In a world that is constantly in flux, kindness is the only constant. It’s what keeps us going when everything falls apart. Kindness can be as simple as holding a door open for someone or offering to carry their groceries up the stairs. It doesn’t have to cost anything at all and it makes a difference in this ever-changing world. We need kindness now more than ever before and we should try our best to show kindness at every opportunity because who knows how many opportunities we’ll get?

When I’m kind how does being kind to others help me?

When we show kindness to others, it has a positive effect on our mood. We feel good about ourselves and our actions, and we know that we’re making a difference in the world. Kindness is one of the most important things we can offer to others, and it’s something that we should all strive to show more of. We never know who needs kindness the most, and it’s always good to be there for someone in need.

What goes around comes around.

When we’re kind to others, it often comes back to us in the form of kindness when we need it most. We’ve all been there before- we’re having a tough day and we need someone to lend a listening ear or offer some words of encouragement. That’s when it’s nice to know that we’ve been kind to others in the past and that they’ll be there for us when we need them.

Kindness is one of the most important things we can offer to others, and it’s something that we should all strive to show more of. We never know who needs kindness the most, and it’s always good to be there for someone in need. What goes around comes around, and kindness is one of the best things we can put out into the world.

Sometimes we have to be cruel to be kind.

Sometimes kindness means being cruel to someone. For example, kindness means taking care of your body even if you don’t want to. This is kindness because it is good for you and other people will feel happy when they see that. There are other examples of kindness like this. If a child is demanding to touch a hot object – kids are naturally curious – preventing them from doing so may invoke crying and tears of desperation. The inquisitive nature has to be tempered with the experience that fire is hot and it will burn.

The all-consuming curiosity may be subdued and that can cause the infantile self-centred id to go into overdrive.

“Oh, the pain! How dare you stop me from licking the oven” the child wails… Thankfully kindness and the nurturing love of a parent step in to avoid a physical injury.

Here’s a top-five list of simple tasks that you can do to extend some kindness towards others.

1. Make all the beds while they’re out for a while. Helping out with household and domestic responsibilities is a great way to help out someone that may be tired, overworked, and in need of a rest.
2. Remind them to do something that needs to be done at a later time. Not everyone can remember everything that they have to do. Perhaps they’ve been distracted by another task, and a gentle reminder to remember another important activity will be appreciated. Be careful though. Don’t hassle people to get other jobs done when they’re busy with something else.
3. Ask friends or family if they want you to pick up anything from the store on your way home from work. As you’re already making a journey, why not help out by picking up some groceries or other necessities. Five or ten minutes out of your life may mean the world of difference to someone that is rushed off their feet.
4. Offer advice when it is requested. This is an important one. Only offer advice if it is asked for. Some people need to figure things out for themselves, and most people need to make an initial attempt at completing a new task, especially when taking up a new hobby or sport. Lecturing from the very beginning can be offputting and may discourage someone from trying.
5. Compliment someone on their outfit. Giving praise and appreciating someone’s efforts is always going to be welcomed. Be sincere. Never invite sarcasm into a back-handed compliment. It’s not kind and that behavior will come back to you in the future.

And finally…

Taking another look at the quotation by Calvin Malone, “The kindness we extend to others ripples out into the universe endlessly”. I’ve found that helping others, leads to them helping others, and they too help yet more people.

It’s an ever-expanding circle of kindness that makes the up-and-downs of life more bearable for everyone.

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-Matt The Happy Human