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Did you ever sit and wonder how you can make a difference in your own life and the lives of others by doing small acts of kindness?

There is an almost unlimited number of things we can do to brighten someone else's day. Hold the door open for a mother with a stroller. Write a simple 'I love you' note for your spouse or your significant other and tape it to the steering wheel in the car or leave beside their cereal bowl in the morning.

Make a habit of leaving five minutes earlier for work in the morning. An extra five minute time cushion will help you drive in a courteous manner instead of driving aggressively. This is an easy and effective way to spread around good cheer.

Another idea is to put a heart-shaped sandwich or a happy face note in your young child's lunch box. You'll put a smile on their face and a spring in their step as they go on to face the rest of the school day.

Let someone go in front of you in the grocer store line-up, especially if the person only has a few items and you have a whole cartful. They will probably share the story of your small act of kindess to their spouse or co-workers. In this way, you will be spurring others on to do good works as well.

Just saying 'thank-you' to your child's teacher or school bus driver or even a store clerk can make a huge difference to a person who may be feeling unappreciated or unvalued in their job.

Or, you may want to sponsor a child overseas or volunteer your time to a local charity that is meaningful to you. Sometimes we get so busy and preoccupied with paying our own bills that we forget to give back to those who are less fortunate.

Can helping others benefit your mental well-being?

Helping others may actually help you to feel more deserving of the riches and blessings in your own life. When you know that you have contributed to society as a whole, it's much easier to enjoy the fruits of your own successes. Simply put, helping others makes us feel better about ourselves.

Can helping others benefit your own physical health?

Studies have shown that individuals who volunteer have lower rates of heart disease, mortality and depression. Those volunteer experiences that have opportunities for social interaction are the most effective for combating depression. In addition, volunteers may experience relief from chronic pain.

If you have the courage to show kindness to another human being, the positive benefits will come back to you tenfold. Simple acts of kindness can put a smile on someon else' face as well as your own face. So what have you got to lose? Go ahead and make someone else's day.

Learn more about this author, Karen Chamchuk.
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