By Lacey Lindsey and Christine Harris
Many are familiar with the old Girl Guide or Scout slogan, Do a good turn daily, which encourages young scouts to do one task for others each day, without expecting anything in return. This slogan encourages compassion for others, but it also taps into a shift in mindset that occurs when we help others.
It is quite simple. Doing good makes us feel good. We feel satisfied with ourselves for doing something for others. Even if the rest of the day has gone downhill, we will feel confident in knowing that at the very least we were responsible for something as simple as someone else’s smile. Fostering compassion on a daily basis allows us to connect with others. For instance, picking up litter on your morning walk transforms a simple moment of solitude into an opportunity to connect with your community and your sense of purpose.
If you begin picking up litter from a path you walk daily, you may find yourself considering the bigger picture. Who benefits from your actions? Your neighbors will appreciate having a cleaner, more picturesque path to walk on, but your tidying can be a matter of life or death for the local wildlife. Next, you might ask yourself, What else can be done to help those around me? Get connected. There will be others in your community who will want to join in on your efforts. New conversations and friendships might arise from a shared interest, which is of particular interest to expats who have just moved to a new area.
Acts of compassion sow a seed of purpose. Perhaps the practice of collecting litter allows you to meditate on the idea of stewardship so much that you become inspired to join a grassroots conservation organization. Here you gain confidence as you find other ways to do good and meet other people along the way. These new relationships connect us with our larger communities, giving us greater insight into how we fit into the world around us and how we react to it. They also clue us into new opportunities. Engaging with this purpose provides us with more confidence. It’s easier to move through the world if we know which direction to go in.
There are many things we can do to practice compassion. We can pick up litter, share food with someone, or even hold a door open for someone. We can play with kittens or give to someone in need. We can plant a tree or run a race in benefit of a good cause.
Here are a few more ideas to get inspired:
Help a family member or roommate bring in groceries.
Donate unneeded office supplies to a school or to someone else who would appreciate it.
Write a letter to a friend.
Donate blood.
Give a genuine compliment.
There are so many opportunities to give back. It can be a calculated effort or unfold spontaneously as the day progresses. You don’t have to create a consistent daily practice, but the repetition of a daily habit turns do-gooding into a meditative practice. The result is increased confidence and compassion. Ideas for new good turns suddenly begin to percolate within. New connections will continue to be made. Get creative.
But compassion isn’t just for other people. When we practice self-compassion we begin to view ourselves as deserving of that care, even if we do not initially believe so at the outset. In essence, we fake it until we make it. We treat ourselves with kindness until we believe that we wholeheartedly deserve that kindness. This allows us to take on stressful situations with ease, which adds upon our resilience.
Here are some ways that you can practice self- compassion:
Connect with your younger inner child and send them compassion and loving kindness.
Take a few pauses throughout your day and take a few deep breaths.
Consciously connect with a loved one every day.
Engaging with compassion regularly will also lead to greater confidence from within. As we help others we realize that we, too, are deserving of hope, and that we possess the capability to provide that service towards ourselves. Ask yourself What do I need right now? How will I get it? What else might I do? How will I feel safe? Considering these questions regularly opens up the internal conversation on self-compassion. We are our own best caretakers. Only we will know the right answers for ourselves.
Doing good is grounding. It brings perspective, connection, and a sense of purpose. There is a glow that follows doing something good simply because it is good. You have shown yourself love in knowing that you have brought a moment of kindness into someone else’s life. You deserve all the love.
