Forgetting to Spread Kindness

It's no mystery that kindness can impact a person's life, no matter how small the gesture may seem to us. As we get caught up in everyday hustle, we forget to give back warmness to others.

3 compliments a day

I gave myself the challenge of giving a minimum of 3 compliments a day, preferably to strangers. We all have seen someone wearing an outfit we like or a hairstyle that we always wanted to try, but very little of us end up saying anything. Why is that?

I can name countless times when a stranger complimented me and it made my day. Just a small act of such kindness goes a longer way than you might realize.

Self-Affirmations

I'm a firm believer that love starts from within. I used to struggle with self-confidence for most of high school, and only saw the negatives of my life. When I changed my mindset to an optimistic perspective, I began to see the beauty in myself, and from there the beauty around me began to flourish as well.

Self-love can be practiced many different ways, but here are a few personal favorites that helped me transform my mindset:

1. Naming 5 things I like about myself (doesn't have to be physical features)

2. Treating myself when I believed I deserved it, such as getting myself clothes I wanted or new makeup after completing a task I struggled with before.

3. Self-affirmations in the mirror while doing my makeup or skincare.

Keep an open mind

There's no doubt that all of us have done something we wouldn't normally do under normal circumstances, whether it includes lashing out, saying something ruder than intended, or even just giving a nasty glare. However, when others do it to us, we tend to take it personal and grow resentment for the other individual, even if they might be going through negative circumstances as well.

Of course, there are always actions that are inexcusable no matter the circumstances. Do not mistake this tip as being too nice and letting others get away with mistreatment. Simply understand that not everything is against you, and if someone close to you acts out, approach them in an understanding matter rather than an argumentative one.

For example, if I feel like a close friend of mine is acting distant or even slightly rude, I will talk to them privately about the matter and listen to their perspective, rather than just leading to conclusions. I've found that this approach has saved many friendships in my life and avoided many conflicts.

Write a letter

I don't know why writing letters has become so rare these days. As I got older, the amount of letters I received from friends and family decreased dramatically. However, I don't know one person who doesn't feel touched when they receive a handwritten letter from someone.

Taking a few minutes out of your day to write a letter to someone, whether it be casual or for a special occasion, can make someone's day. Every time I get a letter myself I always read it to myself multiple times and smile, reminding myself that I am loved.

Volunteer or donate

A good deed can make anyone in need feel appreciative, but we often times forget that the individual doing the deed can receive happiness as well.

When I began my volunteering journey at the food bank, I thought nothing of it. I was simply handing out food to those who needed it. But as I came face to face with those I was helping and watching their eyes light up, it made me feel 100x better. Feeling like you made a positive impact on someone's life can really make a difference, and after every shift I had I would always leave feeling better than before, knowing I helped many families get food in their bodies.