The Art of Kindness

There is magic in kindness. Not rabbit-out-of-a-hat magic, but the true life-changing stuff of miracles.

Genuine, heartfelt kindness creates a type of magic that is never-ending — a kind that multiplies with every person it touches. I’ve come to believe kindness is more than just a series of generous acts or politeness to a stranger. Authentic kindness requires us to be thoughtful as we go about our daily lives — to see beyond our own problems, to reach out to those around us, and to take positive action. Kindness means offering what you can whenever you’re able, even if it’s something as simple as a smile, a friendly word, or a word of encouragement. In this way, kindness truly is an art form.

I’ve written before about how Kindness is a Labor of Love — an intentional state of being we must work toward, rather than doing what’s expected of us. Kind acts, done with no expectation of reward, help everyone — not simply the giver and the receiver, but also those who witness an altruistic act. Witnessing a random act of kindness can inspire others, giving them a gentle nudge in their own hearts and minds toward positive action. And kindness is contagious! People who work on spreading happiness to those around them, and who improve the world for others — even if only for a minute — are constantly inspiring others.

Being the recipient of someone’s goodwill alters our point of view, and taps our inner reserves of hope and gratitude. Once shared, one simple act of kindness will grow and multiply — from person to person and heart to heart. In fact, there is even scientific evidence to support the idea that kindness impacts humans in measurable physical and mental ways. Scientists are learning that being altruistic positively impacts life span, relationships, anxiety, depression, pain, stress, and more. Not to mention, people who engage in kind behaviors historically report being generally happier than those who don’t.

I hope to spark a passion inside of each of you, to inspire you to go about your day with a plan to be thoughtful and nurturing toward those you love and toward those whom you may come in contact with once and never see again. More than that, though, I hope I can inspire you to inspire others to do the same — to set off a chain reaction of kindness throughout the globe that lasts beyond this one holiday… to create the art of kindness daily.