Start the 30-Day Kindness Challenge Today and Give Your Valentine the Best Gift Ever
It seems like Christmas is barely over—we’re on celebration overload and are still struggling with “what year is it now?”—when the Valentine’s Day displays go up in all the stores. Is it just me or is your inner Scrooge grumbling: “Hey, give me a minute before we dive into the next holiday, please!”? But believe it or not, it actually is the perfect time to be thinking about Valentine’s Day. You want to know why?
Right now, Valentine’s Day is just about a month away. And that means you have time to implement the 30-Day Kindness Challenge and give your Valentine (or anyone you choose) an amazing, one-of-a-kind gift on February 14. Of course, you can start the 30-Day Kindness Challenge anytime—and you will see a marked improvement in your relationships if you do—but starting today will give you the opportunity to surprise your special person with a Valentine’s Day gift that uniquely expresses your affection: a month-long journal of praise.
Here’s how it works.
Three daily actions make up the 30-Day Kindness Challenge.
Our research for The Kindness Challenge found that kindness is the answer to pretty much every life problem. (And believe it or not, that is only a slight exaggeration! We found that if you want a better marriage: be kind. Better leadership at work? Be kind. Be a better parent? Have a better sex life? More fun with your in-laws? Be kind.)
The problem is: we already think we ARE kind!
Once we start the 30-Day Kindness Challenge, we realize: we were deluded. We had so much unkindness without realizing it. But our research uncovered three daily actions that will transform your relationships—and you. Those three daily actions make up the 30-Day Kindness Challenge: First, say nothing negative about the person you choose—either to them or about them to someone else. Second, find one thing to praise each day and tell them and tell someone else. Third, do a small action of generosity for them.
Record your words of affirmation each day, then share them as a gift.
As you do the 30-Day Kindness Challenge, you’ll be finding things to verbally affirm or praise about a particular person you care about (a spouse, romantic partner, child, friend or co-worker). You will record those words of affirmation each day. Track what happens as you do the Challenge, and the ways you begin to appreciate that person more and more. (Based on our years of research, that is what will happen!) Valentine’s Day would be the perfect time to give your kindness “target” this collection of affirmations- you can write in a journal (store-bought or home-made), on some unique paper, on Valentine cards, maybe even a voice recording −it is up to you!) Then, at the end of the 30 days, wrap up your collection of affirmations and give it to your person as a very special Valentine’s Day present.
Sign up for the 30-Day Kindness Challenge today and watch your relationship blossom!
Not only will you have the experience of watching your relationship with your spouse (or child, or sibling…) blossom and grow over the 30 days; at the end of that month you’ll have the priceless experience of watching their face as they open a present they will keep for a lifetime. A written record of you—day after day after day—contemplating the wonderful things you appreciate, love and value about them.
So sign up for the 30-Day Kindness Challenge today. It will be life-changing. Not just for your person—but for you too! To get extra tips, learn more and to sign up, visit jointhekindnesschallenge.com.
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Shaunti Feldhahn loves sharing eye-opening information that helps people thrive in life and relationships. She herself started out with a Harvard graduate degree and Wall Street credentials but no clue about life. After an unexpected shift into relationship research for average people like her, she now is a popular speaker and author of best-selling books about men, women and relationships. (Including For Women Only, For Men Only, and the groundbreaking The Good News About Marriage).
Her latest book, Find Peace: A 40-day Devotional Journey For Moms, focuses on discovering biblical direction to become a woman of serenity and delight in all seasons – and have impact for generations to come.
Visit www.shaunti.com for more.
This article was first published at Patheos.