Experts in the field of positive psychology tell us that we can get as much out of giving kindness as we do out of being shown it by others.
An ongoing campaign exhorts people to 'practice random acts of kindness' and there's a lot to be said for this principle.
Actually it can be fun going through your day finding odd and unexpected ways to be kind to other people.
For instance I always loved the idea of paying a toll on a bridge twice, telling the official that you were covering the charge for the car behind you too. This random person would then be waved through with a 'the guy in front got it for you'.
But it can be as simple as holding a door open for someone, or (on a train) offering them your newspaper after you've read it, or picking up litter in the street and putting it in a bin.
It doesn't have to be much, but to feel good it ought to be as spontaneous as possible.
Why not have a think about this today, then see where you might be able to casually drop an act of kindness into someone's day?
It'll feel good. Promise.
I remember being waved through by a toll bridge operator at the Dartford River Crossing about 15 years ago. I thought he was waving to say that you have been paid for (we had a convey of three vans going at the time and I was in the second vehicle). What he was actually trying to communicate was "You've been paid for but wait for the barrier to go down and then up again before you drive ahead". I drove. The barrier came down and I took the arm of the barrier right off much to the concern of the nearby policeman!
ReplyDeleteI think many if not all moodscopers are kind people, possibly too kind for their own good in today's brash society where taking rather than giving seems to work better for an individual, especially in the work place. I expect some of you may have heard two commentators talking on Radio 4 this morning about self esteem; one had written a book on the Power of Quiet and the other was an education researcher (I think) who said that children should be taught self esteem. The author's view was more that self esteem would develop from acceptance by peer groups of the child's individual personality and personal skills rather than the child striving to be someone they are not. I found the discussion fascinating and will provide the link to the discussion in a minute.
ReplyDeleteI think I may have written before ( sorry!) that simple kindness is all we need.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qdxw8/live
ReplyDeleteScroll down to 8.43. if you are on twitter there is a discussion on that.
I have a 3 year old, and we've decided to try to do at least one random act of kindness together each week. My son's current favourite is eyebombing - sticking googly eyes on things whilst out and about to make silly faces -some great examples at http://eyebombing.com/ -and I like to thinkthat each pair of googly eyes puts a smile on lots of people's faces. I also want to try making posters like the ones at http://www.kitchencounterchronicle.com/2013/01/sharing-kindness-with-strangers.html?m=1 to stick up at bus stops etc!
ReplyDeletePay it forward :-)
ReplyDeleteIt does feel good to be kind... and anonymous kindness will also save me from getting played or taken advantage of... I can feel the joy of the act rather than the response of the recipient... I like it very much... I live to give and I live to serve the greater good but seem to have become a magnet for unhappy leaches... I was considering becoming a recluse with a only 4 legs and fur for company... What a simple, in-my-face solution... Thank you Moodscope, for helping me get things the right way round :)
ReplyDeleteI let the lady behind me at the checkout go in front, as I had a whole trolley full. She was really grateful and I think quite surprised in a good way! I felt good too, was my good deed for the day :)
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