2020 is the year for kindness. We’ve barely begun the year, and already, we’ve heard kindness mentioned a lot - yay! Here are a few examples:
- “Let kindness be your plan.” – Bob Goff
- “Kindness is the word of 2020 – in business and life!” – Gary Vaynerchuk
- “Hey, if you see a chance to be kind to someone tomorrow, take it,” he said. “I think we need it.” – Brad Pitt, Golden Globe Acceptance Speech
- Megan Markle and Prince Harry started the year by spotlighting @goodnews_movement, which “celebrates acts of kindness and good news in our global community.”
- The organization Planned Acts of Kindness has declared 2020 to be the Year of World Kindness.
It’s great to see so many influential people standing up for kindness. At Inspire Kindness, we believe that each one of us should be incorporating kindness into our goals and resolutions for this year. Being kind has so many positive impacts—some on yourself and some on others. We believe that kindness isn’t just something we should want—kindness is something we need in our lives.
Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate - even when people don’t deserve it. It is doing beautiful things with no agenda and no expectation for something in return.
How many of us truly live each day with kindness at the front of our minds? Start by asking yourself these questions:
- Do you stop and take the time to help others?
- Do you tend to use sarcasm or understanding more in your everyday language?
- Do you patiently listen to our coworkers and friends when they need to talk?
- Do you do something for somebody else ‘just because’?
- Are you generous with your time and resources?
- Now be honest, how is your road rage?
Being kind to just one other person can have a massive chain reaction. Sure kind acts can turn a bad day into a good one, but kindness can also help people make different choices that impact their entire lives. Once someone has received compassion, they are more likely to share it with someone else, and thus, the cycle keeps going. Think about a time someone has gone out of their way to help you out. Doesn’t it make you want to pay it forward and help others?
So go ahead, jump on the kindness bandwagon! You can positively affect yourself, your friends, your community, and, believe it or not, the world. Here are some ways you can incorporate kindness into your 2020.
Be Kinder to Yourself
It starts with you. To positively impact the world, you need to start with yourself. Begin by taking small steps each day to be kind to yourself, which will improve your happiness as well as help you build your self-esteem. Here are some ideas to get started:
- Write down 10 things you like about yourself. Read them each morning.
- Put positive messages on sticky notes and put them where you’ll see them: your bathroom mirror, your dashboard, your desk at work.
- SMILE. Smiling on the outside can help you feel better on the inside!
- Take time for yourself. Try a yoga class, go to bed earlier, or read a new book. Spending some time on yourself will help you appreciate what you have.
- Don’t compare yourself to others. We’re all different, and we all have different strengths.
- Be grateful. Think about all the things you have accomplished in your life. Think of your loved ones. Make sure you show gratitude for each of your blessings.
- Be kind to your body. Do your best to make healthy choices each day. A healthy body and a healthy mind will help you live your life to the fullest.
- Try to be less sensitive when others are critical. It’s a powerful skill to be able to smile, brush things off, and move on.
Be Kinder to Others
Similar to being kinder to yourself, you can take small steps to be kind to those around you. How can you be even more intentional about your next act of kindness? Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Smile and say hello to people you see in the morning: at the gym, at the coffee shop, in your office building, etc.
- Ask your coworkers how their day is going—and really listen when they answer. Following up with questions will show them that you care about what they’re going through.
- Be polite: always say please and thank you when asking for something.
- Call or text friends and family members you haven’t talked to in a while. Catching up with old friends is always lovely to do, and you never know how much it might mean to someone when they hear from you.
- Try to be less critical of others. Everyone is going at their own pace, and everyone is fighting their own battles. Instead of judging someone else, ask if there is a way you can help.
- Make time for others. Taking time out of your schedule for someone else is one way to show others how much they mean to you.
These are just a few ways that you can be kinder in this new decade. Just make some of these small changes, and you might be surprised by how your life is impacted. Kindness is life-changing! Your happiness will improve, and it’ll feel good to know that you’ve positively affected friends and loved ones around you. You might start a chain reaction of kindness in your community!
Happy New Year! Cheers to Kindness in 2020!