Brightening other people’s days often involves gestures of kindness like smiling or saying something positive to them. This makes them feel good and puts them in a positive frame of mind. But, if you really want to make the most out of brightening someone’s day, it’s important that your gestures of kindness don’t come across as a monologue; where you smile, say something positive and then move on. Rather, your kindness gestures need to be a dialogue–a conversation where you create opportunities for the other person to talk while you listen. For example, when you ask someone how things are going and they respond with something like “Great” or “Fantastic,” don’t let it end there and move on. Instead, take the extra moment and say something that begs a response like “Oh really” or “Tell me more.” Doing this sends that person a convincing message that that you really do care about them which will not only brighten their day but probably their entire week.

One Sentence Wisdom

• “Man, it feels great to do anything that might brighten someone else’s day.” — Sami Zayn
• “When a person starts to talk about their dreams, it’s as if something bubbles up from within. Their eyes brighten, their face glows, and you can feel the excitement in their words.” — John C. Maxwell

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