Dalai Lama famously once said, “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Everyone around us is fighting some or the other battle. It doesn’t take much to reach out and lift people up. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
We all have witnessed this. Whenever someone offers his seat in a bus/train to somebody else, this small gesture positively affects not only the giver and the receiver but also the people who have witnessed this small and simple act. The giver feels generous, the receiver feels gratitude and the onlookers feel good on seeing a good deed of compassion and kindness. It is said, if you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
Compassion is the chief law of human existence.― Fyodor Dostoyevsky
We all can make a difference in lives of people around us. We can intentionally be kind to others and make it a daily practice and a way of life. Here are some small compassionate acts that we can do and change the world around us :
- Eat lunch with somebody who is sitting alone in the office /college cafeteria.
- Encourage someone who needs it.
- Be generous with compliments.
- Write a note of appreciation for the employee who offered excellent service at the cafe or the hotel.
- Give someone recognition for something they have done with a pat on the back.
- Buy coffee or a snack for the security guard outside your apartment or a cab driver who is driving you around.
- Cook a meal for the sick neighbor.
- Let someone go in front of you in a queue, especially a parent with a cranky child.
- Help someone find a job.
- Help someone who is in a financial trouble.
- Acknowledge the people you meet in a store or fellow co-passengers with a smile.
- Speak kindly and listen attentively especially to those who are going through a tough time.
- Say something nice to someone.
- Be someone’s cheerleader.
- Surprise friends and family by sending them cards, flowers, or small gifts for no reason at all.
- Ask others what you can do to help.
- Donate blood, books, toys, clothes, your long hair, money for victims of disasters or charitable organizations.
- Help people who have dropped things, hold doors and elevators open for people and help elders/children cross the street.
- Say “thank you” to someone who made a difference.
- Spread the word for those who need referrals, like a wow photographer, a creative interior designer, a wonderful accountant, a new home baker…
This is not an exhaustive list, but it is a list to focus our intentions on making it a kinder, loving and beautiful world for ourselves and others around us. I believe in karma – it comes after everyone eventually… what goes around comes around, truly. Your everyday good deeds are never in vain for they shall return to you even when you’re not expecting it. So, keep your circle positive and practice small and random acts of kindness and compassion, everyday! Spread the cheer ♥
I am participating in the 1000speak movement by writing about Compassion. Do join us. Link your posts here. Stay updated by joining our Facebook group and our Google+ Community.
The 1000 Voices For Compassion #1000Speak Campaign
40 Responses
Thank you for such a wonderful list on how to practice compassion on a daily basis! I definitely need to do number 3 more often and I would love to begin the old tradition of cooking for a neighbor or loved one when they are sick or having a difficult time. It seems like people often did this years ago but not so much anymore. I have noticed that my youngest adult daughter does make soup for her loved ones when they are ill and will often have me come over to help her.
Peace to you.
Visiting from #1000Speak
This is a wonderful list! Compassion is indeed one of the best practices we can practice along with gratitude. As a teacher, my goal is always to teach students to show compassion towards others, even towards those who aren’t as nice. Again, great list. Have a great week.
So true; random acts of kindness cost us little or nothing but can often brighten another person’s day beyond measure!
It’s a lovely list, Shilpa and I know that you follow it too. I remember all your literacy and book drives!
The #1000Speak initiative is a fantastic idea.
Yes, we can do a lot of things! And a small gesture can sometimes be enough!
I like this idea of a list!
A must-share list! People dont realise how their small gestures can make someone else’s day.
Small gestures in our daily lives take very little but can brighten up someone’s day. Well said!
Nice list Shilpa …. A little compassion in every heart is what the world needs
Brilliant points Shilpa. I feel these are few o f the basis things that each person as a human being should do to others. There’s nothing wrong in spreading few smiles and goodwill.
Indeed it’s not an exhausting list….. if practiced regularly from the beginning, these acts become a part of our nature. Thanks for the sweet reminder….:)
Shilpa, I agree to all the points made be it giving someone company, say thank, help find a job or say thank you. It’s such small gestures that makes the world a better place to live:)
So true, we echo this sentiment. I love the list of things to do, makes it so easy to be kind.
Dear Shilpa,
What an absolutely excellent post. Such a great list to encourage us and inspire us.
Thank you for sharing…
Cheers, Jenny
2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
@PearsonReport
So many ways to make our lives and the lives of people around us, and also the world a little better place, everyday. Thanks Shilpa for this lovely post.
What a splendid list, Shilpa! Each and every little act you have listed is eminently doable too! So glad you added your voice to the #1000Speak initiative.
The 20 points mentioned as small acts of compassion are worth implementing. They may be small acts e.g. giving your seat to a pregnant lady in a crowded bus/train but a boon to the receiver.
That list is a beautiful manifesto, Shilpa! Kindness is always possible, isn’t it? And it makes life worth living. Happy to participate in the #1000Speak initiative with you!
Lovely shilpa ! enjoyed reading this post, its so nice and warm feeling to reinforce small acts of kindness; there is quote that says “Kindness is the rent you pay for occupying the space on this earth” I have always loved quotes of Dalai Lama..Thank you for sharing
Small acts of kindness leads to a better compassionate world! Lovely list Shilpa! 🙂
There indeed is so much we can do…your list is so simple and yet they are everyday things that we tend to ignore…We don’t have to change the world…just becoming a little more compassionate would suffice!
It’s the small gestures that start off big things and make life worth living. Through kindness, we can brighten up the world and connect with our fellow human beings.
That’s such a wonderful list, Shilpa and so doable. If each one of us could imbibe just a couple these, the world would be so much nicer!
Beautifully portrayed..
Good pointers.
Sometimes even smiling at someone can light up their face.
Thanks for writing about this.
That is a beautiful list that all of us can do .. and if done WOW what a lovely world it will be
Smile at others or just say a simple HELLO does wonders
Bikram’s
Lovely thoughts.
beautifully expressed.
I agree with you 🙂
What a lovely list, Shilpa. Compassion is good for the soul…
That is a wonderful list! And I love the compassion theme! Wish I’d heard about it in time to jump in!
Anyhoo, I found your blog through a fellow blogger, and thought I would stop by and say hi! It would totally make my day if you did the same.. or better yet, keep in touch! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
This is definitely worthy of printing and pinning on my bulletin board for a reminder. There’s something that can be done on there everyday or even several times a day! And thank you for #20. My husband is a photographer and that’s what pays our bills. 😉
Small acts of kindness can create huge waves of compassion. Thanks, Shilpa, for the beautiful reminder.
Well said, what comes goes around, comes around. Your list is simple yet quite thoughtful 🙂
Very well said Shilpa. A small act of kindness can make a bid difference for someone. And you have a very good list of how we can make that happen.
A great list with a lot of simple and practical ways to make someone’s day. Sometimes it is the easiest and smallest of gestures that can make a difference – a huge one in some cases – in others’ lives. Your #14 reminded me of my post on this topic that I wrote yesterday: http://xpressyouressence.blogspot.ca/2015/02/what-if-1000-voices-for-compassion-day.html 🙂 <3
There are some great tips there and after every post I read, My determination to be more compassionate is bolstered. I have spent the day reading posts and feel emotionally cleansed and fired up. I’ve almost made it through 50 posts leaving comments as I go. It’s been a wonderful journey.
I wrote my post about the compassion fatigue I experienced trying to pick just one topic to write about. Here’s the link: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/compassion-fatigue-a-light-bulb-moment/
xx Rowena
This is a great list. Little things can mean so much in the moment.
I liked your list.. 🙂
I’d like to add one more.. ‘Listen intently when someone is sharing her thoughts,…listen to understand…not to just reply..’
🙂
They are all small points…really small ones…but just by practicing them, we can make all the difference in the world. Being and ardent follower of compassion, I totally agree with you. Nicely written, Shilpa.
You and I were on the same page with our posts – just doing small acts of compassion can really make a difference. I want to be that person who made someone else’s day just a bit better because of a smile or a thank you. And it’s so easy to do!
Wow!Wow!! and Super wowwwwwww.. what great thoughts there….loved this post and love you more for this post. So true whatever you say and there is some selfishness in giving and being compassionate too….it brings you so much of joy and you experience inner peace. Will hop over to the links and see how i can contribute to the community.
Nice post Shilpa :). Loved the list you have created. It just goes to show that compassion is no rocket science but instead can be practiced in each of our daily activities.
It would take one a long time and passion to draw out this list