An area of personal growth that I find challenging is remembering to think about others more consistently — acknowledging what’s going on in their lives, touching base, doing little things that make them feel cared for. You may know this already. I am perpetually trying to make this a priority, so today I made a list of some ideas to help exercise the thoughtfulness muscle (several are from this book):
- Let someone else have the last word in a conversation.
- Allow others to finish what they have to say without interruption.
- Privately wish someone well when passing their house.
- Hold the door open for someone.
- Stop to give directions to someone who looks lost.
- Offer to pick up coffee or lunch or photocopies for a coworker when going to get your own.
- Bring extra paper goods.
- Make it a point to respond to texts and emails sooner rather than later so people feel heard.
- Pay a compliment to someone who might not get very many throughout the day, like a sales associate at the drugstore.
- And this most important one — mark down birthdays and other people’s special events (ex. day of a flight, CPA exam) in your phone and remember to send them a text to wish them luck or ask how it went.
Do you have some more ideas to add? Thanks!
