We live in a lonely world. We share the planet with billions of people, and we see hundreds around us on a daily basis. Yet we are not connecting with our fellow man. We walk next to one another on the street, stand closely in elevators, sit tightly on buses and subways, but we remain in our own little world, not noticing or caring about anyone but ourselves. Now add our addiction and heavy reliance on smart phones and other technology—the problem of connecting is exacerbated. However, people have an innate need for connection. And I can prove it.
Real world Story: My mother, who is in a motorized wheelchair, needs help quite often. For example, in grocery
Man helping senior woman with shopping
stores, she can’t reach items on high shelves. She has to turn to someone standing nearby and ask for assistance. Most people do help her. But what’s interesting is people don’t offer to assist from the very start; they need prompting. People see her and start walking past UNTIL SHE initiates asking for help.
To date, no one has turned down her plea for assistance. AND I guarantee that the person who does the helping feels great about the good deed afterward. In an indirect way, my mother’s plea for help is actually helping others connect with a fellow human being, satisfying their inner desire for connection through service.
So why don’t we offer to help someone when we see they need it? What are we afraid of—insulting them or us being rejected? Or are we simply so stuck in our own world that we don’t notice or care?
Let’s just take the plunge. Let’s look for opportunities to be of service.
Strategies that Turn it Around:
- Tell yourself to be consciously kind to someone today. Put the thought into your mind before you walk out the door in the morning.
- When you’re driving, let people merge in front of you instead of speeding up to block them out. Wave at other drivers who let YOU merge in front of them.
- Slap a smile on your face as you walk into work and vow to say good morning to as many people as possible—especially the cranky ones.
- Look for people to help.
- If someone is struggling to open a door, hold it open for them.
- If someone is juggling too much to carry, lend a hand.
Remember: One kind act by one person can positively impact the multitudes of others who witness the act. Why not choose to be consciously kind and watch the positivity spread?
What do YOU do to initiate conscious kindness? Please send me an email with your suggestions and stories.