Actions of kindness aren’t just nice thoughts, words, or actions that make a difference. They are different kinds of life, such as saving money to buy groceries, staying up late to help with the kids, or working late to support someone.
They are called actions of kindness for a reason: They involve an effort to change something about a person or thing outside yourself. As you can see with the word “kindness”, it implies some sort of lack in you – you don’t do this kind of kindness in your everyday life.
We all have a tendency to take action without thinking. We have no motivation to get involved in an endeavor that costs time and energy, but which may make a difference in someone’s life. We may be more inclined to intervene in matters that affect only us than those that may impact people other than us.
Indeed, a recent study found that people who contributed only $5 to organizations they didn’t know were more likely to remain invested over time than people who worked for little money but took steps to donate additional funds.
The effects of acting with kindness
They’re described as “act of charity deeds”, and are classified as interventions that reduce self-help anecdotes to a more scientific level.
They’re defined as actions that are intended to benefit someone else directly, and are classified as humanitarian acts.
In his book When To Quit: A Practical Guide To When To Give By Paolo Locche, he describes charitable deeds as actions that target a specific person or group of people, but may also have a indirect effect on other people.
He states that when you target a specific person or group of people, you must use their proper language and gestures in order to help them. You must also put them in the position to feel comfortable in order to make a positive impact on them.
These gestures and language may be different from our everyday speaking and writing styles. They must be used in order to impact the person they are intended to influence.
Give people hope
People need to be reminded time and time again that life is good. We have amazing lives and people care about us and what we do in them.
Our culture tells people to be optimistic, but there is a cost to that. We can make a difference by being aware of the negative things in life and helping others to understand why they happen and what they mean.
By sharing stories of hope, you are giving people a reason to feel positive and happier about themselves. You are also teaching others how to treat others, as you would if you were in their position.
You may not be able to fix problems, but by helping others deal with them, you can put a sense of relief into those who experience them. You also learn from these situations, how bad things can be and how lucky we are to be able to take care of ourselves.
Help people feel worth
Even if you can’t help someone else directly, you can still be a harmful kinder person. By “harmful”, we mean the opposite of “helpful”. We mean the opposite of “invasive”. You can be a harmful person because you give your money and time to non-public charities, instead of focusing on yourself.
For example, you might donate money to a charity that helps people who are homeless, sick, or struggling with an issue. But while these people may need your help, they will not know it is being given to them.
You may think that being a non-public charity donor is hard, but it is also contributing to stress and hidden agendas that people at the charity don’t know about.
Create happy memories
We all have a lifespan. Yours is finite! You cannot make sure that you will be able to create memories that you love and want to tell your friends and family about in the future.
Every moment of every day of your life is a chance to make a positive impact on someone else. You can do this on your own, or with help from a loved one, or even with the aid of an app or toy.
There are several things that can make the difference between a good memory and an excellent memory. One of the greatest things that anyone can do in order to create an excellent memory is to simply tell an funny, meaningful, or inspirational story.
This can be done in their own home, in front of someone else, or even while Outdoors! There are many places where you can share stories with others to make an impact.
Inspire others to act kindly too
One of the most powerful forces in human history has been the effect that kindness has had on us as a species. From the early humans who smiled at each other in groups to the paragons of kindness we see today, the difference a kind act can make.
We know from science that acts of kindness decrease stress in your community and yourself, increase your happiness and satisfaction with life, and even make you more confident and outgoing.
We also know that acts of kindness increase your personal income and business savvy, so if you’re struggling to help others, you may want to look at your business practices first.
If you’re too busy to help yourself or others with acts of kindness, start by establishing a friendly contact with someone nearby. Then you can contribute something more meaningful to their lives.
Improve your personality
Acts of kindness are not just a Christian concept. They touch all cultures, religions, and times periods.
In the Jewish tradition, a sash is thrown over a person’s back and then chased away. The person being kind is then pinned to the ground with a stick or other implement.
In the Roman tradition, an offering is made to a statue of a bearded man. Then, someone comes along and kisses his hand. Finally, another person walks up and kisses his forehead.
Then, the statue is put down and someone says: “You’re finally here!” You can imagine how happy that makes him to be acknowledged by so many people.
The whole process is symbolic of God’s love for his people and for this world. It reminds me of those in my life who love each other very much.
Improve your health
Acts of kindness can make a big difference in your life. For example, giving up just one marshmallow ٪ makes a big difference in how you feel. A small act of kindness can make a large impact on your health and well being.
In his book The Speed of Life: A Revolutionary Approach to Everyday Success, author David Arjemides talks about the importance of choosing an enjoyable activity for about 30 minutes every day to be an act of kindness.
He describes this choice as “downward-facing” – that is, you are choosing an activity that you would ordinarily avoid because you are either afraid or uncomfortable of the situation or person involved.
But by avoiding such an activity and instead choosing an enjoyable but low-risk activity that you would ordinarily avoid, you are actually going to give yourself the opportunity to be very careful, but also to choose an activity that you would enjoy and that you know someone else would appreciate your contribution to their health and well being.
Make the world a better place
At the heart of every great story is an act of kindness. No matter how small, every action we take that is marked by goodwill towards other people causes a difference in the world.
It makes a difference in the way someone else sees the world and how they respond to others. It contributes to our own well-being and that of your friends and family members.
As Nick Busfield, author of Acts of Kindness: How One Act Can Make a Difference, says: “We all have the capacity to participate in acts of kindness. All it takes is the will to do it, but there are ways to make it more rewarding and effective.”
His suggestion? Choose one thing this week to do that may not be what you would normally do, but that you think may be helpful for others. He calls it an ‘act of kindness’.
