MANY people seek a sense of fulfilment or meaning when exchanging an act of kindness, be it for personal, religious or other reasons.

Some even share their actions on social media for all to see – but we have masked benevolence with a self-righteous haze that needs to go.

The value of doing good unto others is not the action in itself, but the consequences that come from it.

I am deeply saddened to say that I have seen faux-charity being given without a second thought for the receiving party, only for a boost to ones’ own persona, be it their outward appearance online or in the physical world.

Surely that undermines the true cause for kindliness?

It would be easy to state what I have done lately to benefit others, but that would only be proving my observation.

When exchanging with others, think of them before yourself and let the positive implications of your actions be the driving force of your own happiness – know that you’ve just made somebody’s day immeasurably better.

Whilst the phrase ‘be kind to someone today’ certainly holds its place, I try not to be a hijacker of western Buddhism when I quote the Dalai Lama.

‘Be kind whenever possible – it is always possible.’

Don’t just be kind to one person and have it over and done with – if you have held the door for somebody you are not done for the day.

Spreading positivity should not be a duty, despite the sense it may create, but should instead be a positively constructed habit that comes naturally with time.

As with all things, don’t put this off – kindness isn’t something you start next week, neither is it something you start simply because somebody wrote that you should.

You do it because you know that positivity, however slight or significant, will come from your actions, however small they may be.

A very good Kate Tempest quote that I live by goes as follows.

‘Never underestimate the value of making somebody a cup of tea without them having to ask.’

Flick the kettle on for someone you love, you’d be surprised how much it means.

By Oliver Streather-Paul