Everyday we get bombarded with news about the human capacity for violence at all levels: disagreements among individuals turned into physical aggression, personal properties getting broken into, group discrimination across racial, gender or “you name it attribute”, all the way to international terrorism and war. In this context, it’s easy to forget that we also have capacity for Kindness at all these levels.
On this World Kindness Week, I invite us not only to remind ourselves of our kindness, but to act on it in any way within our reach. We are so deprived of benevolence that any small action needs to be highly advertised. Not to dismiss the severity of what is happening, but to not let it wipe us out into powerlessness. To bring to light a more complete picture. To rescue & lifegard our hope to build a brighter future for ourselves & the generations to follow. Not in a naive, abstract way, but such that we get our hands dirty by highlighting our goodness.
For me, that has meant empathically listening to my clients, noticing their relief in having someone to talk to. It has also meant making time to replenish my well-being with movement & meditation, so I can continue to offer compassion. I practice kindness for others by appreciating their strengths. And finally, I am writing this post despite my fear of being judged as naive, delusional, and many other labels my inner critic is generously offering me.
Instead, I am choosing not to be paralyzed. So here I am, inviting you to set your fear aside too and break through too. Join me in advertising our KINDNESS. Not to see our world through rose-colored glasses, but to help us fuel our capacity for good, to take the steps we can, and believe in their ripple effects.
Many of my courageous followers have already shared their acts of kindness with me. From helping a close friend to peaceful activism, as each one came in, I sensed a boost in my faith.
I believe that by cultivating & sharing our kindness, to ourselves and others, we can build the resilience to work towards getting us out of this mess we’re in. If you witness or do any act of kindness, please let us know here & help us recharge.
Happy World Kindness Day & Week to us all.
