Acts of charity and service can be helpful for those in recovery—but if that’s why you’re doing them, you’re doing them for the wrong reasons. Kindness is, ultimately, not about you. It’s not about the giver, the bestower of kindness. It’s about the person on the receiving end. It’s about what you give away, not what you get in return.
In short, your acts of kindness should always have a simple goal: To bless somebody else’s day.
That sounds nice in theory, but how does it happen in actual practice? What are the best ways to exhibit true, selfless kindness toward others?
There are plenty of things you could do—starting with these:
- Hold the door open for people who are following you into a building.
- Take the initiative to introduce yourself to new neighbors, colleagues, or classmates.
- Clean out your closets and donate your old clothing.
- Write some positive online reviews for local businesses that you like.
- Listen to people as they share stories, without trying to jump in or top them.
- Donate blood! Find where you can give blood.
- Volunteer somewhere—a nursing home, homeless shelter, or hospital.
- Send a letter to someone you know who is elderly, shut in, or simply lonely.
- Pay someone a compliment, unsolicited.
- Be honest with someone about how much they mean to you.
- Offer to babysit for a young couple you know—for free.
- Find a charity or cause that you care about and pitch in a few bucks.
- Take a meal to someone you know who is having a hard time.
- Pay for the person in line behind you at Starbucks.
There are plenty of ways to show selfless kindness toward others. The way to do it is to just pick one, and then get out there and make it happen.
[cta] What’s your favorite way to show kindness? Tell us on Facebook! [/cta]
