4 Ways To Be A Nicer Person (Starting Right Now)

Going out of our way to practice kindness toward others not only helps others feel better, but it can also boost our own mental well-being.

Let's take five minutes to see this week in a new light. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind 4 Ways To Be A Nicer Person (Starting Right Now)   We move through our lives trying to do the best we can, but sometimes we get so caught up in our own worlds that "being nice to others" becomes an afterthought. Interestingly, going out of our way to practice kindness toward others not only helps others feel better, but it can also boost our own mental well-being.   Feeling a bit rusty on your kindness skills? Here are a few ways you can become an even nicer person than you already are!   Many 'nice' behaviors such as sharing, cooperating, and comforting are all prosocial actions that promote the welfare of other people." — KENDRA CHERRY, MS    4 Ways to Be Nicer Here are some ways you can help make everyday interactions more pleasant with others: Practice Gratitude: Simply expressing or acknowledging the good things in your life, however small or big, can help shift a negative outlook to a more positive one. Seek Ways to be Helpful: From smiling at someone else to helping with a small task like opening a door, tiny interactions can make you others feel good. Be Forgiving: Humans are fallible. Showing others and ourselves some grace allows more room for genuine connection and allows us to let go of unhelpful grudges. Say Thanks: We say thanks for big things, but saying thank you for small, easy-to-overlook things can make someone feel treasured. The Benefits of Being Nice Research suggests that being nice has many benefits, from improving social connectivity to decreasing stress and anxiety. Try focusing less on the inconsequential negatives that surround you and do your best to remember humans are complex.   Of course, it's still important to practice authenticity alongside kind behavior. Avoid suppressing genuine emotion and, if you're having an off day, allow yourself to truly feel and work through those thoughts and emotions. These are moments when others' kindness can benefit you!   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week Ways to Nurture Your Mind and Body  This week, take a few minutes to sit quietly and acknowledge things in your life you're grateful for. It might be something small—like a partner who did the dishes or a bed to sleep on at night. Use that feel-good energy to contribute to the world in some small way, yourself. Maybe it's sending a quick thank you text or email to someone, picking up coffee for your friend, or offering a stranger a compliment. Available in a spectrum of soft colors, Ink + Volt's Gratitude Journal helps you practice thanks. The 60 flat-lay pages are filled with prompts, worksheets, and 10 weekly challenges. The Lovebox puts a spin on modern-day texting and can help foster deeper connection with someone you care about. The messaging device is housed in a tiny box with a heart on top that spins once a message is received. The owner physically opens the box to retrieve the message, which could be a text, digital drawing, or picture.   This Week on The Verywell Mind Podcast   On tomorrow's episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, I talk to New York Times best-selling author Dave Hollis about living your own dreams—and not someone else's.   Host of the podcast "Rise Together," Dave talks about rebuilding his life following some major shake-ups, and how he has learned to talk openly about his mistakes.     Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Read These Next How Kindness Improves Your Mental and Physical Health READ NOW Acts of Kindness Can Reduce Stress, Too READ NOW How to Practice Loving Kindness Meditation READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2021 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy