“First and foremost, we need to be the adults we want our children to be. We should watch our own gossiping and anger. We should model the kindness we want to see.” – Brene Brown, Daring Greatly
Do you want the world to be a kinder gentler place? If so, it starts with you. It’s easy to get riled up about all that is wrong with the world. To fixate on the evening news, the tragedy, and the wrongs of your opposing political party (especially in 2020). But if you truly stop and see the individuals. If you listen to the individuals and their stories that brought them to this moment, you begin to see a human in need of kindness.
When life knocked me down, I didn’t always choose kindness. There are moments that feel as though you won’t get through them. In these moments’ bitterness, anger, and hate can cloud your thinking. But you can’t let it. You can’t let THEM win. Kindness and love are the winners.
When you get cut off in traffic it’s easier to yell or wave the middle finger at the other car. There is a brief feeling of satisfaction that we feel when we give into the anger. It’s a fleeting rush of adrenaline and a release for pent up frustrations.
In the moment it may feel easier to pull into yourself. After all, why should you, why should I, offer kindness to a world that has not offered the same?
Practicing kindness offers its own rewards. Whether the act is reciprocated or not, whether it is given to someone deserving or not. Kindness is a reward all of its own. The giver receives far more than the one who receives. And yes, there is science to back that up. It reduces stress, helps with depression and anxiety, it’s good for your heart, and helps you live longer.
The best way to change the world around you is to change you. While we can’t control the kindness others give we can control our own influence on the world. It only takes a few small acts to cause a ripple effect in our world.
If you’re looking for ways to get started visit www.randomactsofkindness.org. The site is full of daily challenges, lists, and ideas that you can implement into your life. Don’t call attention to them, just do them and sit back and watch how the world around you begins to change.
It is time to add kindness to your life plan!