101 Simple Ways to be Kind to Yourself and Others

by | Feb 29, 2020

The Dalai Lama stated, “kindness is my religion”.  Isn’t that so ridiculously beautiful?!

Can you imagine what a wonderful world it would be if we all adopted kindness as our faith?

So, what does kindness mean to you? Do you practice kindness regularly?

Don’t get down on yourself if you think you aren’t kind enough. Beating yourself up wouldn’t be being kind to YOURSELF!

Consistently practicing kindness can be tough. Most days we’re so focused on completing our list of 100 tasks and as a result, we’re low on patience.

When we feel stressed it can be tough to get out of our own heads and focus on being kind. We might not even feel like being kind when we’re feeling emotionally and physically depleted.

The good news is that you can rewire your brain to be kinder so that being kind to yourself and others will become second nature! Keep reading to find out how!

 

How to increase kindness

 

1. Use LOVING KINDNESS MEDITATIONS

This is one of the best ways to train your brain to be kind. It involves cultivating love and kindness for yourself and others. You can find a TON of them free on YouTube.

 

2. PRACTICE GRATITUDE

When we feel grateful, we feel happy. When we feel happy, we are kinder! It’s as simple as that.

 

3. START BEING CONSCIOUSLY KINDER

Pause to think about what a kind response would be. Rather than acting out of anger or going with a knee jerk reaction STOP!

Take a breath and consider what act of kindness could be used at the moment. It can as simple as biting your tongue during a disagreement or stopping negative self-talk.

 

4. PUT YOURSELF IN ANOTHER’S SHOES

By imagining what it would be like to experience another’s circumstances we become more empathetic. When we feel empathy for another it significantly increases the likelihood of kind behavior.

 

 

Reasons why kindness is important

 

1. IT’S GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

Studies show that it’s not only a mental boost that we get from being kind but that it can also improve our physical health and make us live longer.

2. SOMEONE MIGHT NEED IT

You never know what someone is going through. Your act of kindness might be exactly what they need to lift them up and help them get through a bad day.

 

3. PEOPLE WILL WANT TO BE AROUND YOU

Who doesn’t love being around someone who is kind?! By being kind, you will easily attract people to you.

 

4. KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS

Kindness has a ripple effect. When you are kind to others, they, in turn, are inspired to be kind. It makes the world a better place! Never underestimate what ONE act of kindness can do!

 

5. WHAT YOU GIVE YOU GET

If you are kind you are MUCH more likely to receive kindness from others. It’s the law of attraction at work!

 

6. IT GIVES YOU AN EMOTIONAL BOOST

Being kind releases endorphins in the same way physical activity does. It makes you feel happy, energetic, and at peace.

 

7. INCREASES SELF-LOVE

When you are kind to others it makes you feel good about yourself. By being kind to others you are much more likely to treat yourself with kindness.

 

101 ways to be kinder to yourself and others

 

  1. Say hello to a stranger
  2. Pay for the person behind you at a drive-through or toll booth
  3. Believe in yourself
  4. Hold the door open for someone
  5. Say “I love you” to yourself
  6. Smile at someone you pass walking down the street
  7. Give someone a compliment
  8. Make someone feel included
  9. Write a kind letter, email, or card for someone
  10. Write a kind letter to yourself
  11. Volunteer
  12. Help someone at work who’s overwhelmed by tasks
  13. Let someone in your lane in busy traffic
  14. Release any feelings of guilt
  15. Buy yourself flowers
  16. Believe in your dreams
  17. Give someone a hug
  18. Make cookies for your coworkers
  19. Give someone your full attention when they’re talking to you
  20. Leave a sticky note with an inspiring message somewhere random in public
  21. Name 3 things you like about yourself
  22. Be compassionate
  23. Call a friend you haven’t talked to in awhile
  24. Quit complaining for a day (or even better – a week!)
  25. Buy a small gift for a friend or family member for no reason
  26. Bring your office breakfast (croissants, bagels)
  27. Forgive someone
  28. Be kind to yourself by practicing self-care
  29. Spend quality one on one time with your child
  30. Practice gratitude by genuinely thanking someone
  31. Think before you speak
  32. Say please
  33. Talk to someone who seems shy or lonely at a social gathering
  34. Let someone go in front of you in the line at the store
  35. Take yourself on a date
  36. Be open-minded
  37. Take the time to return an item you find to the lost and found
  38. Babysit a friend’s children for free
  39. Pick up litter
  40. Let perfectionism go
  41. Each night acknowledge what you accomplished that day
  42. Hold the elevator for someone (even if you’re in a rush!)
  43. Don’t take yourself too seriously
  44. By a friend lunch
  45. Put a stray shopping cart in a parking lot away
  46. Splurge on something you want for yourself
  47. Shovel a neighbor’s driveway or rake their leaves
  48. Lend someone your favorite book
  49. Tip a server or delivery driver extra well
  50. Ride your bike to work or walk (take care of the environment!)
  51. Accept a compliment from someone
  52. Comment on someone’s blog post
  53. Buy someone coffee
  54. Be a good friend to yourself
  55. Don’t settle
  56. Let someone have a parking space
  57. Call your parents
  58. Accept yourself
  59. Move on from your mistakes
  60. Challenge your negative self-talk
  61. Be flexible
  62. Make a list of your strengths
  63. Be happy for someone else’s success and tell them!
  64. Celebrate your accomplishments
  65. Cook someone dinner
  66. Set personal boundaries
  67. Be respectful (even if you disagree or don’t like the person!)
  68. Put your judgments to the side
  69. Fix the paper jam in the printer at work
  70. Forgive yourself
  71. Stand up for someone
  72. Put your phone away when spending time with someone
  73. Buy a homeless person a meal
  74. Give up your seat on public transit
  75. Remember people’s birthdays
  76. Tell someone you love them
  77. Don’t gossip
  78. Say excuse me rather than push past someone
  79. Ask for what you need
  80. Remember someone’s name
  81. Encourage someone
  82. Say “no” to things you don’t want to do
  83. Talk to the cashier checking you out
  84. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes
  85. Keep your word to yourself
  86. Invite a lonely friend over for the holidays
  87. Practice patience (with yourself and others)
  88. Give someone coupons you don’t need
  89. Give a positive review to a business you had a good experience with
  90. Donate your old clothes
  91. Appreciate your quirks
  92. Tip a street musician
  93. Invest in yourself
  94. Watch someone’s animal while they’re on vacation
  95. Tell yourself “I am enough”
  96. Leave change you find on the street for someone else
  97. Put change in someone’s expired parking meter
  98. Honor your needs
  99. Practice self-compassion
  100. Donate blood
  101. Respect yourself

Until next time!

Jen x

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like 8 Days of Self-Care For A Happier You!

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Jen Ryan