On The Bright Side: Written notes help boost other’s self esteem

Last year around this time I wrote about the post-it note challenge. You write positive and encouraging things on a post-it note and give the notes to people or just post them around. I want to do something similar this year to try and encourage those around us who are fighting silent battles or maybe encourage yourself.

This time, I challenge everyone  to pick a person. This could be your roommate, best friend, coach, or anyone. Find a quote you think really embodies them. Or compose something about them. Maybe they are a wonderful leader to your team or just someone who always lends an ear when you need to vent. Write something, anything, to show these people how they’ve affected your life and helped in a positive way.

Identifying traits that someone posses is incredible. When you give someone a compliment, it stimulates the same part of your brain that excites you when you receive cash. Not only does it create a sense of positivity within someone, it also motivates them to use this trait that you’ve identified. Think of a time when you had a bad day and someone complimented your smile or a project you presented. Remember how good that feeling was? Imagine doing that for someone else.

Also, giving someone a compliment breaks their ego and boosts their self-esteem. Instead of focusing on things that make you irritated, think of someone who always makes you happy or maybe someone you noticed hasn’t quite been themselves. It only takes a few seconds of your day to write something down for someone and give it to them. If you give them a note with something on it, they are able to reflect on it. Who knows, they might put that note up in their room and look at it every day. You don’t know what people are going through, and the smallest act of kindness can make someone’s entire day.

The difference between this and what I did last year is that you, as the giver, must take a few seconds of your day to notice someone else. Not just noticing them, but making  note of something that you admire about them.

I cannot say it enough: You do not know what other people are going through. It does not take a lot of effort to be kind to someone. If this is the only thing you do for someone else this week (and I really hope it’s not), it will make someone’s day brighter.