Kindness Revolution THE Kindness

It ’s a funny thing, but we often feel we could use more kindness in our lives, and yet, feel unable to prac tice it ourselves It could be that we just misunderstand the roots of kindness: empathy, relationship, concern.

But glo thinks 2018 should be the year of the Kindness Revolution, a year for mak ing compassion a top priority If you’re think ing about joining this revolution, there are two things you’ll need to k now.

First, k indness is not niceness or politeness

I t ’s not the ac t of not being offensive I t ’s not a passive state No, k indness is a loving intrusion I t ’s an ac t of emotional braver y and power ful compassion. “Kindness” and “revolution” go together like halves of a whole because effec tive kindness changes things, turns them around for the better.

The second thing to k now is that k indness is not a reflec tion of your needs, but the response to the needs of others. Kindnesses are any ac ts motivated by compassion, not pity. Compassion says, “I feel your struggle.”

Pity says, “I’m glad I’m not struggling like you are ” Kindness brings us closer to others, pity distances us

So how can you embody true k indness?

How can you join a revolution that spreads compassion? Here are 18 ac ts of k indness you can prac tice in 2018

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Find something to cr y about, then do something about it. Get emotionally involved in your ac ts of ser vice.

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Ban self-damning language; embrace self-edifying language. When we feel good about ourselves, we are better at feeling good about others.

4

Stop doing ser vice that makes you feel resentful. Kindness feeds both the person doling it out and the person receiving it, other wise it ’s not kindness at all.

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5

Accept that you are loved as you are. Do this with therapy or healthy habits or appealing to a higher power, trusting that you have been created for goodness.

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Ask someone you don’t know ver y well to share a meal with you.

Relationships breed empathy and empathy breeds kindness.

10

Learn to greet someone in their native language. It shows them you’re sincerely interested in who they are and teaches you to think in culturally new ways.

Be an ac tive listener instead of an advice giver or problem solver. People often need to feel seen and heard, not fixed.

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Instead of complimenting someone about their looks, compliment them on their ac tions.

“ You really inspire me when you . . . ”

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It ’s great to donate money, but consider giving your time as well. It ’s an investment in better understanding a c ause you c are about.

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Be realistic about your volunteer time. O verscheduling usually leads to disappointing the people you meant to help, and feeling disappointed in yourself.

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S eek face-to-face interac tions as often as possible. Faces are more effec tive than screens at broadc asting people’s emotions.

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Travel somewhere that will expose you to culturally diverse people. Cultivate the ability to see things differently, a sure way to feed compassion.

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Consider bar tering your skills for someone else’s. Both par ties feel affirmed in their abilities and satisfied to have been able to trade their exper tise.

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Tr y to take a deep breath when you feel accused or confronted by someone else’s pain. Give yourself time to reac t to their concerns, not their frustration.

Give honest feedback, even when it ’s difficult. Direc t honesty is more helpful than pretending ever ything is fine.

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Touch someone when they are hur ting. A hand on the shoulder or a pat on the back shows them that you aren’t afraid of their pain.

Tr y something that someone you love is really enthused about. They will appreciate showing you, not just telling you, about their passions. – ❅ –– ❅ –– ❅ –– ❅ –