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Hold the door for someone, even if they’re taking forever.
This might be one of the easiest ways to make someone smile. Chances are, you probably use more than one door in the span of a day (unless you’re a total recluse, or, like me, your Saturdays are reserved entirely for cuddling a family-size bag of Doritos and watching Gilmore Girls in bed). The next time you do find yourself using one of those swinging rectangles, hold it open for the person behind you (even if it means you have to stop and wait a few seconds. Ugh, I know, such a hassle.)
2. Tell someone you love them
You can say the words to a family member, friend or significant other. But you can say it other ways too! It can be as simple as “text me when you get back to your dorm”, “do you want me to grab you a coffee?” or “please make sure you’re safe.” Showing someone you care this much is a sure way to make them smile!
Most of the time, someone asking “how are you?” doesn’t really want to hear about how you were late to class or how your cat threw up in your left shoe. People ask this question as a courtesy- when you’re checking out at the grocery store, when you run into a colleague. When you ask a general question, you get a general answer (i.e. “I’m fine.”). If you have the time, start a conversation with the intention of truly listening. Sometimes all people need is the chance to vent.
5. Crack a joke
This won’t always work on the grumpy businessman you’re stuck in the elevator with, but it’s generally a nice feeling when someone, even a stranger, is working to get you to smile.
When someone goes out of their way to make you smile, show them that you appreciate the act. These days, there are a rare few out there who go out of their way to show kindness, especially for complete strangers. If someone makes your day, tell them. It will show them that their efforts don’t go unnoticed, and chances are, they’ll continue to spread the love.
It truly is contagious. People are subconsciously empathetic. If you give off negative vibes, it has an impact on those around you. The same is true for the opposite- If you give off positive energy, you could end up turning someone’s crappy day into a damn good one without lifting a finger. In the words of the abundantly wise philosopher J. Bieber, “you smile, I smile”.
9. Random act of kindness
Acts of kindness should be a daily occurrence for everyone, as common as checking social media (or in my case, looking at pictures of Harry Styles). While Joey Tribbiani may have been right in stating that there are no unselfish good deeds, they are much more meaningful when you do them with no ulterior motives. Choosing to randomly brighten someone else’s day is one of the best ways to spread kindness and smiles to everyone.
10. Try out one of these kind gestures on yourself.
As we’ve covered, happiness is contagious. But it’s not always enough to just force yourself to smile. While typically the feeling you get from being outwardly kind to others is enough to brighten your day, it’s important to be kind to yourself too. Try taking a day, or even a few hours of a day, to just be yourself, and be alone. Turn off your phone, forget about obligations (both social and academic), and do something that makes you happy.