A new year is a blessing. The very word “new” implies that there is an “old”—a past which we can break away from and bury, along with every unfruitful memory attached to it. What a blessing it is to reset the clock, write a new narrative, and breathe fresh air into our lives again.
As you plan and set your 2020 goals, my encouragement is simply this: be kind. Consider basing your business and personal goals—i.e., your life—on a foundation of kindness. Kindness brings people together and improves our quality of life in the home, community and workplace.
Unfortunately, there is a shortage of kindness in this world. You don’t have to look far to see examples of a lack of kindness—e.g., in government, business, social media and entertainment. But what if you challenged yourself to plant one seed of kindness every day in 2020? It could be something easy like letting one driver in front of you during rush hour traffic, holding the door for someone, buying coffee for your team, or writing (not emailing) a brief thank you note. One act of kindness impacts positive transformation.
It doesn’t have to cost you anything to be kind, but kindness sure does pay great dividends! When you show kindness to others, people are more likely to do business with you, promote you, engage more, make donations toward your causes and become a loyal supporter of you in general. It is also scientifically proven that kindness reduces workplace stress, which means fewer visits to the doctor or missed days from work—a huge monetary benefit!
So, be kind. Make kindness contagious! Clothe yourself in kindness everyday and expect to receive the serendipitous rewards that follow in 2020 and beyond.
Juliet Hall is a respected advisor, leadership consultant and speaker. Please follow her on Instagram and at @juliet.hall and for more information visit JulietHall.com
