What was your New Year’s Resolution?

As I reflected on 2020 and thought about the 2021 I wanted to experience I felt compelled to simply be kind. 2020 was a year of upheavals, disasters, drama and fear. As I thought and this I started to wonder if every person was kind to just one other person everyday what change would we see in our world.

2021 January Challenge – Be Kind

Week 1 – Be Kind – Compliment a Stranger

Let’s start with something simple. Sometimes it is easier to compliment a complete stranger than to speak kindly to those we are close to, so let’s start there. Everyday as you are out in the world, on the phone with a service agent, checking the letterbox, doing the groceries – say one complimentary thing to a complete stranger.

• That dress really suits you
• Your smile is beautiful
• You’re doing a great job as a Mum

Anything that boosts some else preferably about who they are.

Week 2 – Be Kind – Small Acts of Kindness for those close to You

This week’s challenge is more subtle. Completing small acts of kindness in your own home, at work or your friend’s place. Simple things like

• Clearing the table after coffee or a meal
• Hanging or taking the washing off the line
• Bringing the wheelie bins in

These small acts remind people they are seen and appreciated and they don’t cost you a cent.

Week 3 – Be Kind – Pay It Forward

Many of us have heard of the Pay It Forward movement, this week your challenge is to do as many ‘Pay It Forward’ acts as you can. Paying it forward means to literally pay for something for someone else as an act of kindness and then when thanked or written on the receipt simply put, ‘when you can, pay it forward’. Now I acknowledge everyone has different abilities with this one but everyone can do something.

• Pay for the coffee of the Gentlemen behind you
• Put $20 towards the groceries of the Mum in the checkout queue with you
• Pay for a new set of tyres for someone in need

This exercise is not necessarily about looking for the person most in need always, it is also about inspiring others to engage in the movement of ‘paying it forward’.

Week 4 – Be Kind – Self-Kindness

This week the challenge is the toughest of all. Throughout the month we have been building momentum and realising just how good we feel when we engage in these acts of kindness towards others. This has all been research for this week’s challenge – Being kind to ourselves! Sometimes we do nice things for ourselves, sometimes we say nice things about ourselves but more often than not our thoughts and words are less than complimentary.

This week I challenge you to make a conscious effort to catch these thoughts. To stop, reject the negative self-talk and replace it with something positive. Look for the compliment, just like in week 1’s exercise.

• These pants are tight I need to lose weight – STOP – My hair is looking so good today.
• I’m so useless at keeping my house clean – STOP – I’m so glad I used my time to visit Nana today.

There is so much fear, drama and hate spread out in our world that finds it’s way into us. We aren’t born with negative thoughts and patterns, we learn them. This means we can unlearn them and get back to our true nature. Kindness is addictive and infectious, let’s fuel this fire – 2021!