It can be disheartening to see so many images of negativity every time you turn on the news or fall into a rabbit hole of social media comments. Those images can sometimes make it seem like we're living in a really cruel world. One way to combat all things negative is by leading with kindness. It doesn't take much to be kind to others. Sometimes a simple smile is enough to turn someone's whole day around.
But being kind starts with taking care of yourself. It's hard to extend a hand to others when you're not in a good physical or mental space yourself. Once you're taken care of, you'd be amazed to see how one simple act of kindness can have lasting effects on others. They may even be motivated to go ahead and pay it forward themselves.
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If you've been thinking about getting inked for a while, one simple way to remind yourself and others that being kind can be life-changing is to get a kindness tattoo. A tattoo is permanent unless you go through a painful laser removal process, so you should reflect on your design for a while before you get it. Once you do decide, make sure your tattoo is something that you're not going to mind seeing every day. Your ink can serve as daily motivation for you to go out and be the best person you can be every day.
There are tons of designs that can do just that. If you need some inspiration, here's a sampling of kindness tattoo styles that teach us the importance of being kind.
Show yourself kindness.
We should all treat ourselves with love, but so often we don't. This love letter to self in the form of body art is truly beautiful and a reminder to be kind and loving to yourself always.
Words to live by.
This phrase is a great reminder to pause before you take action and ask yourself if you are being motivated by kindness. If so, go forth. If not, perhaps you should reassess your motivation and do something else.
This tattoo will remind you that kindness starts with you.
If you breathe and speak kindness, others will follow suit. This tattoo features a human lung covered in flowers and a butterfly—all images associated with positivity.
Here's an everyday reminder to treat others how you want to be treated.
The tattoo literally says, "Treat people with kindness," and it features a hand wrapped around a flower. Flowers often symbolize love and friendship.
Your kindness has the power to change someone's day.
Sometimes it may be easy to feel like what you do isn't enough because you're just one person, but even a smile can change someone's day. This tattoo is a simple reminder of that.
If kindness is your virtue, then this tattoo is perfect for you.
You don't need an extravagant tattoo to honor the idea that you believe in being kind. A simple tattoo of the word "kindness" is a big enough statement on its own.
A heart is one of the universal symbols of kindness.
For those who like pretty script fonts, this tiny tattoo spells the word "kindness" and is accented with a tiny heart. The ink is so simple, but it holds a lot of meaning.
You can tailor your kindness tattoo to your own interests.
If you're a huge animal lover, then this kindness tattoo is for you. It's a red heart next to the silhouette of a puppy. This ink can serve as a message to others that animals deserve kindness, too.
The world can never get enough love.
Kindness is making sure your actions are motivated by love. That's why this design makes a great kindness tattoo. It's the word "love" inserted into the outline of a small heart.
This tattoo is really something to live by.
The ink says, "Love never gives up." Sometimes people may seem undeserving of kindness, but this tattoo is a reminder that it's always best to lead with love regardless of the situation.
The words on this tattoo should become your daily mantra.
This tattoo will help you ward off any negativity by reminding you to take advantage of every moment in the best way possible—by being wise, brave, happy, and kind.
This ink makes a thoughtful and pretty addition to any piece of bare skin.
Not only will people compliment the 3D effect this embroidery tattoo gives off, but they'll also be reminded to be nice to others by being kind.
Being kind is a matter of not losing your cool.
Even though life can get stressful, the best way to approach these moments is with patience. A quick glance at this simple kindness tattoo will always remind you to be patient with others and yourself.
A peace sign is the ultimate symbol of kindness.
This clever tattoo is both a flower wreath and a pretty peace sign. It's a cool way to remind others that you're all about "keeping the peace."
If you believe in the phrase 'lead by example,' then this tattoo is for you.
If you look closely, you'll see that this tattoo cleverly spells "teach peace." When you're kind to others, you unintentionally show people why it's better for them to lead kinder lives, too.
This tattoo is yet another phrase to add to your list of daily mantras.
"Be happy," in other words, means to always look for the silver lining in a situation. Choosing to be happy means choosing to be kind to yourself.
A quote with a message makes a great kindness tattoo.
The pressures of outside forces, like social media and Hollywood, can make you seriously think that you're not enough, but this tattoo is a kind reminder that you are.
This tattoo is good advice to live by.
If you tend to doubt yourself often, then this tattoo might serve as some good inspiration for you. It says, "Stay strong and never give up"—a good reminder to keep going no matter how hard the road gets.
Here's a gentle message to always believe in the goodness of others.
The stem in this tattoo of a flower spells the word "believe" in a script font, which you can interpret in several ways. It can mean either to believe in yourself or to have faith in others.
Don't forget to love yourself in the process of tending to others.
Sometimes we're so busy checking in on others that we forget to check in on ourselves, but remember: The only way to help someone else is by making sure you're good first.
Sometimes just looking at something cute can influence your whole mood.
Looking at this cute smiley face inside a flower might motivate you to go about your day feeling a little happier and kinder. It's a good idea for your next tat to be something that instantly puts you in a good mood.
This tattoo just screams good and happy vibes.
This colorful rainbow tattoo has the ability to make anyone smile. It's a simple reminder to look at the brighter things in life.
A tattoo of an anchor can serve as a daily message to stay strong.
Anchors use all their weight to prevent boats from drifting. A tattoo of an anchor is like a daily message telling you to stand your ground and be kind to yourself no matter what life throws at you.
