“No good deed ceases on its own. One good deed begets another… A single good deed will take root in all directions, and these roots will grow new trees. The greatest thing kindness can do to others is to allow them to do the same for themselves Be kind. ~Amelia Earhart.
When you’re having a particularly tough day, it’s easy to hang your head in defeat and conclude that it’s a cruel world and nothing matters. I had a day like this last month.
A good friend was diagnosed with a terrible disease. Horses I had trained for years were being sold and moved across the country with almost no notice. A shady auto mechanic almost convinced me to replace four perfectly fine tires.
All this happened in one day.
However, that’s not all that happened that day.
I also go to the bank and use the cash machine. I haven’t been to that place in months. When I arrived there was a security guard outside. I said hello. It seemed he recognized that I had been there before. I completed the transaction and started walking back to my car. At this moment, the security guard asked: “When is the next free hug day?”
It turns out he remembered me from a few months ago, wearing a T-shirt with Elmo on the front and “Free Hugs” written in big letters. At that point, I completely forgot I was wearing that shirt. In fact, I was so lost in my thoughts that day that I didn’t even notice the security guard standing there until I heard a voice say, “I’ll put you on that shirt.” That was a few months ago .
This small act of kindness — a hug a few months ago — made a difference. Now I remember this.
So when the security guard asked: “When is the next free hug day?” I immediately recovered from my frustration and happily answered “every day” and we hugged for the second time.
“Thanks, I needed this,” he said. I guess that’s the case for me too.
This is the power of one person. Each of us has the potential to make a positive impact on the world.
We don’t need to start a nonprofit or donate all our possessions to charity (although those things are great) to make a change. Our every thought, word, and action can have a positive impact—no matter how small.
My interactions with bank security were a great reminder that something as small and fleeting as a hug, a smile, or a kind word can have a profound and lasting impact.
“There is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every action has ripples and no logical ending. ~Scott Adams
The truth is, we never know how big a ripple a small kindness can create. Maybe that initial hug with the security guard months ago put him in a lighter mood for the rest of the day, which affected how he interacted with his family that night, which in turn affected their behavior and perceptions the next day, etc. , etc.
Maybe that second hug reminded him that the world is full of friendly people and that it only takes one small, initial gesture to break the ice.
“The essence of kindness is spreading. If you are kind to others, they will be kind to you today and will be kind to others tomorrow. ~Sri Chinmoy
While we can never know how far the kindness of an act of kindness can spread to others, we can experience firsthand the impact of an act of kindness on ourselves. Research has repeatedly shown that people who perform acts of kindness have just as much benefit to their own emotions and perspectives as the recipients, and often even more.
What’s even more amazing is that this double benefit isn’t limited to our kind words and deeds. It also applies to our minds.
that’s right. Our thoughts are powerful. The quality and quantity of our thoughts affects our physical, mental and emotional health.
This is why things like the placebo effect work. If we believe wholeheartedly that the sugar pill our doctor gives us is a powerful remedy for our disease, our bodies will respond according to that belief. Our thoughts directly affect how our bodies function.
Our thoughts extend to others as well.
Because thoughts, like everything else, are energy, and they are transmitted to everyone and everything around us twenty-four hours a day. That’s why things like teletherapy and prayer groups can promote healing and positive change. When two or more people synchronize and focus their thoughts, the positive effects are amplified.
Even in our daily activities, our thoughts have an impact on other people. For example, although we may not be able to read the thoughts of the salesperson approaching us in a store, we can feel them to some extent.
Our bodies sense the energy fields of others.
This is how we can instantly feel for someone when we meet them for the first time. Before anyone even speaks, we create an energetic impression of that person. Whether that first impression is positive or negative has a lot to do with what they (and we) think.
We live in an interconnected and interdependent universe. My interaction with bank security that day served as a good reminder of this.
So while we may often feel alone or distracted in this increasingly busy world, it’s encouraging to realize that we can connect with anyone, anywhere, through our thoughts, words and actions. All it takes is intention and attention. This is our strength.
We can set an intention to embody kindness and compassion and be a positive force in the world. We can then pay attention to it by regularly monitoring our thoughts to ensure they are aligned with our intention to be the best version of ourselves.
About Karin Kaiser
Karin Kiser is the author of ten books, including Unplugging the Robot: The Secret to Lasting Happiness and international bestseller Lighten your load. She inspires people around the world to achieve greater health and happiness by teaching them to reduce the physical, mental and emotional toxins that hold them back. Download her free report “5 Hidden Reasons Why Almost Everything in Life Doesn’t Work…and How to Deal with Them” at her website at https://KarinKiser.com.
