Four Ways to Spread Some Kindness

I think we need to spread some kindness in the world. Now more than ever. Our world doesn’t exactly feel like a place full of sunshine, rainbows and happiness right now. If we are being honest, it is a pretty miserable place sometimes.

We just need to turn the news on to be reminded of all the crap that is going on in the world. From the climate change disaster to war destroying countries and shitty political leaders to an increasing amount of hate.

It’s not surprising if you feel gutted by how terrible our world seems. I mean, I totally do. Sometimes it just feels all doom and gloom. It makes you question whether there is anything good in the world.

That’s Where Kindness Comes In

When it feels like there is nothing good in the world, it’s easy to get caught up and feel disheartened. But rather than simply accepting it and turning into a miserable bastard (which I totally am) then how can we change it?

Each of us can try to make the world a little bit better. We aren’t going to miraculously fix the shit storm that is Brexit or the climate crisis.

However, we can make our immediate world a bit brighter just by spreading some kindness. The smallest acts of kindness can go a long way – especially when the world seems so terrible.

Across the world, so many people face prejudice and hatred on a daily basis, for whatever reason. We can do our small part to combat that. With so little kindness in the world, just being nice to people can make a difference.

Use Your Words

Whenever my sister and I would be having yet another slagging match, my mum would always say the same thing.

‘If you’ve not got anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all.’

Our words have power. Sometimes we need to use that power to call out people who are twats to make the world a better place. However, you can also use that power another way by helping to spread kindness.

Complimenting someone, or just generally saying nice things, don’t cost a penny but they can make things a bit brighter.

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I know when someone gives me a compliment (without having to practically beg for it), it is such a lovely feeling. A compliment can give someone’s day a boost and make them feel happier.

So why not give it a go? Just give someone a compliment.

Tell your bestie how incredible they are. Let your work pals know they’re doing an amazing job. If you see a random girl in the club toilet with a cute outfit, tell her how fab she looks.

Just use your words to say something nice and make someone’s day a bit brighter. It doesn’t seem like much but a little goes a long way.  What you say can make someone’s day and give them a happy boost.

[Related Post: How to Pick Yourself Up When You’re Down]

Give A Helping Hand

If you’re being honest, how kindly are using your time? I know that I spend way too much time lying on the sofa watching Netflix or playing stupid games on my phone.

And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We all have our own struggles to deal with. It’s important to look after ourselves by relaxing and resting.

However, I also know that I could down on the time spent watching Netflix. If I did then it would free up some time that I could use for doing something good. Even just an hour a week is enough. It would be possible to use my time to spread some kindness.

There are so many different ways to use your time kindly. Is there is a charity which means something to you, then why not spend time volunteering? But it can also be simple things like reaching out to chat with a friend who’s going through a tough time or giving your mum a hand with the washing up.

Tone Down The Judgement

I think that part of human nature is that we are judgemental. We are all guilty of judging someone at some point, Whether we’ve just met them or they’re a stranger in the street, we are all guilty of snap judgements.

‘That person seems so stuck up.’ ‘Have you seen so and so’s new haircut?’ ‘I can’t stand them because they seem like a total bitch.’

We’ve all done it. Don’t beat yourself up about it because it doesn’t make you a terrible person. But it isn’t the nicest thing that we’ve ever done. Judging people gets us nowhere.

Those snap judgements tend not to be true anyway. I remember on my first day of uni, I met a girl who I thought would be a total stuck up bitch. Fast forward five years and we are still best friends because she has a heart of gold.

The next time you meet someone and start judging, try to stop yourself and actually get to know them instead. If they turn out to be a massive twat after that, then at least you tried!

A Small Gesture

As much as I’d love to, I’ve not got the funds for enormous grand gestures like flying my pals to the Bahamas for the week or buying my mum a designer handbag. But most of us can spread some kindness with a smaller gesture.

There is nothing better than when someone says ‘I saw this and thought of you’. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy to know that someone has gone out of their way to make you feel a bit happier.

When you are going about your daily life, think more about your loved ones. What can you do to make their day a little brighter?

The next time you’re doing a food shop, you could buy your best pal’s favourite chocolate. If your sister has been wanting to get her hair done and you’ve got some spare cash, you could give her some money towards it. Take your grandma out for lunch (my nanna loves a Subway) and a chat.

It doesn’t have to cost half your salary. Sometimes it doesn’t have to cost anything. Just doing something small that lets someone know you were thinking about them and wanted to make them happy.

With our world feeling so miserable and full of hatred, I think that it’s so important for us to just be kinder to each other.

You don’t have to always buy people gifts or walk around telling people how amazing they are. If you do, chances are, that you’ll get on people’s tits very quickly and probably end up in your overdraft. But can just spread some kindness and be a good person.

I bloody love a motivation Pinterest quote (here is my board full of positivity & quotes) and saw one that said ‘if you can’t find the sunshine, then be the sunshine.’

So how can you be the sunshine in the world?

Hannah xx

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