What if today you could be the light, love and joy in someone else’s life? There are always going to be people in our lives or our communities that are going through challenging times. Today I encourage you to be the one who makes a difference for them, in a small or big way. I’ll share with you seven ways on how to be the light, love and joy for others right now. You never know how much of an impact you may have on someone by treating them with grace.

We are all incredibly powerful beings of light and love. And we have the power to make someone’s day better or worse with our words and our actions. Although we are not responsible for how someone else reacts to what we say or do, we are responsible for our own decisions and actions.

Here are a few simple ways that you can make a difference for someone else today:

1. Smile. One of the best gifts you can give another person is to simply look them in the eye and smile. It can be uncomfortable to do this with a stranger, but if you have the courage to do so, it’s incredibly powerful. I highly recommend greeting all of the service people you come across today with a big smile. If this is something you find difficult to do, start by simply making eye contact with a stranger today. We acknowledge others by looking at them in the eyes. It’s a reminder that we are all human beings.

2. Hugs. Most of us don’t get very many hugs on a daily basis. And did you know that we need at least 12 hugs a day for growth and a minimum of 4 just for survival? What’s great about a hug is that you usually get one in return. I love it when I meet someone new and they are a ‘hugger’ as well. Instead of shaking hands, we share a hug. It brings us all closer together. If you feel nervous about giving someone a hug, I suggest asking first. There are moments when I feel as though we should hug but the other person might be not be comfortable with hugging someone new.  When I showed up at my first Mompreneurs Vancouver meeting, the organizer, Elaine, gave me the BEST hug! It made me feel so welcome within minutes of arriving at the event.
   
3. Speak kindly. Whether a person is in the room or not, use kind words. Our words to carry energy so if we are speaking negatively about someone and they are not there, they can still feel the energy of our words. If you are frustrated or angry with someone, choose your words wisely. A few words said in a negative state can ruin a relationship for life. Even we when share our feelings in confidence, it’s important to be aware that our words could still get back to the person we are speaking about. Wouldn’t it be great if you heard positive gossip about yourself or someone else?
   
4. Pray. Praying for others is one way to make a difference. Ever since doing the 40 Day Prayer Challenge, I have been praying for many people every morning and I truly believe it has made a difference for many of them. You don’t have to have faith in God to say a prayer for someone else. It can be as simple as closing your eyes and thinking positive thoughts about them. This article shares a simple practice you can do with your kids (or on your own) to virtually send well-wishes to another person.

5. Respond. One of the things that can be very frustrating is the silence from others on social media. We have thousands and thousands of ‘followers’ yet only a few ever interact. If you want to make a difference in someone’s day, take the time to write a positive comment on their social media post. People will notice that you took the time to care and respond. This is especially true if someone is sharing a success or award. Sometimes, when we are focused on comparing ourselves to others, it can be difficult to give congratulations to others. Most people, especially women, are uncomfortable sharing their successes publically. When you see a friend share a success, be the light on her timeline and celebrate with her!

6. Be there. Sometimes all that a person needs is for you to be there. Just to keep them company, listen (or sit quietly) and perhaps allow them the space to be sad or grieve as needed. It’s not necessary to keep a brave face at all times, and by allowing someone the space and time to be sad can be a huge gift for someone else.

7. Love unconditionally. This one can be difficult. How can we love each other without conditions? One of the strategies that I use is to assume that everyone is always doing their best at every moment. This melts away frustration and leads to understanding, and helps me to keep my heart open. This is especially true when I’m waiting in line at a retail store and the cashier seems to be taking forever. I remind myself that he’s doing the best he can at that moment. The other day, I was served by someone who didn’t want to make eye contact and seemed super frustrated with me (my debit card didn’t work the first time). Instead of getting frustrated back, I smiled and did my best to be kind and understanding. It’s not always easy; however it’s always worth it to show kindness towards a fellow human being.

Will you be the difference for someone today? What others way can we make a difference in someone’s life today?

Julie Boyer’s mission in life is to inspire people to build their lives on a foundation of gratitude through her brand, Wake Up With Gratitude™. Julie’s first book, 30 Days of Gratitude, The Gratitude Program That Will Change Your Life, became an Amazon bestseller when it was released in May 2013. She is also the founder of the 30 Day Whole Body Detox Program, a healthy, whole food detox that nourishes your body at the cellular level. Julie also loves to mentor and develop leaders through her mentorship program as well. A former triathlete, Julie has completed 3 full Ironman Distance triathlons. Julie lives in Vancouver B.C., Canada with her 7 year old daughter and husband Dan. She can be reached on her blog, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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