Kindness is Key

When we come from our heart centered space, from a space of love, compassion, care and kindness we can make a difference in the world, in our community, in our workplace and at home. To be truly kind means to let go of the ego centre, the negative fearful thinking, the judgement, the conflict, the disagreeance and the need to be right.

To accept the situation as is, without hesitation, without reservation, openly and fully with one’s heart. It can take practice and it can be challenging but when we let go of the burden of negativity and release the anguish of our ego and just be in the moment, mindfully, unconditionally and completely. A place to breathe without restriction, removed from tension and relaxed within oneself and the moment.

Being kind to yourself:

It all starts with being kind with oneself. You know how you operate when you have had a stressful day with challenges from work colleague’s, children at home wanting your attention, you haven’t had time to relax, you haven’t had time for you. You’re operating on empty and your tolerance is low. You’re ready to snap at someone, give them a piece of your mind. Impart your conflicting views online or abruptly inform the old man in the supermarket what he was doing wrong under the current restrictions. So much judgement, so much fear, so much stress.

Kindness is the key…

Ask yourself the question. “What do I need in this moment?” Your own internal emotional intelligence will provide you with the answers you seek. Getting a good nights rest, connecting online with friends, hugging your children. The answers lie within, unlock your heart and start with being kind to yourself. When your cup is full, when you have had ample sleep, managed your stress, taken time for self-care you will be more equipped to not only be kind to yourself but also towards others.

Be kind to others:

We are all experiencing our own personal challenges it’s a part of lifes journey. Currently this has been exacerabated with the recent natural and environmental disasters East Gippsland has endured, from drought to fires to a global pandemic. Stress is elevated, from worrying about the loss of income to the health and well-being of the family.

Stress manifests itself in many ways with a variety of internal emotions. People who are feeling anxious, worried or stressed may not be themselves. Agitation, frustration, anger, annoyed, sad, scared, depressed are just a few of the emotions people maybe experiencing. Stress presents externally in many ways through behaviors; being rude, isolating oneself, drinking heavily, yelling, being judgemental and can be detrimental to self and others. What is important is that we respond with kindness, it is the water that can put out the fire.

Kindness is the key to unlocking the compassion and empathy within your heart. Kindness bites its tounge and does not seek to be correct or judge. Kindness seeks to understand, to listen with open ears and an open heart. To ask the question – “What do you need in this moment?”

We don’t truly know what is happening in another persons world. They may have just had to close down their business, a loved one may have passed away. Their internal emotional feelings may be exposed projecting unhealthy behaviors into the world. Adding fuel to the fire by being unkind can exaccerbate stress, igniting more negative behaviors and create a combustion of conflict that impacts everyone, whether that be in the real world or virtually.

Kindness provides us with courage to act with virtues, such as patience, tolerance, gratitude and unconditional love. The progress of humanity depends on our connection, how we treat one another, the way we communicate and the acts of kindness we display.

You should in no way undermine your self-worth at the expense of others, but simply practice kindness while upholding your integrity. Acting with the strength and conviction of support, compassion and kindness towards others. Be kind even when its hard!

Kindness when it’s hard:

Mother Teresa’s poem titled Anyway, in which she states: “People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centred; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.”

Being kind to someone who is behaving negatively or inappropriately can be hard. If your met with hostility, rudeness or disrespect we naturally get our defenses up and prepare for battle. I’m going to challenge you to respond differently, respond with kindness even when it’s hard. If we are kind to each other as a community we can put out the fires of conflict, we can dampen the stress and we can spray conscious love and compassion across the region.

By incorporating daily acts of kindness into your community will create the butterfly effect. Edward Lorenz chaos theory is the idea that small things can have non-linear impacts on a complex system. The concept is imagined with a butterfly flapping its wings and causing a typhoon. Your one small act of kindness can potentially have a massive impact in the world!

This too shall pass, there will be an opportunity for travel and connecting with family and friends again, hope reigns within the horizon as the sun sets. To be together and embark on a future filled with the regrowth of humanity, the blooms of compassion basking in the warm embrace of kindness.