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If I were looking back from the end of my life and telling others what would help the world, what would make the biggest difference, I would ask each person to look around today and find a small “Random Act of Kindness” they could do that would help a stranger.

I would say to go against your ingrained biases, suspend judgment, and think the best for someone who appeared to be on the other “side.” Do something to help them without thinking of a return. I believe that when you envision the best traits for someone in need, they may be lifted by your care. It need not be a great act—just letting someone know you appreciate something about them is enough to lift their life a little higher.

National, religious, and cultural differences look small when you recognize that each person cares as much for their children and their family as you do. I saw a scene that positively affected hundreds of people. There was a deadly riot that was expanding until one incident neutralized it. A young man ran to attack an old man in the violent crowd. The old man dropped his weapon and hugged his attacker. Like ripples in a pond, the violence was quelled. There was sobbing as people looked around and took in what could have evolved. These were real people, not faceless enemies.

There was a young girl entering high school who had already been in 30 foster homes, creating problems in each one. In her math class she threw a golf ball that grazed her teacher’s head. The teacher’s first instinct would normally have been to have the student expelled. Instead, she chose to see a better future for this child. One day, soon after, she asked the girl if she would babysit her 2 children. The girl could hardly believe someone would see the good in her. Since then she has graduated from college with honors and is on her way to graduate school to go into social work to help others. Her high school teacher and 2 daughters were cheering her on at graduation.

I believe one person doing a small act of kindness for a stranger can influence that person, himself, and everyone who witnesses it. I also believe that altruism is part of our evolving behavior. If we see this act, we’re naturally inclined to pass it forward. Everyone should agree only good can come of this.

Fifty years from now, warring parties will not have the same leaders. Their citizens will still have the ultimate hope of safety and happiness for their families. My hope is that new leaders worldwide will aspire to a higher level. Meanwhile, today, each of us can do one small act to be a role model for others.

That’s not too much for you or me, is it?

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Nancy F. Clark is PositivityDaily’s CEO, a Forbes partner and an expert in developing Business and Happiness programs for companies and executives. A respected authority for 20 years, Clark has been the featured speaker at the Pentagon, National Institutes of Health, as well as major corporations and universities.

Early on in coaching executives, Clark found that learning business skills was important for clients but didn’t guarantee long-lasting feelings of success and happiness. Clark’s education in physics stimulated her interest in the latest scientific research, especially the transformative brain studies related to happiness. She began practicing new habits based on “neurons that fire together, wire together” – meaning the brain can change, and you can achieve a great improvement in self-growth and happiness. She experienced significant changes in her happiness within a short time. She decided to add these ideas to her clients’ programs. The results were amazing. Clients increased their happiness levels, positivity, and were better able to lead others. New techniques also allowed executives to control and eliminate many unwanted habits and shape and instill new good habits. This is the reason she founded PositivityDaily.

For more information, please visit positivitydaily.com

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Brilliant, Nancy! I smiled when I read about your interest in transformative brain studies related to happiness! I am engaged in the same thing right now.. and everywhere I look, I come across happiness related articles. Fascinating. By the way, if you haven’t read Rick Hanson’s Hardwiring Happiness, please do, it’s worthwhile! Besides, I have just take up edx UCB’s new course on the Science of Happiness and am enjoying it tremendously. Thanks very much for sharing your words of wisdom. Keep up the beautiful work! Love & blessings xxx

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