We recently wrote about what it means to be kind to oneself and to others. Let’s go further now and discuss what constitutes kindness.

Kindness starts within. When you are kind to yourself you plant the seed that allows you to be kind to others. Become aware of your self-talk. Do you become impatient with yourself when learning something new? Do you scold yourself for making a mistake? Learn to be gentle and kind to yourself by changing the “tapes” that play in your head: “I am intelligent and capable and am learning this new task easily.” Practicing positive self-talk will allow kindness to yourself to become a habit.

The same sort of tolerance and positivity applies to your interactions with other people, animals, and our physical world. But it is not simply a passive kindness. To be truly kind is to take kind action, no matter how small the act.

We all know the obvious and “big” kindnesses such as providing for the homeless, serving in a soup kitchen, volunteering, sitting with someone in grief, and so on. But the “little” kindnesses have impact as well.

Take notice of someone who crosses your path today. Look him or her in the eye and smile. Notice the reaction. You may have just given a gift to someone who needed that small act of kindness.

Active listening is kind. Be truly present and engaged in your conversations, silently but actively attending to the other person instead of rehearsing the next thing you want to say.

Stopping to appreciate beauty in nature is a kind act – your soul energy positively affects the world around you. Pet an animal, put out water for the birds, mindfully water your plants – all these are kindnesses.

Don’t undervalue the good you put out into the world. Every act is priceless. An act of kindness big or small makes a difference in our fragile and precious world.