November 30th, 2009 in Featured, Lifestyle

10 Small Ways to Make the World a Better Place

An important part of our growth and motivation as people lies in contributing to the greater good, being part of something greater than ourselves. While “making the world a better place” often calls to mind images of great leaders at the head of mighty social movements, white-coated researchers developing new medicines or energy sources, or geniuses dreaming up theories that explain the world around us, there is plenty of room for less lofty acts that create small measures of happiness in the lives of those around us. Little gestures can create or strengthen our sense of community and of shared humanity, lightening our burdens for just a moment and giving us something to smile about. And that’s no small matter.

Here are ten little gestures, all of them easily within our grasp, that can spread goodwill in our own communities, as well as increase our own sense of mindfulness about the people around us and our relationship to them.

Tip generously: As often as you can afford, leave a tip of 25%, 50%, 100%, or even more. (Obviously this applies mostly in countries where 15% tips are the norm.) Unless the service was simply awful – and even then, it might pay to consider what your server goes through – leaving as large a tip as you can afford not only puts a little extra extra money in your servers’ pocket, it tells them that they’re appreciated, a message that often slips our minds in our demanding, service-now society.
Compliment someone: Tell someone how much you like the job they’re doing, their outfit or new haircut, their singing voice – whatever. Be honest and sincere. I like to practice “drive-by compliments”, sending an out-of-the-blue email to someone whose website, post, or comment on a post I really liked. Don’t expect anything in return, just let someone know that something they’re doing works and move on.
Be totally open with someone: Let someone know exactly how you feel about something on your mind (though not something negative about them – there’s a different “protocol” for that sort of thing). We often keep too much to ourselves; letting someone into your confidence can be a great way to show your trust and appreciation of them. Of course, you have to judge what is and isn’t appropriate – it is possible to move past openness to dragging others into your problems, and that’s not making the world a better place.
Give someone a book you’ve read: Making a gift of something you’ve read and enjoyed is more than just a nice gesture, it’s a way of showing someone that a) you think of them, b) you understand them, and c) you want to share something with them. The moment doesn’t end when they take the book – once they’ve read it, you can talk about your reactions together. Don’t do this with people around you who don’t read, though – you’ll build up an obligation that will be painful for them to discharge.
Make something for someone: Bake an extra batch of cookies, draw a picture, decorate an extra Christmas ornament, and give it to someone for no good reason. Like giving someone a book, it tells them that you were thinking about them and wanted to do something nice for them, and that it’s something you made adds a nice touch. Give without expectations – whether they return the favor or not, whether they like it or not, whether they’re nice to you or not, these are all irrelevant.
Send a letter, email, tweet, or text message out of the blue: Email someone you haven’t spoken with for a while, or text someone you see every day just to be nice. Maybe they’ll respond, maybe not – it’s beside the point. They just need to know that they’re important to you.
Commend an employee to their manager: It’s one thing to tip or compliment someone for their service, it’s another to contact their manager and tell them what a great job they’ve done. If you don’t have time at the time of service, note the employees name and call, email, or write a letter later.
Teach someone how to do something: Share your skill or talent with someone by showing them how to do something. Not so they won’t bother you with it, but so they can move a little bit towards improved mastery of the world around them. Have patience and respect for the person you’re helping – you’re giving them a gift, not compensating for some lack in their character.
Let someone shine: Put a spotlight on someone else’s talents by letting them take over a presentation, deferring to their wisdom, asking them advice, or otherwise flex their “talent muscles”. Especially if they are junior to you, giving them a chance to strut their stuff shows that you trust them and appreciate them, as well as allowing them to get the attention they deserve (and which might often be obscured by your own shadow).
Connect like minds: Introduce two friends or colleagues who you feel have something to gain from each other. You’ll be letting them know you value them – and maybe creating a partnership that will make everyone better off.

You’ve probably heard the saying “Practice random acts of kindness”, and that’s basically what I’m talking about here. Anything that shows people you care about them – something we can be mighty stingy about most of the time – has the potential to make the world, or your small corner of it, a better place.

Do you have anything to add? What little gestures do you do, or have others done for you, that have brightened the world even just a little bit? Let us know in the comments.

Dustin Wax

Dustin M. Wax is a freelance writer and project manager at Stepcase Lifehack. He can be reached though his freelancing site at DustinWax.comDon't Be Stupid: A Guide to Learning, Studying, and Succeeding at College.

Follow him on Twitter: @dwax.

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Balakumar says on November 30th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Wonderful listing, i liked it
csenthilmurugan says on November 30th, 2009 at 9:25 am
This is really useful and promote motivation around us. Thanks a lot.
Mark Foo | 77SuccessTraits.com says on November 30th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Hi Dustin,
Thank you for this great post. I absolutely agree with you. Many people believe that they don’t have what it takes to make a difference to the world. They believe only people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and the likes, are capable of making a difference.
The truth is, every one of us is put in this world to contribute and make a difference to the world in our own unique way. It need not be anything out of the world. It just needs to be something you do with the intention of ‘doing good’.
Cheers~
Mark
Bernhard says on November 30th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Excellent post. My inspiration of the day (nah, at least week!) :)
Ishak Latipi Mastan says on November 30th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
Allison McDonough says on November 30th, 2009 at 11:19 am
This is a great post. I’ve always been a believer in small acts of kindness.
I have one to add to the list!
Hold doors for people. It’s a small effort that each of us can do daily that puts other people in a good mood. A small effort to help out a strager just might make their day a little more pleasant.
Liana says on November 30th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
I love it! Brilliant! Thanks for sharing :)
1) I listen more than I would like to speak when I call on someone. It makes them feel important.
2) I would ask about them. People love to talk about themselves :)
3) I would give a helping hand to any elderly person to carry their shopping cart up the stairs where there are no elevators.
Little deed goes a long way.
Binod says on November 30th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Like to follow the great thoughts ……..
Michael Adams says on November 30th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
These are really great ideas, but what about giving people advice? It can be extremely difficult at times, and you’ve always got to be certain things are communicated clearly. You also have to be certain before you start that the person is going to be open to your advice. The pampered ego often accepts the advice of strangers more readily than the advice of loved ones. Something in us rejects the idea that those we love can know something which we don’t.
Nevertheless, when done right, it can be extremely rewarding and if you’re open to it, you can often receive the favor back.
Dustin Wax says on November 30th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Michael: Advice is a good one, although you ahve to be sensitive to know when advice is welcome and when it’s just butting in. I had a friend in college, when you started complaining about something, she’d say “Do you want advice or sympathy?” — often we want sympathy rather than advice!
Cristina says on November 30th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Your posts are always so nice, but this one was more than nice, it simply made me feel so much better.
Thank you!
Cynthia Boris says on November 30th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Another great post that I had to share with my audience as well. A great reminder for this holiday time of year and beyond.
Not an additional suggestion, but to extend the “let someone else shine” I’d add, no matter how much you’re tempted to intervene! If the kids are cooking dinner and they make pasta and hot dogs – then pasta and hot dogs it is!
Annabel Candy, Dream Life says on December 1st, 2009 at 7:46 am
I love connecting people who can help each other out.
And sometimes it’s great to just pick up the phone and call someone instead of emailing. Letters or postcards are a brilliant surprise though.
Lovely ideas, thanks!
VS says on December 1st, 2009 at 8:11 am
How about opening doors for people. It’s easy. When I’m at the library, I simply keep hold the door open for the person behind me and 99% of the time it is followed with a simple “thank you” and a smile. It may last short, but with eye contanct, there’s a genuine warmth and comfort
Personal Development says on December 1st, 2009 at 8:17 am
It’s said that giving is receiving. We feel fuller, better and happier when we help someone – the bottom line being that one is selfless in the act. So be it helping your mother in the kitchen, or your friend at an errand, these acts not just build our relationships better, but also make us feel good eventually.
Schnack says on December 1st, 2009 at 9:46 am
Simple ideas well worth remembering. Not sure about the incongruous image of the demonic child though. :)
Mitch Carnell says on December 1st, 2009 at 9:53 am
This is a wonderful post. Join us for Say Something Nice Day on June first of each year. Words are powerful. You can make or break a person’s day by the words you use. Be careful to build people up.
Denise Dougherty says on December 1st, 2009 at 10:08 am
Dustin, your commentary is always interesting. Your views are worth passing on and today’s were shared on our FB page among our friends. We found it an 11th small way …
Dariane says on December 1st, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Hello! Long time reader, first time commenter. :P
I’m surprised no one has mentioned this yet as another addition to this list…
SMILE!
A sincere smile can change the tone of someone’s day, and it’s really easy!
All Women Stalker says on December 2nd, 2009 at 10:32 am
Hi! I think you have a truly amazing list! Here are some of my comments.
- I could definitely up the number of sincere compliments I give out to people. Sometimes, I do fail to tell people how wonderful they are.
- In line with the first item, I think that being open is important. I do feel that we often keep a lot of things to ourselves even when they can do good for someone.
- I’ve seriously been considering giving stuff I don’t need anymore. I was at first contemplating on selling them. But I think I’d feel that I did the world more good by giving away useful things.
- I enjoy making things for people. There was this one Christmas when I didn’t have money to buy gifts. What I did was make little trinkets for the people on my list. They loved it.
Thanks for sharing the list with us!
-Denise
Eric Hurczak says on December 2nd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Usually it’s the small things that people do for others that make a big difference. What’s interesting is that some of the best things you can do for others doesn’t cost money for you to do.
I agree with Dariane’s comment above. A smile is an important thing to give someone as well. If you see someone without a smile…give him one of yours.
Shellie says on December 2nd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I really enjoyed this article :) Most of the suggestions are common sense and common courtesy, but so easy to overlook and forget about. Thank you for the reminders!
Ed says on December 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Thanks for this article. I’m going to try and complete every item before the end of the year!
Kate says on December 2nd, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Great suggestions! My personal favorite is commending an employee to their manager. I work in the service industry, and it brightens my day when someone takes the time to recognize a job well done on my part.
Jack says on December 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
I like this article, if everyone do the things as the article content, our world become more better.
Marko says on December 3rd, 2009 at 2:19 am
Well said. Great points.
Norbert says on December 4th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
On this blog are always very great posts. This one is absolutely fantastic. #2 is my favorite of the list. If you can make other people happy, you yourself will be happy.
ThePowerofSmall says on December 4th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Dustin, what a wonderful post! SMALL really can (and does) change the world. Through even our tiniest actions, from holding the door for a stranger to sending a handwritten note to an old friend, we can have an enormous impact on the lives of others and consequently on our own. Because, perhaps most importantly of all, even if you think no one else notices your kind efforts, YOU will know. And what can be better than that?
Don't Be So Rude says on December 4th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Excellent post! As someone who loathes how rude our society has become, I also agree that I too am guilty at times for become self-engrossed.
It’s articles like this that continually “bump” us to appreciate what we have, who we are and who are dear to us…and how to show how greatly we appreciate them by doing the simplest things!!
Himanshu says on December 4th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Thanks for the gr8 article.
At least the first one I have started doing a week before i stumbled upon ur article. Glad I did.
Kip says on December 6th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Awesome list. I had a good read of this. I also have my own list of ways to make the world a bit better.
http://www.evilmunky.com/?p=765
Steph says on December 8th, 2009 at 8:19 am
What a lovely list!
I like to leave small change for people to find. I usually leave the change in vending machines. It’s only a few cents and really makes the day of the person who finds it :)
Richard Shelmerdine says on December 21st, 2009 at 5:52 am
People really underestimate just being a good person and taking no other action. This will have a huge difference on the world. Imagine everyone did this and forgot their world domination dreams.
KiminAZ says on January 13th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
There is a family-run fruit stand not far from my neighborhood. The mother and father use a portable canopy and the back of their vehicle and are outside all times of the year for hours with their small child. Last year, I stopped and bought some oranges and paid $100. When I drove away, I looked back and saw the mother and father embracing and hugging their baby. It really made MY day! :)