Kindness is Free, Spread It

Kindness is a way of life that is empowering.  It is a way to make our own and others’ lives meaningful. When we are kind, we communicate better with others, share sufferings, and provide positive energy in others’ lives. While some people are born with a kind heart, others can cultivate kindness by choice. There is no extent to kindness and you can’t just be kind enough. So, here are some tips to be kinder to people, even when we don’t feel like it. Image Courtesy: Getty

William Arthur Ward had said, “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” Imagine you are having a bad day and you go out to have lunch with a frown on your face and the lunch vendor gives out your food smiling at you. Don’t you immediately start feeling light and happy? That’s the power of a smile and smiling at everyone makes you a kind person because you are giving them a reason to smile back. Image Courtesy: Getty

“You have to love yourself first before you can ever love someone else.” The first step is to love your own body and mind. Remember we all have weaknesses. Take time to become more self-aware and use this learning to be kinder to both yourself and to others. Image Courtesy: Getty

The greatest gift of kindness to another person is to be present with them in the moment, to be listening with care and attention. When talking to someone, learn to listen sincerely until they're done telling their thoughts and story- that’s the best way to be kind. Image Courtesy: Getty

Being optimistic ensures that your acts of kindness are committed with genuine joy and cheerfulness rather than with reluctance or out of a sense of duty or service. Image Courtesy: Getty

Don’t you carry the warm glow of kinder people around in your heart? Likewise, other people will carry your act of kindness in their hearts. Reflect on the people who have been kind to you so, in turn you can be kind to others. Image Courtesy: Getty

If it’s too late and you’ve already said something mean, apologize to the person you’ve been unkind to—“I know I was angry about what you’ve done, but I shouldn’t have said what I said. I’m sorry.” Image Courtesy: Getty

When you are feeling an urge to be unkind, ask yourself- is it because you’ve had a bad morning, or because you’re feeling hurt or insecure or because the other person has said something that has made you angry or upset? Image Courtesy: Getty

If you have been hurt by someone and you want to be unkind, acknowledge the part that hurts you and talk it out with somebody else. This is the best way to deal with your insecurities. Image Courtesy: Getty

If you are meaning to send a cheque to an NGO working for underprivileged children, and have been postponing it because the post office is half a mile away, mark it down in your calendar and you are more likely to do it. Image Courtesy: Getty

Don’t judge people, including yourself. When we judge ourselves, we give others the power to judge us too; and we don’t like the way it feels. It can be very hard to not judge yourself or others but give it a try by seeing it from outside of your body. Image Courtesy: Getty