Step #2: We need to try the 3 steps of the 30-Day Kindness Challenge
Here are the three daily elements that our research found makes all the difference, if you do them for someone with whom you want a better relationship. That could be a troubled relationship you want to fix or a good relationship you want to make better! And pick just one person to do this for—that is essential. You can always do your second needy child or your other difficult colleague as the next 30 days!
You may think these sound simple—and they are. But once you try them, you will also begin to see your child, or colleague or spouse—and yourself—in a whole new way.
First, say nothing negative about the person you choose. And that means saying nothing negative to them but also about them to someone else. This may seem easy. And obvious. But when we focus on not saying anything negative, we realize just how often we may let things slip out of our mouths—or in our body language—that are not the nicest!
Second, find one thing to praise each day and tell them. Then take it a step further and tell that positive thing to someone else (this is the best kind of gossip!) Often, as we do this, we realize how infrequently we praise or say something positive. Even if we think positive things about our person, so frequently we just don’t say them out loud! Here’s our chance to share it—and also get in a good habit of seeking and finding the good in not just our person, but others in general.
Third, do a small act of generosity for your person every day. What will make them smile? What small thing can you do that will help their day go more smoothly? Or what would be a treat? Can you send a text in the middle of the day letting them know you were thinking of them and it made you smile? Can you speak up to praise your difficult colleague in an important meeting?
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