend to interpret others’ reactions negatively.
Choose acts of kindness that genuinely resonate with you and fit your personality and preferences, rather than forcing yourself into activities that don’t feel authentic. This ensures that your kindness efforts are sustainable and enjoyable, making you more likely to continue them.
Engage in kind acts, whether anonymous or public, and don’t question your motives too much if the act is authentic and benefits others. Both anonymous and public acts of kindness improve your well-being, and the ultimate goal is to get kind things done, regardless of the personal feeling of satisfaction.
Mentally prepare and decide in advance that you will step forward and act heroically if a situation arises where you can save a life or perform a significant act of kindness. This pre-commitment can overcome hesitation in critical moments, enabling you to act when others might not.
In any interaction or environment, consciously aim to leave the situation slightly better than how you found it. This mindset fosters a continuous practice of positive contribution and kindness.