Easy and meaningful ways to lend a helping hand
A huge thank you to my followers who contributed some awesome ideas on how they would make the world a better place in a small way
Allow someone else their time to shine – if you’ve got your eye on a leadership or managerial position take note of this one especially. If you don’t, still do it. I love seeing people SHINE!
Give an elderly person some of your time. Sit, talk, listen, hold their hand, make eye contact, and give them a hug
Recycle, Save the planet
Pick up your dog poop
Ask someone how they are, and wait for AND listen to their response
Give someone a hug – try to maintain the connection for 12 seconds. That makes for an awesome hug
Cook someone a hearty meal, either in person or leave it on their door step
Volunteer for a cause
Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated. All the time
Travel respectfully
Declutter and donate
Donate blood or plasma
Make eye contact
Simply smile and say hello to everyone you pass on the street – Lucy Patterson
Share your own story of survival (because we’ve all fought our own battles that will strike a chord with someone else in the world). Here’s part of mine. “there is always someone worse off than you. Be grateful”
Do what you love. That alone will inspire others
Respect others at all times, no matter who they are. This includes homeless people, employees, cleaners the people who make your coffee in the morning
Be kind – random acts are the best
Every one should learn to say ‘thank you’ for every small act of kindness they receive, and say it like they mean it
Tell someone they did a good job. Better yet, tell their boss
Don’t listen to, or participate in, gossip (bloody hard to do…but it’s good for the soul and makes life so much more simpler!)
Don’t buy trashy magazines or click on click-bait headlines (I KNOW it’s a challenge!)
Compliment someone on how they look, be it how happy they seem, how bright-eyed they our, how awesome their outfit is…
Gift giving without the expectation of anything in return
Adopt a rescue pet
Show a small act of kindness without expecting anything back in return. Buy someone a coffee, give a compliment
Don’t litter
If someone makes a mistake, stuffs up, gives you the wrong coffee, forgets to add sauce to your hot dog, don’t chide them. Tell them its ok. Everyone makes mistakes
Focus on the good
Spend time with your friends and true family
Create art. Paint a painting, sculpt, write a poem, produce a beautiful song. Share it with the world. Or just one special person.
Spend non-interrupted time with a child. Give them your 100% focus
By reading and telling positive stories, stories of hope and love
Be kind to, and learn to look after and love yourself first. Until you love yourself you’re no good to anyone. Learn to practice self-care
Secretly send someone money in an envelope when they are in need. Someone did this for me last year when I was going through a hard time. You naughty someone. Thank you
Pay it forward
Send a letter, email, tweet, or text message out of the blue
Sprinkle kindness like it’s fairy dust
Listen without passing judgement
Smiles, pleases and thank you’s. Express gratitude often. Personally, I like to make gratitude a habit!
Life is short. Look after your family and close friends, those you love, and to cap it all off, be more considerate to others, whether you know them or not
Give someone your seat on a bus, train, or when waiting for something
Don’t judge others, especially by what you do and don’t see on Facebook. You have no idea what is really going on in someone’s life until you have walked a day in the life of their shoes
Give your pet your full attention. After all, they give you their life, give them a chunk of yours
Mentor or coach someone for free
State things constructively so we problem-solve creatively, ignite our passions and clearly move toward ideals and not form habits of avoidance/depression. Simple rule to be applied in simple ways… but a big lesson overall! E.g. “don’t run inside = please walk inside, run outside”, “Don’t make a mess = let’s take care of the dinner table”, “Don’t forget = please remember”, “I want to clean the car so that I don’t have to have a dirty car = I want to take pride in my car so I will take care of it, starting with a good wash”
Show someone how to do something. Pass on your knowledge!
Drive intelligently. It’s not a race. And put away your phone. You don’t need it when you drive.
Have everyone give their co workers at lest one compliment a day
Educate yourself. Learn about other cultures, faiths, ideas, languages, people, history…
Just think about it – if we all did one small thing, even if it was only every now and then, imagine the impact we could have on the world!
