We get so caught up in the rush of everyday life that we often forget to stop and really think about why we do things the way we do them. We fall into the same routines that keep us from really exploring the world around us.

After turning through hundreds of pages in Lori Deschene's new book, Tiny Buddha's 365 Tiny Love Challenges, I picked out my seven favorite tips for doing things just a bit differently.

Here's hoping these suggestions, though they may seem small, will make a big impact on your life.

You could say this to someone who's running late for lunch with you, or to a customer service representative who's having difficulty with their computer, or to someone who's telling you a story and struggling to express themselves. Lovely.

Comment on something about your shared experience (such as waiting in line or riding the bus) or offer a compliment. Remember, all of our friends start off as strangers.

Think about it: haven't there been times that you wished someone would ignore your mistakes or shortcomings and just cut you some slack?

Eat a meal at a restaurant, sit in the park drinking coffee, or go to a movie by yourself. While you are doing that, smile at the people around you whenever you make eye contact.

Pick up a friend's prescription, pick up your loved ones clothes, bring a busy coworker coffee, or do the chore at home that you usually expect the other person to do.

Let someone with only a few items cut ahead of you in line at the store, or let someone go first as they board the bus, or – even more challenging –let those cars go ahead of you from the merge lane.

Photo by Russ Morris, CC 

From TINY BUDDHA'S 365 TINY LOVE CHALLENGES. Copyright © 2015 by Lori Deschene. Reprinted with permission by HarperOne, a division of HarperCollinsPublishers.