No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. AesopKindness is the act or the state of being kind and it's marked by charitable behaviour, mild disposition, pleasantness, tenderness and concern for others.
According to book two of Aristotle's "Rhetoric" it is one of the emotions, which is defined as being 'helpfulness towards some one in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped.'
A little act of kindness goes a long way towards making this world a better place. Each kind thing we do connects us to the hearts, souls, and lives of those around us.
Each kind word we say and every kind thought we think brings us closer to love, closer to each other, and most importantly, closer to that sense of Oneness/Universal Energy or God, whatever is your belief. Kindness always ripples out as well and travels from person to person until it returns home to the heart that first shared it.
When we're kind to others it gives us that beautiful warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from the act itself whether we're recognized for the actual act or not, we recognize it in our own heart space if you will. Those simple acts energize us and allow us to feel great about ourselves and the world we live in.
I'm sure this isn't you, but one of the things I've noticed is that people are often so much quicker and find it so much easier to be kind to others than they do to themselves. And yet, isn't there a saying 'Kindness begins at home.'
From childhood we're taught to treat others the way we would like to be treated ourselves, but how often do we take time to treat ourselves the way we would like to be treated?
This lesson was brought home to me last year when I undertook the International Women's Leadership Program with Dr Joanna Martin and Pina De Rosa. One of the first exercises in the program was virtually random acts of kindnes ... to ourselves!
It was a really interesting process. I found that when I took the time to look after myself, I correspondingly found I had so much more energy to give to others, sometimes even before they realized they needed anything themselves.
I invite you to:
1. Be conscious of your thoughts and reactions towards yourself and the people around you. This is important because, once we recognize the times we could have chosen kindness over judgement, we find our opportunities to make a change.
2. Begin actively making attempts during your day to choose to be kind to yourself and those around you. Do this in random acts of kindness, as well as in the choices you make with the people in your everyday life.
3. Notice if your kindness is rubbing off on yourself and the people around you. Do you have more energy? Are you more likely to try something new? Are others treating you more kindly? Are others treating others more kindly? It is surprising how positive energy can radiate all around you, and affect all those around you.
4. Reflect or better still, journal on how choosing kindness is making a difference in your life.
May you always fill your life with kindness then. May all your days be full of loving thoughts, joyous feelings, and kind acts. May you always make the world a kinder place just by being in it.
Love life and live it creatively,
Leanne
If you’re looking to feel great about yourself and your life check out our fabulous audios at www.YourSuccessfulMind.com/FeelingGreat MindRight Programming Tools to put you back in the driver’s seat of your life!
1 comment:
Hi Leanne,
It's me Keeyong. Well my little venture on changing the educational system i.e., Monash University, didn't go so well, but I did give it a go. I don't want to form groups to initiate social change. What I want is for individuals to do their part because they want to, not because of someone else, not because of an agenda, but of the individual doing that creates a trend for social change without the gathering of people as an agenda, as Faith Popcorn, author of The Popcorn Report and Clicking, would put it. You probably can sense that I'm disappointed about this.
Anyhow, I'm planning to enrol into another University, probably Victoria University and complete my remaining three units by the end of this year. After the experience with the educational system at Monash University, I dread the thought of resuming my studies at another University. I think most Universities believe that self-development strategies are merely wishful thinking.
Well, I'm going to finish what I began i.e., my Bachelor of Arts Degree. Hopefully my views will be more tolerated at Victoria University or I'll just have to bear the load until I complete the course, but you know I don't like doing this. I want to be a cause in the world, not an effect. I want to contribute and change things for the better, not conform to a one sided view.
Leanne, I think what I have learnt from this ordeal is that politics and self-development are incompatible. Politics tends to negate any self-development strategy, and the Politician will only use self-deveopment to cushion his/her political effects. However, I think as global consciousness permeates and evolves, Politicians will be more in tuned with and tolerable to different viewpoints - not just showing up, but actually being present.
Well that is the end of my rant.
It's always lovely to read your works Leanne. I admire what you do. Thanks for writing it!
Talk soon,
Keeyong, Melbourne Vic
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