You never know what someone is going through, so do this one thing

It can be difficult to know what someone is going through. They may seem happy on the outside but are struggling on the inside.

Or maybe someone will say something hurtful to us and we’ll take it to heart, but it could have nothing to do with us, but instead, it’s because they are going through hard times.

You never know what someone is going through, so you should always try to show kindness.

Read on to find out how you can show kindness every day:

1) Make it about others

Kindness is about putting your needs and wants aside and focusing on the other person.

It’s about asking yourself what you could do for them. What would make them feel better?

If someone needs help with something, offer to help them in any way possible.

Or if they need a listening ear, someone to talk to. Hear them out.

Sometimes all a person needs is a friend they can talk to.

Simply put, just being there for people can make a big difference in their lives.

2) Donate old clothes, toys, or books to charity

If you have old clothes or toys that you don’t need anymore, why not donate them to charity? Find some charities where you live that collect donations of second-hand items and then distribute them to those in need.

Or if you have old books that you no longer read, why not give them away to someone who will read them?

Look at it this way, these are old things that you may not need or want anymore but they could mean the world to someone else.

3) Let someone go first in line

If you are waiting in line at a store or something, let someone go ahead of you. They may be in a hurry or have something else they need to do.

It’s simple.

Or if you are driving down the road and there is a car trying to merge into your lane, let them in. You’ll be doing them a favor and it will make you feel good to help them out.

4) Give up your seat

If you are on a bus or train and someone else needs your seat more than you do, like an elderly person or a pregnant woman, offer it to them without them having to ask.

Now:

Sometimes we don’t even realize how much a small gesture like this can mean to someone else. Not only will it make the journey easier for them, but it can brighten up their day.

5) Give someone a compliment

Next time you see your mailman or local butcher, why not pay them a compliment? Maybe they’ve lost weight or have a new hairstyle.

Or maybe you could tell your barista at the coffee shop that you love the new flavor of latte they have.

Turns out that giving someone a genuine compliment, even if it’s just small talk, can make their day. And if you do this every day, it can have a big impact on others.

6) Be kind at work

We spend a big portion of our lives working. How well do we know our co-workers? Do we know what they are going through?

Start by taking some time to get to know your co-worker better.

Then, do something nice for them. Show them kindness.

You’ll be surprised at how much more fun work can be when you know there are people there who care about you.

7) Be kind to your loved ones

Sometimes we tend to take the people who mean the most to us for granted.

We forget to tell them how much they mean to us or we don’t take the time to listen to them.

When you’re around your loved ones, make sure that they feel special and important. Take the time to listen and try to understand what they are going through.

Do something nice for your loved ones when they least expect it.

8) Donate blood

Did you know that you can donate blood at your local hospital or blood bank once every couple of months if you are old and healthy enough to do so?

You can even donate platelets if your blood type is O negative.

This is the ultimate gesture of kindness, you could be saving someone’s life!2

9) Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to make someone’s day. You can volunteer at a local animal shelter, a food bank, or at a homeless shelter. You could also volunteer at a school and help with the kids’ activities.

No matter what kind of charity you want to work with, volunteering will brighten up someone’s day and make them feel good about themselves!

10) Treat others how you want to be treated

The golden rule of kindness is treat others the way that you would like to be treated yourself.

What does this mean?

It means showing respect towards everyone and being nice and polite in all situations, even those that aren’t ideal or don’t go your way.

11) Be kind on social media

Did you know that there is a lot of cyber-bullying today? People seem to find it easier to be mean on the internet than in real life.

What can you do about it?

Well, just like in real life, aim to treat people kindly on social media too.

If someone makes a mean comment on your post, don’t write anything mean back to them. Be constructive or take the high road and ignore them.

Instead of sharing mean memes or gifs about other people, share some uplifting memes instead.

Like what people have posted. Give them positive feedback whenever you can.

12) Encourage others to do their best

If you see someone who is struggling with something, give them encouragement. Tell them that you believe in them and that they can do it.

Or if you know someone who has a big dream or goal, encourage them to go for it and don’t let anything get in their way.

In a nutshell, the more encouragement people get, the more likely they are to achieve what they set out to do.

And that will be a great example of kindness in action.

13) Give your time

There are many ways that you can give your time to help others in need. You could:

• Volunteer at a local charity.
• Help out at a homeless shelter.
• Donate your old toys or books to a local library for children who can’t afford to buy their own books.
• Help out at a retirement home by reading bedtime stories or playing games with the

It’s about being kind to other people and making their lives happier and better!

14) Random acts of kindness

You can show kindness to someone you know or even just a stranger.

Have you’ve seen that clip on the internet of a young man offering a bouquet of flowers to complete strangers? Didn’t their reactions bring tears to your eyes?

To show kindness to someone you know, you could:

• Buy a drink for the person behind the counter at a coffee shop.
• Buy a book and then leave it somewhere for someone else to find.
• Buy a homeless person a meal.
• Carry an old lady’s groceries for her.

It doesn’t matter how big or small the gesture is, the person will notice and you might just brighten up their day a little.

15) Be friendly

Smile at people as you go about your day. You’ll make them feel happier just by smiling at them.

If you walk into a room and someone says hi, say hi back. It’s not hard to be nice to other people.

Greet your neighbors as you pass them by.

If you see someone who looks sad or upset, ask them if they are okay.

If you see someone on the street that looks lost, go up to them and see if they need directions. This will only take a few minutes of your time but might save them hours.

16) Practice loving-kindness

Loving-kindness is a Buddhist concept that is defined as wishing well for all beings, with a special wish for the welfare of all living beings. This can be done by:

• Practicing loving-kindness meditation and visualizing the people around you.
• Finding ways to practice loving-kindness in your daily life.
• Sharing your love with others and spread it to everyone you meet.

17) Say thank you

It may seem obvious, one of the first things that we are taught as little kids is to say thank you.

Surprisingly enough, many grown-ups forget to say it.

So, the next time someone does something nice for you, say thank you.

It’s a simple but very meaningful gesture.

18) Do the dishes

Kindness starts at home.

Next time the dishes need to be done or the dishwasher needs to be emptied, instead of arguing whose turn it is to do it, just do it.

This applies to all household chores.

You will surprise your partner or parent by taking initiative and you might just make their day.

19) Bite your tongue

Let’s be honest, there are times when the kindest thing that you can do is not to say anything at all.

There are situations in which speaking will only cause someone pain. You know the old saying, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

20) Be mindful

Mindfulness is a very important aspect of being kind. It is the ability to remain fully conscious and alert in the present moment, aware of what’s happening around you while still being able to think clearly and make good decisions.

Mindfulness can help us become more in tune with our surroundings and help us better see and understand what others are going through.

Mindfulness can be practiced by:

• Meditating for 10 minutes every day, if you don’t have the time or it’s not your thing, at least try practicing for 5 minutes. Just sit down for a moment and focus on your breathing.
• Practicing mindfulness of the body, by sitting or standing still, paying attention to your posture and how you feel.
• Practicing mindfulness of the mind by going on a walk, listening to music or an audiobook while being aware of what’s going on around you and being present in the moment

21) Be kind to animals

Animals are very sentient beings. They feel pain, hunger, and thirst, and suffer just like humans do.

They need the same things that we do. They need food, water, shelter, love, and kindness.

Next time you see a stray, give it some water and food.

If you can, try and find it shelter.

If it has been hurt, give it the medical attention that you would a human being.

22) Be kind when no one is looking

Kindness doesn’t always have to be shown in public.

Have you ever done something nice for someone when nobody was looking? Didn’t it feel great?

A kind act done in private is one of the most rewarding and memorable acts that we can do.

23) Be kind to yourself

Sometimes we forget to be kind to ourselves.

• We are hardest on ourselves.
• We tend to expect so much of ourselves.
• We have a hard time forgiving ourselves.

Sometimes we have a hard time seeing the good in ourselves.

When we are kind to ourselves, it helps us to be kind to others.

So remember, love yourself. Forgive yourself. Be kind to yourself.