7 Ways to Make Others Feel Good

Even the smallest of gestures can keep a friendship healthy. It feels good to be noticed and appreciated, right? You can offer that gift to someone else anytime. Imagine the compounding gifts of goodwill and friendship that would accrue for you and others if you made it your mission to make others feel good regularly.Making others feel good is not some super special gift for the charismatic or outgoing among us. It’s not even a skill that you need to practice to do well. Nearly anyone can make others feel good with the knowledge and self-confidence they already possess.The only hard part—if you want to call it that—is deciding to prioritize this action in your life and following through day after day. Sincerity and intentionality are really the only traits you need. Isn’t it wonderful that something so special is also so accessible? We really have no excuse not to do our best to make others feel good.The reasons for making others feel good are as numerous as the ways to do it. The most important reason is that making others feel good, about themselves or just about their day, is a way to add love and kindness to the world. All humans need love in their lives and the best way to receive it is to send it out.Spread the GoodnessI’m sure you can think of your own ways to make the people in your life feel good. If you'd like some additional inspiration here are a few things others have done that made me feel especially good:1. Ask Follow-up QuestionsAlmost anyone can fake that they are listening or paying attention, but asking thoughtful follow-up questions is indisputable proof that you care about what the other person says. When I notice that someone seems curious about what I’m saying and encourages me to share more with good questions, I experience a deep connection that feels great.2. Compliment PubliclyAny sincere, specific compliment feels great, but it feels even better when it’s done publicly. This doesn’t have to be in front of a large group, which might make you self-conscious. An example from my own life is when one of my friends points out something they appreciate about me in front of another friend. What a simple, and delightful gift to give to others.3. Do Something Special Between Meet-upsSome friends are great in the moment. When they are with you, they are fully present and promise a great time and a meaningful connection—then they leave and you may not hear from them until you are together again. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s something truly special if, in their absence, they do something nice for you—like forwarding an article they think you'd like—something that shows they were thinking about you.4. Dream Up Fun Activities to Enjoy TogetherWhen you go out of your way to devise a fun outing or hangout with a friend, you’re showing that you want to be with them and that you care about them having a good time. In the same way that planning a thoughtful, romantic date can win the heart of a potential partner, you can do the same with friends and show them that same level of love.5. Respect OpinionsI love friends who reach out to me for my opinion and seem to take my words seriously. It’s something I love to do for others, as well. By asking our friends for advice, feedback, or their thoughts of any kind we validate that we trust their insights and respect their judgments.6. Smile and Look Happy to See OthersHumans are really good at reading each other’s expressions and body language. It’s a lot harder to fool someone with your look than it is with your words. For that reason, I always appreciate the friends in my life who look excited to see me, no matter when we last saw each other last. It makes me feel great as if my very presence lightens their day.7. Give Small GiftsLike anyone, I love to receive gifts for my birthday and Christmas—the common gift-giving times of year. When someone gives me an unexpected gift, no matter how small, it’s something I don’t soon forget. A friend recently asked me to do a small favor and brought over some good, local ice cream as a thank-you. It made me feel that he cared about our friendship and was glad I was able to help him.