Spread a little kindness, it starts with you!

“WHEN WE FEEL LOVE AND KINDNESS TOWARD OTHERS, IT NOT ONLY MAKES OTHERS FEEL LOVED AND CARED FOR, BUT IT HELPS US ALSO TO DEVELOP INNER HAPPINESS AND PEACE.”

~ DALAI LAMA

Today raises awareness of kindness. Kindness is one of those 'softer' skills that is often discussed as a way of feeling good.  Where does kindness start and charity end? 

You may remember the expression 'charity begins at home'. This generally refers to putting your family and yourself in order before serving others. It's a proverb, not a religious statement. Sir Thomas Browne was the first to put the expression into print, inReligio Medici, 1642: "Charity begins at home, is the voice of the world: yet is every man his greatest enemy."

What if we think in our personal lives of others as being 'an enemy' or 'someone to be feared'. What impact on our own ability towards kindness and compassion? What if in being unforgiving to others our ourselves (with our thoughts or behaviours in our 'home'), we become more unhappy and less likely to show compassion to others? What good will come from this? 

As an example, Jay Narayanan (psychologist) spoke about the toll of holding a grudge. He pointed to an experiment showing grudge-holders perceiving a hill as steeper than did people who had been asked to recall a time they’d forgiven someone. It’s as if the grudge is a heavy backpack that people wear, yet they resist forgiving others, because they fear it will make them appear weak and will invite exploitation. On the other hand, he referred to some powerful leaders, Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, being admired because they could have retaliated, but chose not to despite the obvious repression they were subjected to. 

Can you forgive one person today? Find that compassion and kindness for yourself, feeling less burdened by hurt, and you may find extra kindness blooms freely in your heart. Creating space for you to make a difference in this world. 

Angie

    

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About the Author: Angie works as a hypnotherapist, counsellor and coach at the Norfolk Clinic Complementary Healthcare Clinic, 38-40 Magdalen Road, Norwich, NR3 4AG. 

Call Angie directly on 07773 610816 or email info@angiegiles.co.uk