A 7-day Mental Health Boost
Daily news reports can make it challenging to feel hopeful, but we can help one another.
There are seven days left in May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and I have a challenge for us, humanity: let’s help lift each other up. Let’s spread some smiles with the #sunshine initiative.
Let’s offer a hand to those who are stumbling. Let’s make ourselves whole again, as a society, and as individuals. One good deed can inspire others, and one smile might change the course of someone’s day. Changing the course of someone’s day might change the course of someone’s life.
Changing the course of someone’s day might change the course of someone’s life.
When I encounter others in public, I usually keep to myself. There are areas of the world where this is perfectly normal behavior, and areas of the world where this would be considered extremely rude. For example, on walks, I don’t always make eye contact, but last weekend I changed my game. During a run, I attempted to make eye contact and said ‘hi’ to almost everyone I passed, and you know what?
- It made me smile,
- most of them replied (even if it was an utterance), and
- some of them even smiled and waved back.
Positives all around!
The (fun) challenge
Every day for the next seven days, we will move with intention. Small steps, if taken together, can yield a powerful, positive force. We are all intrinsically motivated to seek belonging as social creatures. You belong. We all belong. Here on Earth. Together.
Day 1 (Wednesday, May 25th)
Make eye contact with someone in real life.
- This is deep eye contact, not flighty. It doesn’t need to be prolonged, but it should be authentic.
- This is in real life, not through any virtual means. On a walk, at the store, at school, at work, etc.
- This is making eye contact with another human. Make sure the person looks at you, too. Want bonus points? Smile.
Day 2 (Thursday, May 26th)
Smile at someone while you make eye contact.
- Smiling is proven to make you happier by stimulating important elements of your brain. Doubts? Watch this Ted Talk on the hidden power of smiling or read this article.
- Furthermore, smiling encourages others to smile. It’s contagious.
Day 3 (Friday, May 27th)
Smile at someone while you make eye contact and greet them.
- In some areas, saying ‘hi’ to a stranger might yield a perplexed glance, but rest assured it shouldn’t be seen as a negative.
- However you decide to greet someone, do it with a smile.
Day 4 (Saturday, May 28th)
Give someone a compliment.
- Share something you appreciate or respect about someone else. Maybe it’s a piece of clothing, their smile, their creativity, their logic, the way they hold the door, or their partnership.
- This should help reassure the person they are doing something well, and also help you practice thoughtfulness.
Day 5 (Sunday, May 29th)
Express gratitude toward someone.
- You could be thankful for a meal, a hug, a smile.
- Tell the person, ‘Thank you for…’ or ‘I’m grateful for…’
- If you can’t find someone to thank outright, thank someone quietly, but try to do it in the moment (this is less about past thankfulness and more about living in the present).
Day 6 (Monday, May 30th)
Ask how someone is doing, then really listen.
- ‘How are you’ is too often a tool used for social comfort and not often enough a starting point for true conversations.
- Follow your intuition. If someone is ‘okay’ or ‘fine’ what does their demeanor say? Is their body language consistent with that response? Dig deeper.
- Show someone you are listening. Be present. Make eye contact. Smile.
Day 7 (Tuesday, May 31st)
Do something nice for someone, then make a plan to do it more.
- Volunteer your time, make someone a meal, give someone a hug, help someone with a challenge.
- Then, make a plan to do more of that — for yourself, for others, for your community.
Congratulations for taking part! We will promote healthy behavior among each other. We will connect the way humans are meant to connect, the way we need to connect.
This is about us, as humans, spreading some #sunshine. Good luck, and have fun!
#noregrets
The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
