Active Kindness
As we lead up to the holiday season our focus has been on kindness – at work, at home and in our community.
Our 2023 holiday message focused on –
Believe in self love,
Believe in empathy,
Believe in gratitude,
Believe in mindfulness,
Believe in good hearts,
Believe in BIG dreams,
Believe in the power of good stories to change lives,
Believe in KINDNESS -
Believe in YOU!
I was at a holiday event last night and I was speaking to a group of colleagues about active kindness in the workplace. Too many of them had no idea that there was a drastic difference between kindness and active kindness.
Active Kindness
Imagine a world where you can succeed by being nice.
Where we all pay it forward.
Where people look out for each other.
It all starts with an act.
Here are a few examples:
Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while
Send a letter to a grandparent
Send flowers to a friend
Offer to pick up some groceries for your elderly neighbour
Send someone a handwritten note
Offer to babysit for a friend
Walk your friend’s dog
Tell your family members how much you love and appreciate them
Help your parents with household chores
Help a friend get active
Make someone laugh
Offer to cook for a friend or family member
Make a cup of tea for a friend or family member
Help with a household chore at home or for a friend
Host an informal get together and invite your neighbours to get to know each other
Tell someone you know that you are proud of them
Tell someone you know why you are thankful for them
Send a motivational text to a friend who is struggling
Send someone you know a joke to cheer them up
Send someone you know a picture of a cute animal
Send an inspirational quote to a friend
Send an interesting article to a friend
Put a surprise note or drawing on someone’s desk
Contact someone you haven’t seen in a while and arrange to meet face to face
Engage in conversation with a shop assistant when paying at the till
Gestures of active kindness can also be used in the workplace.
Things to consider:
Sing a colleague's praises to their boss.
Gift your favourite book to a colleague.
Say good morning.
Leave motivational messages on sticky notes in random places.
Pay for the person behind you in the coffee shop.
Volunteer to make a round of tea.
Tidy up a mess you didn’t make.
Invite someone to lunch.
Speak to someone you've never spoken to before.
Listen to a colleague.
Leave a thank you note for the cleaners.
Give someone a compliment during a meeting.
Become a career matchmaker.
Help someone complete a task.
Offer to give someone a lift home.
Check in with someone you've not spoken to for a while.
Offer to mentor someone.
Research shows that helping others can be good for our mental health. It reduces stress, improves our emotional well-being and even benefits our physical health. In short, doing good does you good.
It’s essential to look out for each other in and around our communities. This is how we protect and maintain good mental health for all.
If you do nothing else today, keep an eye out for an opportunity to help someone with a random act of kindness or hold onto that warm feeling when someone helps you.
Doing something nice for someone doesn't cost a lot of time or money. It's the small things in life that can make a big difference.
As we transition into the New Year, lets all practice Active Kindness.
MCCA Executive Director

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