I love the thought of volunteering, but actually acting on that thought requires a much larger commitment than I am usually willing to give. I have all sorts of excuses and rational reasons for why I don’t, but the reality of it is that I’m simply overwhelmed with the idea of putting everything into motion. I would have to find someplace to volunteer that was close enough and whose work I agreed with. They would have to work around my schedule, of course, and not only be understanding, but supportive when I wasn’t able to make it in. I would also worry about how well I got along with the people I was working with. The whole thing quickly gets blown out of proportion in my mind.
One way to bypass your monkey mind and actually get out there helping people is to do tiny volunteering. Tiny volunteering can be as small as one act of kindness. Although you want to develop the ability to perpetrate random acts of kindness, you also want to develop a habit of deliberate kindness. One thing I try to remember to do whenever I’m out in public is to smile at everyone. I’m always amazed at how this affects people. I’m also surprised at how often I forget and allow myself to get wrapped up in my own petty concerns. I gently remind myself to try again and am soon smiling again.
Keep a kindness journal or even just a tiny kindness notebook. In the morning, write an act of kindess you plan to do that day. After you’ve done it, place a checkmark next to it or give a short explanation of what you did and how you felt and how the other person reacted. This helps keep the thought active in your mind so you remember to be kind throughout the day.
Here are two excellent books that will give you all sorts of ideas and help you get started with tiny volunteering.
