Do a Good Deed Daily

I'd like to discuss an idea to help reduce your stress while strengthening your heart. This is an unusual idea for stress reduction because it involves doing something for someone else. Do a good deed daily. Do something nice for someone else and your heart will grow stronger. That someone can be a friend, family member, coworker, a business associate, or better yet, a total stranger.

Acts of kindness and generosity not only benefit others, they benefit us too. One way to think of it is that you are exercising your heart. I don't mean the same kind of exercise you get when you do something physical like run 2 miles, but the kind you get when you openly give from the heart. That is spiritual exercise.

To get the full benefit of this exercise, don't grandstand. Give without an expectation of acknowledgement or appreciation. Don't give in order to get admiration or with the expectation that someone will return the favor. If you do, it's not a sincere gift; it's doesn't stretch the heart. It creates obligations because it has strings attached. Most of us know or can sense when we've received a "gift" with strings attached. You feel suspicious, and there's a note of expectancy in the air that whispers, "now you owe me" or, "now you have to do something in return." These acts aren't gifts; they are bribes.

Gifts of the heart don't have to cost anything or be material objects. A gift of the heart could be a compliment, picking up trash on the neighbor's yard, putting a dime in an expired parking meter, sending an e-mail with a cheery message, singing to your child or spouse or partner, writing at poem, a hug, or simply making eye contact and smiling when greeting a stranger.

One of the most moving things about the 911 tragedy was the immediate outpouring of love, support, kindness and sacrifice New Yorkers spontaneously gave to each other. The spirit of healing was immediately and unequivocally present. It's effects quickly spread around the country as we all realized that what happened in New York happened to all of us. It seemed to me for awhile after that day everyone was kinder, more helpful and cooperative. Then it faded.

We don't need a national or personal tragedy to spur that kind of outpouring of love and kindness. We don't need to save it for the holiday season or special occasions. We can choose to make it part of our daily routine.

Giving is receiving. When our hearts feel full and more open, we are engaged with life. When we are engaged with life, we feel good about ourselves. People who feel good about themselves handle stress better and are more stress resistant.

So start today: make a list of random acts of kindness and senseless beauty you can do for others. Then just do it....oh, and post your ideas here, so others can try them!

Annette Vaillancourt, Ph.D. - Corporate Trainer and Motivational Speaker
EnterTraining Seminars: "We Learn You Good!"
Peak Performance, Stress in the Workplace, Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills
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