How to be thoughtful

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I think most people would like to be seen as thoughtful individuals. I also think that very few of us feel as though our lives are ever lived in a completely thoughtful manner. Armed with the noblest intentions and a desire to bring the best of ourselves to the world each day, it is all too easy to let some things slide in the face of a busy life. It may be a neglected "thank you", a distracted response to a loved one's question, a forgotten birthday, cutting someone off in traffic without noticing, or even working to retirement in a job you hate because you "have to". Whatever comes up, remember that nobody is perfect and that thoughtfulness is always a work in progress. What matters is trying, again and again, to remain present in both your own life and the lives of the people you meet and interact with. Mindfulness and being thoughtful can seem like abstract concepts but they really just come down to one thing: pay close attention. That's it! Harder than it sounds, but simple nonetheless.

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How to be thoughtful is a question more and more people are asking themselves. In a world that is increasingly interconnected via the internet and mobile devices, there are many ways to be thoughtful. The opportunities to create and be part of supportive communities, for relationship building, informed living and shared experiences on a global scale are greater now than they have ever been.

Thoughtful (adj)

1. considerate in the treatment of other people
2. showing careful thought
3. pensive; reflective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 2003

Our increased sense of connectedness, along with the wealth of information now available, makes it easy to become overwhelmed and to neglect manners. It becomes easier to abandon kindness in the name of efficiency, and to lose the awareness of the question "Why are we living?" in favor of "Look how much we can get done now!" It is important that we take time, whether it be daily, weekly or monthly, to examine what we are doing in our lives and why we are doing it.

1. Show concern for the rights and feelings of others; imagine what you might do if you were to inhabit the life of someone else.

2. Be mindful of the world around you; pay attention to details of sound, smell, touch, taste, colors, textures...be alive to the world you live in.

3. Be kind to people who can do nothing for you.

4. As much as you can, treat those people closest to you in the ways that they want to be treated...not just in the way you would like to be treated.

5. Express genuine gratitude at every opportunity you can find; the more you look for things to be grateful for, the more opportunities will arise.