Kindness is a powerful tool in transforming your life and the lives of those around you. You may already be on the path of making significant progress in developing your positive mindset however, here are a few more suggestions. You are the change the world is looking for.

Here are five more ways to cultivate kindness in your life:

1. Practice empathy
You probably know that saying about walking a mile in the other person’s shoes, right? It’s true, empathy and kindness are two sides of the same coin. Remember, you can have no idea what challenges the other person is facing. They could be experiencing a joyful moment or have just received devastating news. They may be dealing with all kinds of personal struggles. And you being short-tempered or cutting in front of them might be the last straw they can bear.

2. Learn to listen
Sometimes just listening is the greatest gift you can give a person. If a friend or family member is going through a difficult time, they need to be heard. And you need to listen. You might be able to help, or you might not. To start with, they need to feel understood.

3. Nurture gratitude
So often we’re focused on achieving the next goal, always trying to stay ahead. And that can make you unavailable, or terse. It can keep you fixated on yourself instead of others. Try sitting back and looking around. Feel grateful for all that you have, and all you’ve accomplished — being grateful sets you up for a mindset of kindness. Instead of constantly craving more, you’ll want to share the love!

4. Cultivate kindness daily
Start every day by setting the intention to be kind. Consciously choosing kindness before you’ve even gotten out of bed gets you in the kindness zone and makes being kind easier. You know that habits take several weeks to ‘stick,’ right? Nurture a kindness habit now, and it will soon become just part of who you are and how you behave. Hardly any effort at all!

5. Be a role model
In a world where nastiness is common, and trolling people online is an everyday event, you can stand out by being a role model for kindness. The world is yearning for more kindness. Like positivity, kindness can be contagious. If you are consciously kind, you’ll likely set up a virtuous kindness circle – your acts and attitudes of kindness will inspire people around you to treat others more compassionately. You might even guide those who have been unkind into more considerate behavior.