Feeling stressed to the max? Can’t listen to the news anymore? Is all the negativity you feel surrounded by getting to you. One way to help yourself is to help others. Fortunately, it is not hard to make a difference in today’s stress-ladened world because even small acts of kindness can really help.  

Here are 5 ways that you can spread a little kindness to the people in your world.

1.      Offer a compliment: The next time you see someone, friend or stranger, offer them a compliment. Compliments come in all sorts. You can acknowledge a person’s choice of clothing, their haircut, or jewelry. Or, you can shine a light on their actions or efforts.  A compliment offered with sincerity can change the trajectory of a person’s bad day.

2.      Run an Errand for Someone:   When was the last time you wished there were more hours in a day so you could finish everything you have to do? One way to create more time for someone else is to offer to run an errand for them. Perhaps you are already heading to the store, ask if you can pick up something  for them. Walking your dog? Take your neighbor’s dog with you. These acts of kindness are not hard and can really make a person’s day.

3.      Express Gratitude: In our rush-here-rush-there world people rarely stop to say thank you. Take a moment to say thank you to someone you come across each day. The research on gratitude in growing and teaching us that the act of being grateful uplifts both the recipient and the giver of the gratefulness. 

4.      Practice Mindfulness: Being mindful meaning being present. When your partner is speaking to you, put down your phone and be present. Give them your undivided attention. We all need to be heard. Taking the time to really hear someone is a beautiful act of love and consideration.

5.      Act When No One is Watching:  Small actions such as bringing a package to your neighbor’s front door, returning a shopping cart to a store’s entrance, or picking up some trash left in a parking lot are generous activities that help to make the world around us a kinder, nicer place. These types of actions do not require anyone else to be involved. These are simply deeds done for no other reason than to offer a bit of kindness to the community in which you live.

Dr. Sheila Forman is a Psychologist, Mindful Eating Instructor and the founder of TAME Your Appetite: The Art of Mindful Eating. She is an expert in helping people cope with their emotions without eating and using a non-diet approach to lose weight and make peace with food. She is also the author of several self-help books, including Do You Use Food to Cope? A Comprehensive 15-Week Program for Overcoming Emotional Overeating, and The Best Diet Begins in Your Mind - Eliminating the Eight Obstacles to Permanent Weight Loss. Her new book TAME Your Appetite: The Art of Mindful Eating, is  available now. Coming soon: Mindful Bites Joyful Life: 365 Days of Mindful Eating. 

For more information on Dr. Sheila Forman or to book her for an appearance, please go to www.TAMEYourAppetite.com or call 310-828-8004. 

Contact info: 

2708 Wilshire Blvd., #423

Santa Monica, CA 90403

310-828-8004

(cell) 310-995-2529

Email:             DrSheilaForman@msn.com

Websites:        www.DrSheilaForman.com

www.TAMEYourAppetite.com