Nov. 3 - Encouraging Kindness

Day 306 of a year of kindness

I saw this post from Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and thought I would focus on offering words of encouragement to friends and family. Words of encouragement are kinder than unsolicited advice. No one really wants to hear your thoughts about their relationship or the state of their home or whether you think they should have another piece of pie. Words of encouragement uplift without judgment.

Today, I encouraged a friend to invest in some much-needed art supplies—because she’s worth it. I encouraged another friend to step outside and clear her head from work issues. And I received encouragement, too: from my physical therapist, who always believes I can do one more set of eight, and from a friend who helped me feel less overwhelmed about a project I’m working on. Kindness doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s just believing in someone—and saying so.

Science of Kindness: Science shows that encouragement boosts motivation, resilience, and emotional well-being—making it one of the most powerful and kind forms of support. It activates reward centers in the brain, strengthens relationships, and helps people persist through challenges. #BeKind #KindnessCounts #KindnessCounts2025 #kindness #kindnesseffect