Hi ladies! Popularity isn't all about clothes and hair. We recently read an article about girls who do random acts of kindness becoming more popular. Yes, it's true! A study has determined that kids can increase their popularity, decrease bullying in their school, and feel more positive about themselves by doing one thing each day - a random act of kindness.
So what is a random act of kindness? It can be anything that you do for another person. Some acts of kindness are big and some are small. For example, giving a family member a hug or holding a door open for someone is a small act. Doing a chore for a sibling or classmate might be somewhere in the middle. Sharing your lunch or helping with homework are other ideas. Donating your allowance to charity might be something big or how about volunteering at a fundraiser or other community event?
What's happening here exactly? The acts of kindness can be done in a variety of locations - not just school to have the popularity effect. So, how exactly is it working? Well, it is just theory, we can't know for sure, but a couple of things are at work here. First off, if one person does an act of kindness, then her "followers" will want to do it. This will spread more and more and then exponentially more peace and kindness will spread throughout your school community!
Secondly, when you do kind things, people like you! We all know girls who are popular because of their looks and clothes, but the girl who is also kind has even more friends and admirers. After all, who wants to look up to a girl who is rude and selfish? Wouldn't we all rather be around someone nice? So ask yourself, am I kind?, am I loving, do I care? When you answer yes to these questions and show others it's true, they will like you!
A third reason this works is that when you do kind things, you like yourself! The act of kindness allows you to have positive feelings and the more positive feelings you create, the better you feel. And, the better you feel, the more you show that happy positive feeling to others and voila! The more they like you! You feel confident and have higher self-esteem through the acts of kindness and this shows - soon you attract others who want more of what you have - confidence and respect!
Finally, when you focus on kindness, you are able to see the good in the world around you and not just the bad. This makes people want to be around you and it makes you less worried, less stressed and more able to enjoy and cope with life. This is the "cup half full" concept. The more you see good in the world and stop focusing on the bad, the better you feel. The better you feel, the better you are at everything you do in your life!
Sounds good right? We say try this for about a month. Some experts say to make real change in your brain, you need to do something for 21 days, others say 28. Just to be safe and really make a difference in the world, go for 28! Or, do 26. There's a movement on Facebook, to complete 26 acts of kindness to help the nation heal following the killing of 26 people at the school in Newtown. If you want to make that your focus, that will work as well. Be better, feel better, just by doing better things for those around you and pretty soon the whole world will be a better place, including you!
Signing off for now,
Tammy and Carmen
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