9 attitudes that can make a difference in someone’s life today

Wanting to make a difference in people’s lives is a very common desire. We often believe that big acts are necessary for this, which require a lot of effort and time, so we always end up leaving it for later. But are grandiose acts necessary to make a difference?

Great deeds are indeed valid, but there are a number of small actions that can be done daily, which do not require effort, time and which can be done right now.

Being the difference to the people around you can be simpler than you think, as well as being very pleasurable. Here is a list of 9 simple attitudes to get you started today to make a difference in the lives of those around you:

1. Praise whenever possible

Complimenting is a simple act that can make a person’s day much better. After all, who doesn’t like to receive a compliment? At work, when you like the result of something your colleague has done, never miss the opportunity to give praise. Compliments encourage people to continue doing their jobs with care and dedication.

Praise your friends, family and everyone around you more. With this act, in addition to earning many smiles in return, you will be sure to have made a person’s day much happier.

2. Show empathy instead of sympathy

Empathy is when you understand what the person is feeling, can put yourself in the person’s situation and understand the situation they are going through. Empathy is judgment-free. Sympathy is related to charisma.

Showing empathy with someone makes that person not feel alone in bad times. Demonstrating that you understand the situation, support and especially that you don’t judge, encourage and make all the difference in any situation the person is experiencing.

3. Always use the words “thank you” and “please”

We often forget to use these magic words with the people we live with the most. With coexistence, saying please, thank you and apologizing may seem unnecessary with the closest people, but it’s not.

So if you need something remember to end the sentence with please. When you receive something, give thanks. If you make a mistake, always remember to apologize. No matter how close you are to the person in question, some habits that sound formal like using these expressions, make all the difference and should never disappear from your vocabulary.

4. Show gratitude

Gratitude goes far beyond saying thank you. Gratitude is expressed beyond words and involves acts like trying to do your best for the person you are grateful to. So many times we receive wonderful things from the people we live with, but we leave the act of showing gratitude for later.

Again, it doesn’t take grandiose acts to make a difference in this regard. Treat with care and dedication the people you are grateful for. If possible, do the same for these people. Always make sure, in some way, that you have gratitude for those around you.

5. Be available when they need your help

If someone asks for your help and it’s within your reach, don’t hesitate to offer support promptly. Being available means demonstrating to the person that you will help them with everything you can do. Often, just saying that you are available makes all the difference.

It’s important not to put off a request for help and do what you can right now. Showing availability and readiness shows affection and concern for the person’s cause.

6. Be a listener

If a person is venting to you, say as little as possible. We often like to talk and talk about ourselves and we unlearn to listen to what the other person has to say to us. Offer your shoulder to the important people in your life, let them talk about what they are feeling and listen carefully.

Listening requires training and patience, so start training today. When someone is saying something to you, don’t interrupt the conversation and listen calmly. Speak only when you are sure the person has finished speaking.

7. Spread smiles

Make the people around you laugh and smile. Avoid saying negative things and focus on spreading words that bring smiles. Don’t start a bad story if it’s unnecessary, and don’t help spread bad news, because nobody needs it. Tell more stories and news about positive things, help sow good.

Smiling, in itself, is already a great way to sow good. Smile at the people around you whenever possible. The smile is the universal language and will always be reciprocated.

8. Do something nice for a complete stranger

Start a chain of good, perform an act of kindness for someone you don’t know and leave a note telling that stranger to do something for another stranger. So, by making a difference in one person’s day, you can make a difference in several people’s day.

Make the planet a better place filled with acts of kindness. For example, if you saw a car with the windows open parked on the street, close the windows and leave an anonymous note telling the person to reciprocate by doing a favor for a complete stranger.

9. Don’t help spread hate

Surely everyone has been a victim of gratuitous hate. In traffic, at work, at college and everywhere we go. In these situations, it is very common for the desire to respond in the same way to appear, but stop and think: how will this change? Someone who hates you may just be having a bad day, so take a breath and ignore it or respond politely.

If someone did something wrong in traffic don’t respond by doing something wrong too, ignore it and let the person go. If someone was rude in their words to you at work, don’t start an unnecessary argument, respond politely. Remember: kindness begets kindness.

By practicing, you will see how simple and pleasurable it is to make a difference to someone on a daily basis. Small acts, if done with affection, can make people’s day happier and more rewarding. On the list are some suggestions, but you can do a multitude of actions and try to reach as many people as possible.

How about starting right now to make a difference in someone’s day?