The Ripple Effect

Have you ever skimmed a rock across the water? Did you notice the dots and ripples that one small rock caused? Now picture that rock as kindness and the water as a person and then multiple people. This is how kindness works, one act of kindness can cause a ripple effect. Even if you are not there after you cast the kindness, the ripples can continuously go on. If you think you alone can't make a difference in this world, I beg to differ. Kindness can be expressed in a multitude of ways. It doesn't need to cost a lot or anything at all. There is nothing wrong with using money or material items to spread kindness, a simple smile or kind word can make a difference to someone who is having a bad day.

In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it is so easy to just rush from one thing to the next. I have observed how many people passing each other in a corridor, hallway, store, or on a street, don't even make eye contact with each other. How difficult is it to give a smile, a friendly nod, or a quick hello? There just seems to be such an increase in negativity and selfishness lately. I wish more people would focus on the positive things in life. Don't get me wrong, my world is not full of unicorns and rainbows, some days are quite a struggle. As human beings, we were created with emotions. It is natural to get angry, happy, sad, and grieve. Sometimes a good cry seems to be a good way to release the hurt feelings we carry. Nobody is happy 100% of the time, we all have issues of some sort. We all struggle at times and we have all suffered some kind of loss but we should never let things we have endured, harden us to being kind. 

Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy, and compassion and improve one's mood. It can decrease blood pressure and Cortisol (a stress hormone). Physiologically, kindness can positively change the brain. Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give a person feelings of satisfaction and well-being. Endorphins are the body's natural painkiller. -mayoclinichealthsystem.org

If you have gotten this far in reading my blog, I thank you and I challenge you to first change your mindset into making a conscious effort first to see the blessings around you. Did you wake up this morning? great, you started off with the gift of another breath and another day. Do you have clothes to wear, food to eat, and a roof over your head? if you answered yes to all or any of those things, you have already started a list of things to be grateful for, you are blessed. Now that you have started to see your own blessings, make a conscious effort to bless others. Below I am listing some ideas for you to consider, but truthfully the possibilities are endless.

Random acts of kindness ideas:

  • Buy someone a coffee   
  • send someone a card for no reason
  • send a "thinking of you text"
  • volunteer some time to visit a person in a nursing home who normally doesn't have visitors.
  • put a person's grocery cart in the corral
  • make a conscious effort to smile, make eye contact, and say hello to anyone and everyone you pass by.
  • bake a treat for a neighbor
  • compliment someone
  • encourage a coworker on a job well done.
  • have a meal with a homeless person.
  • pay for someone's groceries
  • donate clothes or household items
  • volunteer at a soup kitchen
  • tape a $1 or two on a vending machine with a sticky note telling a stranger to enjoy a drink or snack on you and to pay it forward.
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. Proverbs 11:17

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Proverbs 12:25


 

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