In my last article I commented that we could bring kindness back into our world and this article will explore how small acts of kindness can do just that!
Can you remember how you felt when having had a really hard day a stranger smiled at you? Or the time you helped your neighbour with something simple and how she still thanks you for it? Each of these small acts of kindness can make a huge impact on someone’s life.
Small actions often lead to giant ripples. One small action can completely change the life of someone who then performs a kindness for someone else. The cycle or ripples caused continue and grow long past the initial small act of kindness.
No matter how big or small the kindness is, it’s also very likely to have a significant impact on your own mental health. According to psychologists and researchers, the smallest acts of kindness can create a rebound effect on not only the receiver’s psyche but your own as well.
For example, a smile increases their level of comfort along with making them happier. It puts you in a better mood as well. That simple smile could be the reason someone is lifted out of despair.
Tiny acts of kindness can make a change in two ways; they are the catalyst for others to start invoking their own small kindnesses and they have a contagious affect on others. In other words, when we carry out tiny acts of kindness, other people see them, inspiring more kindness.
Let’s look at another example. If you are friendly to the bus driver, he then in turn will be more likely to be more considerate to the next passenger. That passenger is more likely to go home and have a positive conversation with their family.
People who have a tendency to do small things to spread kindness are more likely to take action in bigger ways as well.
Ten Small Acts with Big Impacts
Here are ten ways small acts can have an impact.
- Learn first aid. Learning first aid principles can help you be prepared to act if someone needs help in an emergency.
- Be a part of a community clean up. Help clean up a park, neighborhood or local beach area.
- Donate toys to the local prison or women’s shelter.
- Donate flowers to someone in need in places like hospices or care homes.
- Cook a hot meal for a neighbour who has been down on their luck lately.
- Leave snacks in the staff room.
- Volunteer at your local Brownies/Scouts.
- Donate books to your local library or to children in need.
- Remove single use plastic from your life. Recycle plastics and other recyclables.
- Leave a book for someone else to enjoy.
If you are looking for even more ideas on how make a difference through small acts of kindness then take a look at the compilation I put together on Twitter some months ago – you can view them here but will need to be logged into Twitter to see them.
Whatever you choose to do, each tiny act of kindness can have a big impact on others in ways you may never imagine. Each tiny act is observed and passed along to another making it grow into a big act.