Never has the cult of individualism been more pervasive and pernicious than it is now. Whilst the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis seemed to bring people together, many have since turned inward, with a sense of community and collective care seemingly sacrificed.
With many excerpts predicting that the end may be in sight for the global pandemic, 2022 could be the year that public spirit seizes the narrative. But why wait for the WHO to give the word? Here are 5 ways to live a kinder, more fulfilling life today.
GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY
With nine out of ten councils in England seeing a rise in food bank use last year, homelessness in the country increasing dramatically in recent years, and with a loneliness epidemic ongoing, the UK is in desperate need of volunteers across a wide range of areas.
Whether you’re participating in a Befriender’s scheme that connects volunteers with vulnerable people, serving customers in one of Shelter’s shops or simply donating a few necessary items to a food bank each time you visit the supermarket, there are loads of things you can do to give back to your community this year and beyond.
As the guys at Happiness, who aim to to share tools to empower everyone to live happy and fulfilled lives, tell us, volunteering helps build self-confidence and self-esteem, and can improve both physical and mental health in those who participate. Indeed, though it can be a completely altruistic act, the benefits of volunteering for the volunteer themselves are wide-ranging and profound, too.
TREAD A LITTLE LIGHTER
2021 was a year not only defined by COVID; the climate crisis loomed large over much of the public discourse, too, with the UK-hosted COP26 ending in a whimper rather than worldwide consensus on the best way forward.
Whilst the onus should fall on major corporations and governments to comprehensively address the impending catastrophe, with just 90 companies responsible for two-thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions, there are still things the individual can do to help.
From replacing single-use with reusable products to eating less meat, check out these 8 green new year’s resolutions to help save the planet.
RANDOM ACTS
Every 13th November sees World Kindness Day celebrated, with global citizens encouraged to perform a random act of kindness for a stranger, all in the name of making the world a happier place.
That leaves 364 days of the year where our compassionate sides are somewhat neglected or pushed to one side in favour of more selfish concerns. Instead, why not endeavour to make random acts of kindness a defining feature of your 2022, performing them whenever the wind takes you rather than waiting until November to do so. As they say, kindness is a circle, and it’s contagious, too! The more random acts of kindness you pay forward, the more love you’ll spread.
Read: 7 random acts of kindness to brighten up someone’s day
AN ACT OF COLLECTIVE CARE FOR A LOVED ONE EACH DAY
If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that self-care isn’t possible without adopting an attitude of collective care, too, from volunteering to participating in peaceful protests for the greater good, or perhaps simply being a better neighbour and offering an ear to those less fortunate.
So far, we’ve generally talked about kindness towards strangers, but it’s essential you don’t neglect spreading compassion and care to loved ones, too.
Yep, it can be something as simple as sending a text to a friend who you know needs to talk and making yourself available for others who need support. It’s all about interpersonal acts of kindness, being there for people without them having to take the first step.
Read: 5 places to find friendship and support online
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
We couldn’t get to the end of our article without considering the practice of self-care and kindness, too. One of the best ways of being kinder to yourself and becoming happier is to practice gratitude, routinely and purposefully.
The benefits of doing so are myriad; studies have suggested that practicing gratitude can improve your mental health and your relationships, and could even strengthen your immune system.
But what does ‘practicing gratitude’ actually entail? Perhaps the most popular way involves keeping a gratitude journal or diary, which you add to each morning or evening. Some choose to write down three things that they’re grateful for each day, or three things they were grateful for on that particular day. Others detail an achievement or a person they’re thankful for…the choice is yours!
Other common forms of gratitude practice include prayer, meditation, and even volunteering. Which neatly brings us back to where we began; we did say kindness was a circle, after all.