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Kindness Matters

Kindness is not an act. It is a lifestyle.

-Anthony Douglas Williams

In a world where the daily news is filled with negative reports and events, simple acts of kindness are often overlooked. If we know that kindness has a positive impact on your life and for others, what can you do to make kindness a lifelong habit?

When you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.

-Zig Ziglar

First, be aware of your environment and the people around you. When you are focused on your next task, event, or activity, you probably aren’t paying a lot of attention to what’s going on right in front of you. It’s easy to get caught up in your own needs. Be mindful to slow down, listen and observe what’s going on around you.

Next time you take a walk, pause to take in the sights and sounds around you. Rather than focusing on the destination, identify sounds, colors, smells. Being present in the moment can help clear your mind and calm your emotions. It allows you to look outside of yourself and notice other people around you. When you are present you will be able to develop and maintain more positive long-lasting relationships. You will become less centered on your own thoughts and needs, and more in-tune with others.

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

-Plato

To make kindness a lifelong habit, you need to have empathy and compassion toward others. Empathy is the ability to look outside of yourself and understand the needs of others. Being kind to a sibling, family member, friend or neighbor who is experiencing a struggle really isn’t that difficult to do. A kind act can be as simple as a smile, a hug, a compliment, offering to help or share, or just spending time together.

You can also try looking at situations from different angles. If a classmate says or does something mean, or a parent or teacher seems to always be irritable, realize that there may be things going on in that person’s life to cause that behavior. Have empathy for their situation, and react in a way that doesn’t make the situation (or their mood) worse. Sometimes that means just being quiet and waiting for a calm or neutral time to talk.

In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

-Unknown

Finally, kindness begins within and spreads outward. When you are confident and believe in yourself, you are better able to consider the feelings of others. When you are kind to others, you not only feel better about yourself but you are able to positively influence the way others treat you. Maybe if we can all strive to be a little kinder to each other, we can make a positive impact on our corner of the world!

Be kind to yourself; then let your kindness fill the world.

-Unknown

 

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