Tag: being kind

WANT A HAPPY LIFE? USE THIS ONE SECRET

The other morning, I had the pleasure of sharing coffee and conversation with my friend Nick. We always have a great time together and discuss many topics deeply. We rarely engage in small talk and I love that.

One subject we discussed was the secret to having a happy life. It will also earn you a great deal of respect from both friends and strangers. You will still have the occasional rough day, but even on those days you will have help keeping your spirits up!

What is the amazing secret that can do all of this? It is being kind to others. Yes, this may sound like a Mr. Rogers idea. It really should be common sense. When I trained people both as a bartender and a postal worker, I stressed the importance of being kind.

Many people view being kind as something you do for others. That is only half true. When you are kind at work, whether that is to your coworkers or customers, it helps the day go by smoother and quicker. It is true that not everyone will reciprocate, but let that be their problem. Do not let it stop your kindness.

As you read this, I will be on vacation with my lovely lady in Jamaica. We will be kind to everyone we meet. Why? First, everyone deserves kindness. It is how humans should treat each other. Second, it will have people treating you better. Think of your own experience. If you meet someone that is always kind and grateful approach you, how will you greet them? Will you be more inclined to treat them kindly? Of course you will.

Here is the added bonus. When you do have a bad day, people notice. Not only that, but they miss the usual cheer and kindness. This will make them inclined to work to cheer you up. Can you imagine if this is the interaction with everyone you met? That is just some of the reasons to be kind. What other benefits can you think of that being kind brings?

NEVER STOP BEING THAT PERSON

Why is important to keep being kind? It can be tempting to take a “look out for number one” attitude and only worry about ourselves. As we can see by this quote, the power of the kindness we do can not only change lives, it can actually save lives. I can’t think of any more powerful reason than that.

Remember to be kind at every opportunity. There are friends, and maybe even strangers who will never forget it.

IMAGINE THIS! 😮

How simple would this change be? Smiling more. Working to the see the good verses seeing the bad in people. Doing random acts of kindness. It would not be that difficult at all. Something everyone could do. It doesn’t take any money. It really wouldn’t require anymore effort than it takes to see the negative.

Can you imagine if just half of the 8 billion people on the planet did that? How about if all 8 billion people did it just half of the time? It is not a difficult concept.

Think of some examples. Sports. Can you imagine opponents giving compliments instead of trash talking or putting each other down? Even just half of the time. How about politicians? What if they attempted to see the good in each other just 50% of the time? That may inspire their followers to do the same. Here is one we might not think of – religion. Can you imagine if faiths preached acceptance and compassion for those of different faiths? Again, just half of the time. Imagine the difference that would make in the minds of their followers?

This doesn’t have to be some crazy fantasy. It can happen. If you are an athlete, politician or person of faith, use your position to put forth these ideas. Tell those in power you would like them to do so. Most importantly, be an example of it in your own life!

SPEAK THIS UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE 👏

In a world that often seeks 15 minutes of fame, there is nothing better than to be universally well thought of. How can you do that when everyone speaks a different language? Everyone has different realities and experiences. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a language that everyone here could easily understand?

Great news! There is! It is called kindness. I don’t care what country you are from, or what dialect you speak, do a kind act and you will be well regarded. Doing selfless and kind acts is something that everyone can understand. Better yet, it is something everyone can do!

WHERE KINDNESS BEGINS 🌻

On the surface, this seems like a no brainer. Yet, how easy is this to understand in the heat of the moment? When a customer is screaming at us for giving them the wrong flavor coffee. When are coworker snaps at us for no particular reason. When our spouse seems to be angry with every little thing we do. It is very difficult to pause and ask ourselves, “What are they hurting from?” It is true that only hurt people, hurt people. Considering this, anyone who hurts us is probably struggling with something themselves.

The first step would be to honestly ask ourselves if we had played any role in why they might be currently treating us harshly. If so, we should apologize and follow that with some sort of corrective action. If not, consider that they may be hurting inside and for some reason be emotionally ignorant on how to constructively express themselves. This certainly does not excuse their behavior, but it may help us approach it with a little more compassion.

Why should we even care that they are struggling, when they may be doing their best to put us in the same state? Understanding this will allow us to take their actions a lot less personally. This means we will feel less stressed and hurt. This can only be a good thing for us.

Another time to remember that we all struggle is when we are tempted to treat someone harshly. The classic example of someone cutting us off in traffic comes to mind. They may have been distracted, lost or just a jerk. What they also be is dealing with the loss of a loved one, a serious negative medical diagnosis, or a million other versions of suffering. Our negative reaction to their seemingly careless action could be the one to put them over the edge. I can’t count the times I have been lost in emotion and may not have been paying close enough attention to whatever it is I am doing. Someone acting harshly towards me at that moment would probably be the least helpful thing that could happen.

One of the best examples I can recall comes from the author, Stephen Covey. He was on a subway, and there was a father who seemed to be letting his children run wild without a care in the world. Finally, unable to take it anymore, Stephen said to the man, “Don’t you think you should do something about your children?” At this moment, I am sure he was feeling frustrated, angry, and perhaps some other unpleasant emotions. We would think rightfully so. The man looked at him with a hollow expression and replied, “You are right. Their mother just passed away, and they are not really sure how to act. In fact, neither am I.” What do you think Stephen felt then? The point is, none of us know what pains someone may be suffering. Be kind. It is always the right decision.  Click the link below to check out my podcast, or just search “Living the Dream with Neil Panosian” on your favorite streaming platforms.

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neil-panosian