With Spring comes the hope of new life and growth.  Seeds planted or spread by the wind find a place in the earth to take root and grow. I like the metaphor of one plant, with many seeds multiplying into many plants. This natural cycle of connection and growth seemed a fitting time of year to talk about your influence upon others around you; how what you put out into the world takes root in others and spreads.

This phenomenon is called social contagion. Basically your emotions and behavior are picked up by others and can be imitated, felt, or copied. We have all had the experience of being lifted up by someone’s positive energy or weighed down by someone’s complaints or hostility. As social beings, we feel and are influenced by the energy of those around us. So, this causes me to ask, “what energy are you putting out into the world?” What influence are you having on someone else’s mood or day?

Be the change you wish to see in the world ~ Mahatma Gandhi

I hope you will want to project peace and kindness into your interactions and into the larger world around you. Tired of all the negativity you hear and experience? Do or say something positive. Experiencing lots of conflict with others? Refuse to contribute to the conflict and hold fast to contributing to understanding and solutions.

[Tweet “Make a difference today by spreading peace and kindness.”]

In honor of Spring, new life, growth, and hope, I offer the following ideas for spreading peace, positive energy, and kindness.

  1. Start by centering yourself with internal calm. It is easier to spread peacefulness on the outside when you begin from a place of calm and peace on the inside. Breath slowly and deeply. Set your intention to practice calm and peace.
  2. Offer a smile. Research shows moving your facial muscles into a smile is associated with improved mood. Your smile will be contagious. It will uplift others and multiply.
  3. Listen first. It’s an underrated skills and is most appreciated by the talker. We all want to be seen and heard in a positive way. By listening you will make a huge positive contribution to someone.
  4. Lower your voice, speak slowly, and monitor your tone. Your calm will be contagious and may slow down someone who is emotionally ramping up.
  5. Offer a kind act or helping hand. Open the door for someone who has their hands full, leave your change for the next person at check out, pick up a piece of garbage and put it in the trash, etc.
  6. Give someone the benefit of the doubt. Chances are the person didn’t wake up this morning with a plan to ruin your day. They are just struggling to live their own life like everyone else.
  7. Offer a compliment. Tell someone what you appreciate about them. Let someone know the value they contribute or how they have helped you. You will make their day!
  8. Offer compassion to someone who is struggling. Help them feel felt and understood. This is truly a gift. They are more likely to pass that compassion along.
  9. Resist the urge to judge others or cast blame.
  10. Set an intention to maintain the 5:1 ratio of positive comments or behaviors to negatives suggested by relationship expert John Gottman, Ph.D. This becomes a very specific way to monitor your contribution to any relationship and keep it positive. Each positive action builds positive sentiment and is more likely to be returned.

I hope you will choose to try some or all of these suggestions this spring. You have the power to influence those around you. Choose to be a catalyst for peace and kindness. Your positive energy will spread and grow in and through others. What a wonderful impact to make to those closest to you and in the world.

For more information on creating internal calm, sign up for my newsletter .

Follow on Facebook and Twitter.