Do the Right Thing
(based on Galatians 6:6-17)
As a follow up to the listing of the fruit of the Spirit last
week, the author of Galatians goes on to say why living a life filled with the
Spirit is important. We reap what we
sow. If we sow good things, we shall reap
good things in our lives. If we sow bad
things, than that is what we will receive in return. You may be well aware of the obvious benefits
that others reap from your acts of kindness. But now even science believes that
those habits also boost your own mood and increases the amount of positivity in
your life.
No matter how significant or insignificant the charitable endeavor
may be, it’s likely to have big consequences on your own mental health. In recent years, psychologists and researchers
have found that even the smallest acts of kindness can create a rebound effect
on your own psyche.
So, in order for us to live in the Spirit and reap what we sow,
I’ve compiled a list of 14 small acts of kindness that can completely transform
your outlook and perspective – a way of living into the fruits of the Spirit,
where you’ll reap ten-fold what you’ve sown.
Oh, and you’ll also make other people happy, too.
Start with a smile.
As many psychologists point out, smiling at others not only
increases their level of comfort and happiness, but can also work to put you in
a better mood. Simply taking the time
out of your day to warmly greet others (even strangers) can affect people in
ways that you’ll likely never know. Have
you ever noticed how much more positive you feel when people are smiling around
you, rather than being around people who are always in a bad mood?
Tell the people you love how you feel.
Even if the people you love already know how you feel about
them, it’s important to keep reminding them of this—whether it’s through kind
words or a random bouquet of flowers. When
it comes to the people that you love, a limit should never exist on the number
of times you remind them of the way you feel about them. Do it regularly. This can keep your relationship strong, and,
in effect, keep those endorphins coming for both you and for those you love.
Forgive others.
Holding grudges doesn’t do anyone any good—especially you. Holding a grudge against someone else doesn’t
impact their lives, at all. It only
hurts you. Even if this person committed
an unspeakable act that severely impacted your life, it is necessary to simply
forgive them and move on from whatever happened. I know that’s a difficult thing to do, but as
a Christian we’ve been commanded to forgive others. Holding on to grudges or negative feelings against
others is only a means by which we also end up sowing negativity in our
lives.
Hold the elevator or door for someone.
Yes, it’s simple—but holding the elevator or door for someone
goes beyond chivalry. In a perfect, kind
world, holding the door for someone would not even require a second thought,
but, alas, it seems to be a habit of the past. You never know, those extra few seconds could
make a world of difference to the other person.
Allow someone to merge in traffic.
As I drive a lot, this is a particular pet-peeve of mine. It can be easy to get into the habit of
practicing selfishness on a daily commute to and from work. Whether or not you’re running late, it seems
as though giving others a free pass is not something that you feel that you
have time to do. However, rather than remain selfish, incorporate a bit of
kindness into your driving experience by simply leaving space for others to
merge into your lane. This simple act
has the power to make others’ commutes just as stress-free as yours—and that is
something that possesses the power to make everyone feel great.
Bake cookies for your new neighbor.
In this day and age, it seems, you’re lucky if you even know
what your neighbors look like, as it’s become customary to simply dart out of
your front door every day without a second glance. You can work to change this cold system we’ve
plunged ourselves into by bringing a basket of cookies or muffins to the new
neighbor on the block to welcome them to the neighborhood. This small gesture can make the new
homeowners on the block feel welcome and at ease in their new neighborhood,
while also establishing a unity in the whole neighborhood that might benefit
you later down the line.
Bring soup to a sick person.
While this is probably already a common occurrence for those
living under the same roof as you, showing kindness to others when they’re sick
can be a great way to demonstrate that you care for them. According to the University of Kansas Health
System, this kindness doesn’t even have to be displayed by bringing over a
container of soup—in fact, you can display kindness for those with a cold by
simply offering to help in any area of their life that may be neglected while
they lay in bed and recuperate.
Be kind to servers and retail employees.
Nothing will make you seem like more of a tyrant than bullying
and belittling those in the service industry. After all, they are only present to fulfill
your needs, and your constant harsh criticisms will only make it harder for
them to do their job. Uttering a simple
“please” and “thank you” will go much farther when paired with patience and
understanding. So, the next time your
waiter gets your order wrong, instead of throwing a fit, simply acknowledge
that it was a simple mistake and ask for them to give it another try. Besides, throwing a fit will often only make
the waiter feel less inclined to help you.
Make someone laugh.
Cracking a few jokes can actually benefit those around you. Aside from the fact that there are numerous
health benefits of laughter, it can also provide an excellent way for you to
bond with friends and family members—especially for those who could really use
the laugh. This is because one of the
biggest benefits of laughter is the side effect of stress reduction, that,
according to the Mayo Clinic, can help ease any tension that you and your
fellow gigglers have been holding inside.
Send a thank you letter.
In today’s computer/texting age, even I’ve gotten bad at
this. But sending a handwritten thank
you note is a much more personal way to show your thanks.
Pick up litter.
This one is getting higher and higher on my list of must do’s
every day. Not only will occasionally
picking up litter benefit others, like small children and the surrounding
wildlife, but it can also preserve your neighborhoods and parks, prevent
floods, and work to keep the cost of living in your area low. Just being aware of the litter around you and doing
your part to clean up the debris can work to preserve the beauty of the place
that yourself and others enjoy so much.
Encourage someone to pursue a goal.
The last time that you made a big change in your life, how was
it that this decision came about? Was it
perhaps, along with careful planning, a positive word from a friend or family
member? If so, then you know the power
of friendly pep talks—especially when making a big life decision that could
completely change your life. Even if
their dreams seem entirely too out-of-this-world, encouraging them to follow
their life’s passion, whatever that may be, can give them the fuel that they
need to pursue their dreams. With just a few words of encouragement, you could
change the course of their entire life.
Stop complaining.
This one is fairly straight-forward: simply stop complaining
every time you feel the urge. Again,
sowing negativity only brings more negativity to your own life. This especially pertains to those times in
which the thing annoying you the most, you have no control over.
Be kind to yourself.
And finally, the best way to reap what you sow is to be kind to
yourself. Setting impossible standards for yourself or
constantly beating yourself up over things will only put you into a tailspin of
negative thoughts. Practice kindness with yourself, and it will be much easier
to do the same with others.
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