What was the worst day of your life?

Was it filled with tragedy? Tears? Terror? Sirens?

Was it filled with heartbreak? Did somebody pass away? Did you get bad news? Were you betrayed?

Did you hold it all together? Did you walk through the streets numb or without tears?

Did you fall apart?

The world is dark.

Compassion, empathy and kindness can be the light.

One of the best things we can offer the world is kindness. We can empathize with everyone and everything. We can abolish the judgement we’re so quick to give.

It is easy for us to JUDGE first and UNDERSTAND later (or never).

Here are some simple and easy-to-follow tips that can help you radiate kindness and empathy.

The Worst Day Of Your Life

Do you think you could spot somebody that is having the very worst day of their life?

One of the most powerful things a friend ever said to me was, “The ‘worst day of your life’ is relative.”

Which is to say that the worst day of your life may have been when your car broke down, you got fired from your job, your boyfriend left you and there was a death in the family – maybe even FOUR deaths in the family.

The person next to you might have had to put their twenty-two-year-old cat down. Maybe that is the VERY WORST day of their life.

Maybe you were on the subway cold as stone – waiting until you got home for the day to let it all go. Maybe the person next to you is uncontrollably sobbing.

At the end of the day, we don’t really know people’s struggles. We may not know how they faced the rain or how they got through it. We may not know whether TODAY is the very worst day of their lives.

Be kind.

“It Could Be Worse”

Who has heard this phrase from a friend when they are falling apart?

“Well, it could be worse.”

Picture this: your very best friend just got a promotion at their job – what a milestone!

Imagine following that news up with, “Well it could be better.”

You could never invalidate someone’s triumphs with something so ludicrous. You shouldn’t invalidate their struggles with the same phrase.

Be kind.

Listen To LISTEN – Not To Respond

Have you ever caught yourself zoning out while somebody is telling you a story just so you can decide how you plan on responding to it?

Do you have something to add? Did you have a similar experience that you just HAVE to tell them?

Try just listening.

Try actually asking questions about what their current experience is. You might even get to know them better by being engaged in what they’re saying (instead of being engaged in how you’ll respond).

Be kind.

They Are Hurting

Have you been wronged? Did somebody say something negative about you or treat you poorly?

I will never recommend that you keep negative people in your life. If they are constantly hurting you, then remove yourself from the situation. People don’t need you to excuse their crappy actions.

However, the quicker you learn that their actions are most likely due to THEIR hurt, then it’ll be easier for you to not take it personally.

People often react out of their own pain.

Be kind.

Leave It With Love

Choose to leave it with love. For your sake.

It can be a challenge. For example, if your boyfriend cheats on you. Or, if you were the brunt of bullying. It’s incredibly hard to take a deep breath and fill your heart with love.

But you have to try.

“Holding on to anger is like holding on to an anchor and jumping in the sea. If you don’t let it go, you’ll drown.”

Be kind.

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The best thing we can do (for ourselves and for others) is to walk through life with love, kindness and empathy.

Written by Celina Dawdy