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

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