Sometimes I sit back and think, OH MY GOD. How did this happen? How did I get to be in charge of these three people who constantly count on me for all things LIFE? They need me to KNOW things. To be perfectly honest, most of the time I don’tKNOW. I am perplexed more often than I would like to admit.

I really don’t KNOW why Saturn has rings and Earth doesn’t. Especially when you’re asking while I am trying to find you clean underwear! Priorities. I REALLY don’t know Algebra. I do KNOW I never use it in real life, if that’s what you’re asking. Do fish sleep? I don’t know, do they?? How far is Cambodia from here? Wha??? …

Many people think themselves overworked and busy, and I can see why sending a reply to an RSVP is low on the list of priorities. But it is ironic that our general addiction to social networking has contributed to people failing to give importance to relationships in the real world — and that includes displaying enough politeness to send a quick reply to an invitation to a real world party.

Source: The Telegraph

Discover more acts of kindness like this one in the 365 Days of Kindness project.

Before you speak, THINK…

T — is it True?
H — is it Helpful?
I — is it Inspiring?
N — is it Necessary?
K — is it Kind?

Using this guideline does not preclude you from having tough conversations with your team. Even constructive feedback, if delivered correctly, meets these criteria.

So, regardless of what or how you feel, T.H.I.N.K before you speak.

Source: Inc.

Discover more acts of kindness like this one in the 365 Days of Kindness project.

Every Sunday, Mark Bustos, 30, a hairstylist at Three Squares Studios, an elite salon in Chelsea that charges $150 to clients like Norah Jones, Marc Jacobs and Phillip Lim, hits the sidewalk and provides free cuts to the homeless.

The idea, he says, is to simply give back. “Whether I’m giving one at work or on the street, I think we can all relate to the haircut and how it makes us feel,” Mr. Bustos said. “We all know what it feels like to get a good haircut.”

Source: The New York Times

Discover more acts of kindness like this one in the 365 Days of Kindness project.

The Plant a Billion projects in the United States are rejuvenating iconic forests in key locations throughout the country. The Nature Conservancy is making sure each dollar donated can have the most effect on creating healthy forest habitat by using two methods: planting tree seedlings in areas that have been highly degraded, and assisting the natural regeneration of the forest by removing barriers to the forest’s ability to heal itself.

Source: The Nature Conservancy

Discover more acts of kindness like this one in the 365 Days of Kindness project.

The ability to give encouragement comes from a grateful heart. A heart of love. And a heart to bless others.

Encouragement is a selfless activity.

Those who make a point to encourage others are influencers in their world. We might even call them world changers.

Source: An Extraordinary Day

Discover more acts of kindness like this one in the 365 Days of Kindness project.

Listening is one of the most important skills you can have. How well you listen has a major impact on your job effectiveness, and on the quality of your relationships with others.

Source: MindTools

Discover more acts of kindness like this one in the 365 Days of Kindness project.

While the brain is naturally inclined to think in negative terms as a defense mechanism, the habitual act of smiling helps the mind move to a more positive space and remain there longer the more you do it. According to Shawn Achor, the author of The Happiness Advantage, by making smiling a part of our everyday practice, we help our brains create happiness loops that encourage more positive-thinking patterns.

“Happiness is a work ethic,” wrote Achor. “It’s something that requires our brains to train just like an athlete has to train.”

Source: The Huffington Post

Originally published at www.happyorangeproject.com