Key points: 

• It’s normal to feel intimidated about meeting new people, making friends, and establishing meaningful relationships
• The solution is a simple daily practice: small acts of kindness
• Kindness is a win-win, even if deep friendships take time. Being kind has many psychological benefits for yourself and those around you. 
• Our daily kindness pledge sends one simple idea to your inbox twice a week.

The challenge of making friends

Most people want the same simple things: to have meaningful relationships, to feel included in their community, and to be part of something bigger than themselves. If you find yourself feeling isolated and intimidated about where to start, you’re not alone. With social media taking up more of our time and attention, and the changing professional landscape after the pandemic, it’s very common to feel stuck at home. In fact, it is so common to feel this way that the WHO has called loneliness a hidden threat to global health!

Seems scary, right? Here’s the good news: you don’t need a big plan or radical changes to your life to make friends, meet new people, and build community. You don’t need to become an extrovert overnight and throw a big party. You can start with just one small act of kindness every day. 

That’s it, one small kind act. Giving a stranger a compliment, holding a door, asking your neighbor if they need help carrying their groceries, all of these small actions prop open the door to deeper connection. 

And here’s a little secret: most people are just as nervous as you are. They’re hoping someone else will make the first move. When you choose to be kind, you become that someone.

Why kindness works

Small acts of kindness are a great way to make friends and meet new people because it’s simple, it’s free, and it’s immediately rewarding. When you’re kind to someone, you make them feel seen and appreciated, and being kind for kindness’ sake is a great way to take the pressure off of a first interaction.

Friendship doesn’t usually start with something big. It starts with a moment: a shared laugh, a quick chat, a small favor. Kindness creates those moments by breaking the ice for you. 

Kindness and friendship can happen anywhere when one small act of appreciation is the way in. Whether you’re making new friends at school, your job, your neighborhood, or even a local coffee shop, kindness just works.

Want to make friends with your neighbor? Next time you see them, just give them a wave hello, or say “good morning!” It goes a long way. Before you know it, you’ll be introducing yourselves and offering to help each other out. You might be surprised how often a small act leads to something more. A quick compliment turns into a chat, a chat turns into a shared interest, a shared interest turns into a new friendship. 

Kindness can fit into your normal routine and make a big difference. Here are a few easy ideas to get started: 

• Smile at someone you pass on your morning walk.
• Thank your bus driver or barista by name.
• Send a quick text to check in on a friend.
• Offer to help a coworker with a task.
• Let someone go ahead of you in line.
• Compliment someone’s shoes, haircut, or great idea.
• Invite someone to grab coffee or lunch.

Kindness is something you can practice, learn from, and even have fun with! 

Kindness is a win-win

When you do something kind, notice how you feel in your body. You may feel a spring in your step, a little lightness, a sense of optimism and a boost of energy. Practicing kindness is proven to boost mental and physical well-being. It can reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve relationships, making you a better leader, friend, and community member. From reducing stress hormones, boosting positive neurotransmitters, deepening social bonds, to lifting depression, the evidence supporting kindness is clear. It isn’t just a virtue; it is a vital part of mental health!

Being kind to others, even if not reciprocated, builds your confidence. The more positive interactions you have, the easier it becomes to talk to people and meet someone new. Over time, you may notice that you feel more comfortable reaching out, inviting someone to hang out, or starting a conversation.

In other words, kindness makes it easier to make friends because it makes you feel brave and more open!

The greatest thing about kindness is that it’s contagious. When someone experiences it, they’re more likely to pass it on! Your small act could inspire someone else to do the same, and before long, it becomes part of the culture. Neighbors wave more, coworkers laugh more, kids at school are kinder, and people help each other without being asked. Little by little, strangers start to feel familiar.

That’s how you build community.

Make kindness a daily practice

If you like the idea of meeting new people, growing friendships, and building a stronger community through kindness, there’s a simple way to make it official: take the  Pledge of Kindness! When you sign up, you will never run out of ideas for small kind acts. Twice a week, we send a kindness prompt containing a quote about why kindness is so inspiring, and one simple kind act you can take today. 

Those who sign up are much more likely to follow through. Friendships and deeper community connections are one small kind act a day away. Join us!