The world is pretty confusing place! I mean, when you look around, there’s so much going on that it’s not hard to see why people would be so down about it. It strikes me that amidst the confusion of the world, everyone has their own battles. Everyone is journeying their own path, and that can be hard as hell! But how can we help make the world a better place for others? Well, maybe we could all be just a little bit kinder…

What even is kindness anyway?

It’s a big question! And quite frankly, it makes my brain hurt if I think about it for too long. Most simply put, I think kindness is just spreading love; doing something nice for other people simply because you can. Kindness is forgiving when it isn’t asked for. It’s helping when and where you can. It’s giving the compliment that can really brighten somebody’s day. Kindness knows no boundaries. I think this quote sums it up better than I ever could:

One who is kind is sympathetic and gentle with others. They are considerate of others’ feelings and courteous in their behaviour. They have a helpful nature. Kindness pardons others’ weaknesses and faults. Kindness extends to all- to the aged and the young, to animals, to those of low station as well as those of high.

Ezra Taft Benson

It’s never too small!

Have you ever been in a situation in which you feel like you good deed might go to waste? Maybe I’m the only one to feel this way sometimes. But kindness and love never lay wasted. They’ll always brighten someone’s day. Maybe you think that your compliment isn’t that big of a deal- say it anyway, it might brighten their day. Perhaps you think that buying a coffee for your friend is too small of a gesture- do it regardless, it will bless them endlessly! See, what you think is just small action could mean the world to the recipient.

Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.

Princess Diana

It starts at home

Perhaps the way to start being kinder to others is to start being kinder to ourselves. We live in a society which tells us that it’s perfectly acceptable to put ourselves down. It is really not the case! Even today, I went to tweet something derogatory about myself; I had to stop myself before I pressed send on the tweet. What I wanted to tweet was only meant to be a joke but i had to decide that I’m worth more than talking about myself like that. We should start being kinder to ourselves. How we treat others is a reflection of how we treat ourselves so it’s no surprise that if we’re not kind to ourselves it’s harder to be kind to others. When speaking about myself, I try to think “would I speak about my friend like this?” If the answer is no, then I know that I need to start being kinder to myself.

Let’s make kindness the norm

There’s so much confusion and hurt in the world! It can really be hard to get through the day without something bringing you down. Let’s all try be a generation who decide to switch the script. Instead of being so caught up in ourselves, let’s become more intentional about spreading kindness in the lives of others. We can all start small. We can all do something. It doesn’t have to be a lot, just something.

Wherever there is a human being, there us an opportunity for kindness

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Just think how much better the world would be if we were all just a little bit kinder.