Lifehack

How can I improve the quality of my quotidian life? How can I make the ordinary extraordinary?

Quarantine had me wondering about my everyday routine. What I could implement, or take out to make life a little better. I’m not talking about changing the world or doing something transcendental. It’s more of the immediate actions and decisions I make to ameliorate life in the short term.

Something I know for sure is that life’s better when the people that surround me are happy.

I mean don’t you feel great when you make someone else feel great?

Kindness does not only make your life better in the sense of literally becoming a better person. It can also improve someone else’s life. Of course, being kind won’t solve all of your problems, but being the best version of yourself and exceeding in life, is not only about achieving your goals.

It doesn’t matter if we get where we want to be if we don’t like who we are.

Does it even matter if we don’t feel good about ourselves?

This sense of accomplishment can only be achieved by being kind. If you want respect you must give respect. If you want love, you must give out love. If you want friends and people who appreciate you, be kind. Besides, it’s always nice having people on your side for those rainy days.

Part of becoming a better person is showing honest support. Take a second and ask yourself:

• Have I been supportive just because it’s the polite thing to say?
• After saying “I’ll support you no matter the decision you make” have I actually followed through? — Are these words part of a speech that has been going on since the beginning of times as part of being well mannered? Or do we actually mean them?
• Have I given my advice based on someone’s best interests, or just said yes to everything to avoid conflict?
• Have I created conflict and not being supportive because I don’t agree with someone’s views in life without giving them the chance to explain themselves?
• Have I listened with an open heart?

Be honest with yourself while answering these questions.

Sometimes we do this stuff not because we are bad people or don’t care. It’s just because we are human. Humans forget.

Part of picking that path of kindness is to not forget. We need to remember to be there. We need to ask ourselves once in a while how are the people that I love doing. Check up on them and see how we can actually help them.

Sometimes it's as simple as just listening to what they have to say. Smiling instead of complaining. Giving out a compliment instead of putting them down. Channel a positive attitude even if you haven’t been having the best day yourself.

When you transmit positivity, when you try to make people happy, and when you say things that need to be said with honesty (trying not to hurt people). Good vibes follow.

Remember at the beginning when I said I wasn’t trying to change the world or do something transcendental?

Well, I do believe that having this attitude towards life is changing the world. I do believe walking in love is transcendental. I do believe that kindness is rare and underrated in a world high on hatred.