Eight Tips on How to Make Others Feel Good
Many of us barrel through our days without so much as a moment to stop and relax. And during this 24-hour rat race, many of us rarely stop to think about how to make ourselves feel good, let alone how to make others feel good.
But focusing on the latter is actually an unbeatable strategy to improve society, your community and also your own life. Why?
Well as Mark Twain said, "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up." And Martin Luther King, Jr. once famously said, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?’”
Indeed, research has shown that being kind to others enhances your own feelings of joy, self-worth, emotional resilience and optimism. It also reverses feelings of depression, isolation and helplessness, and even supports your immune system.
Further, as Hale Dwoskin, founder of Sedona Training Associates and host of the upcoming ReleasingFest, points out, it also speaks to us on a much deeper level:
“The reason we feel good when we’re kind to others is because love is our basic nature and taking these types of actions gives us an excuse to love. In fact, the more you give and the more you love, the better you feel.
If you recognize that giving without wanting anything back in return -- and expressing the love that you are with the people around you -- always gives you more than you appear to be giving away, this tends to motivate you to want to do this more and more.
So love and give and do with abandon. You'll find the more you give without wanting anything back in return and the more you go out of your way to make others feel good the richer and happier you'll be.”
With that in mind, what exactly can you do to make others feel good? Here are eight simple tips you can start on today!
- Share with your neighbors. Sometimes the smallest, most unexpected gestures are the ones most appreciated, and we all too often overlook the people living right next-door.
- Show love to those around you. It’s possible to show love even for strangers and doing so can infinitely boost their spirits. Simple things like buying a bag of groceries for a homeless person, or sharing advice or a few words of kindness with someone in an online chat room can make a world of difference.
- Give unexpected compliments. A sincere, warm compliment will brighten anyone’s day.
- Share the Sedona Method with others. The Sedona Method gives people one of the greatest gifts of all, and one that can't be bought: happiness.
- Volunteer your time. Work at a homeless shelter, tutor needy kids after school, or volunteer for any organization you feel is worthwhile. Sharing your time is one
of the best gifts you give.
- Be nurturing. Is a co-worker having a hard day? Bring him or her a cup of coffee or offer some moral support.
- Listen. Just lending your ear to hear someone’s troubles or challenges will let them know you care. And remember, listening is not just about being quiet while someone else is speaking -- it’s about showing you’re interested in them and there to offer the support they need.
- Be aware of those around you, and give freely. We’re often so busy that we forget to pay attention to those around us, even strangers we pass on the street. If you see someone in need, stop to think about how you could help out. The more you give to others, the more it will inspire them to give in return -- and ultimately the kinder our society will be.
You can learn the Sedona Method during the ReleasingFest. You may learn more about this online event and get your Free Pass here.
-Pete