In my life I have been fortunate enough to have people extend their friendship to me, help me through rough times or open doors to my future. It’s something that has been a constant. I have often thought, “How do I attract such kind people over and over again?”
I think back to my mother and the relationship we had. I would always say, she didn’t have one bad bone in her body. She cared for me unconditionally. I could always count on her to have my back, She looked out for my best interests. Her kindness filled my heart, and all I ever wanted was to become more and more like her and walk in her footsteps. She was my best friend and she left me with a precious gift and that was one of kindness. She embedded this deep into my soul and spirit. I was truly blessed.
Practicing kindness for others is an act of selflessness. It’s being friendly, caring and considerate. It’s having compassion and taking action to show love and support. For those who practice kindness, it becomes a way of life. It's also a form of self love. We have all heard the saying, “you can’t give what you don’t have” or “you can’t pour from an empty cup.”
People who are kind, have a gentle soul and that is what they have to share with others.
Authentic kindness is giving freely without expecting something in return.
There are so many benefits to being kind.
You help others feel good.
You create a sense of belonging.
It helps the world be a happier place and as mentioned before, when others leave you they may just go out and spread more kindness.
Being kind reduces stress and creates a peaceful environment.
You can’t go wrong being kind.
Sometimes I get random messages from friends saying things like, have a good day, or thank you for being there for me or hope you get a restful night's sleep.
I know this may seem unusual for some but these small acts fill hearts.
Why wouldn’t we want to be a part of something so positive?
Recently I have been taking a course, The Science of Wellbeing. One of the projects we had was to practice a random act of kindness each day for 7 days and journal this.. At the end of 7 days not only did I feel good but it enriched the relationships in my life.
A quote by Steve Siegel writing for the Mayo Clinic Health system says:
Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer. Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact loneliness, improve low mood and enhance relationships in general. It also can be contagious.
I would like to encourage you to take the 7 day kindness challenge.
You have nothing to lose but a whole lot of happiness to gain not only for you but others.
You just may be that person that ignites a rippling effect touching the lives of more than you will even know.