Small Acts of Kindness are Huge
February 16
Do you remember how you felt when you had a bad or tough day and a stranger smiled at you? Or said something kind to you? What about the time you did something nice for someone and they still thank you for it?
Each of these small acts of kindness can make a huge impact on someone’s life. It can actually change them forever. It may just what they need on that day that changes everything for them.
Small actions we make can often lead to giant ripples in the lives of someone else. We rarely do something and it effects no one. Everything has a ripple type of effect.
One small action can completely change the life of someone who then performs an act of kindness for someone else.
Doing acts of kindness, big or small will likely have big significances to 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. Smiling puts you in a better mood as well. That simple smile could be the reason someone is lifted out of despair. Just passing a person on the street or in a store and smiling can make their day.
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams
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 that kindness can have a contagious affect on others. In other words, when we carry out tiny acts of kindness, other people see them, inspiring more kindness.
People who have a tendency to do small things to spread kindness are more likely to take action in bigger ways as well.
Let me give you 10 ways small acts of kindness can have an impact.
- Write handwritten letters to someone to make their day.
- 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, care homes or women’s homes.
- Cook a hot meal for a neighbor whose been down on their luck lately.
- Leave snacks in the breakroom at work or front porch for the mailman UPS, or Fedex driver.
- Volunteer at your local Brownies/Scouts or boys’/girls’ clubs.
- Donate books to your local library or to children in need.
- Remove single use plastic from your life. Recycle plastics and other recyclables.
- Leave uplifting notes in self help books at your local bookstore or library.
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.
Be kind today.
