The Kindness Box

[Geoff-Allen]

Happiness challenge kindness

The Happiness Challenge

Action for Happiness partnered with BBC Breakfast to run a week-long Happiness Challenge. The aim was to get people to try out simple actions to improve their happiness, based on the latest scientific research.

actionforhappiness.org

Leads to this -

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Happiness+challenge+kindness

Enjoy!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Sharon’s Street Lovingkindness Video Series takes the formal meditation practice of Lovingkindness (aka Metta) off the cushion and into your life. Explore a new way to interact with the world around you. By expanding your circle of kindness you can discover deeper connections and joy right where you are.

Street Lovingkindness — Sharon Salzberg

Sharon’s Street Lovingkindness Video Series takes the formal meditation practice of Lovingkindness (aka Metta) off the cushion and into your life. Explore a new way to interact with the world around you. By expanding your circle of kindness you can discover deeper connections and joy right where you

www.sharonsalzberg.com

Also -

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Salzberg+kindness

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Here are 100 ways you can help a fellow human being today:

1. Listen: Give someone your undivided attention and truly listen to what they have to say.
2. Offer a Smile: A simple smile can brighten someone’s day and make them feel acknowledged.
3. Express Gratitude: Show appreciation for the people in your life and the things they do for you.
4. Give a Hug: Offer a hug to someone who may need comfort or reassurance.
5. Hold the Door: Practice common courtesy by holding the door open for someone.
6. Pay for Someone’s Meal: Surprise a stranger by paying for their meal at a restaurant or coffee shop.
7. Donate Blood: Contribute to saving lives by donating blood at a local blood drive or donation center.
8. Volunteer at a Shelter: Spend time volunteering at a homeless shelter or animal shelter in your community.
9. Share Your Knowledge: Offer to teach someone a skill or share your expertise on a subject.
10. Write a Positive Note: Leave a kind and encouraging note for someone to find.

Read the full-list here -

How can I help you today? 100 Ways to Help a Fellow Human Being Today

How can I help you today? 100 Ways to Help a Fellow Human Being Today Here are a few examples from the list: Be respectful and friendly: A simple smile and kind word can brighten someone&#8217…

mediumpulse.com

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

If you need more suggestions -

27 Simple Ways to Help a Fellow Human Being Today - Lifestyle Revolt

Being selfless by helping people can have a long-lasting effect on someone's life. Not only will it make you feel great but it can also make someone's day.

lifestylerevolt.com

 

[Geoff-Allen]

https://www.cmc.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Pay-it-Forward-Flyer.pdf

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

According to a February 2023 report from the CDC, we’ve also got an adolescent mental health crisis on our hands.

To make matters worse, there is a shortage of mental health care providers to address this growing need, and in the US, many who need it most lack access to mental health care. (Recent data from Mental Health America, the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of people living with mental illness, reports that more than 11%, or 5.5 million people with mental illness, do not have access to care.)

Clearly, we have work to do. But the outlook isn't hopeless for people struggling with their mental health. Affordable therapy resources exist. Emergency hotlines and chatlines, including the year-old 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, are there when you need them. And experts see real value in diet, exercise, and stress relief when dealing with mental health conditions.

One perhaps surprising way you can make yourself feel better—according to science—is to help someone else.

More at this excellent site! -

https://www.healthcentral.com/mental-health/how-helping-others-improves-mental-health

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

More from that site -

You've surely heard the expression "It is better to give than to receive." But do you believe it? It's always nice to receive a lovely gift from someone, but study after study proves that there really is something to that old saying.

Society often tells us that we need to have more - more money, more toys, more everything - in order to be happy. But there is no proof that this does us any good. We end up working and striving to get more and more, and consequently feel miserable and defeated because, in reality, there's a link between giving and the happiness we seek.

https://www.healthcentral.com/article/the-link-between-giving-and-happiness

 

[Geoff-Allen]

The relationship between society and individuals is closely connected, and what we do as individuals can have an impact on society as a whole. This means that the choices we make, both for ourselves and for others, can make a real difference in the world. However, many people who want to make a positive impact on the environment and society don’t know where to begin.

To help out, this article provides a guide for readers. It explains how acts of kindness can make us feel happier, and it offers seven practical ways that people can make a positive difference in the world.

Comes from this huge site -

Make a Difference: Change the World, Change Yourself

There are many ways you can make a difference. The great thing about making a difference is that, by changing the world around us, we change ourselves. And vice-versa.

www.pursuit-of-happiness.org

Enjoy your browsing!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Articles about generosity at this Buddhist site -

Generosity, or “dana” in Sanskrit, is the first of the Paramitas (“transcendent perfections”)—virtues to be cultivated as part of Mahayana Buddhist practice. Different schools of Buddhism have come up with different lists of paramitas, but Dana Paramita, the perfection of generosity or giving, is always first.

Generosity’s place as the first of the paramitas reflects its importance as the foundation of spiritual practice. The Buddha taught that its opposite, stinginess, is a barrier to enlightenment. A spirit of selfless generosity nourishes our spiritual growth, while stinginess smothers it. We practice generosity to release greed and self-clinging.

Read more -

Generosity in Buddhism | Buddhism A–Z

Generosity, as taught by the Buddha, is one of the foundations of Buddhist spiritual practice. A spirit of selfless generosity nourishes our spiritual growth, while stinginess smothers it.

www.lionsroar.com

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Continuing the theme -

The practice of generosity is to give what is worthwhile and to give it with non-attachment. This can be studied through three main aspects: giving things, giving loving protection and giving loving understanding. The teaching on the first of these, material generosity, explains what is proper generosity and what is improper. We should abandon improper generosity and practice the proper one.

Motivation is very important when we give. If we give with a wrong motivation, such as making gifts which we hope will harm others or which we intend to bring us fame, or if we give with an inferior motivation such as through fear of future poverty, then that is improper. What we actually give is also important. A Bodhisattva should never give what is harmful, for instance, when he gives something suitable it should be generously, not meanly. To whom we give to is important - always pandering to the wishes of the crazy and the gluttonous would not be proper generosity. Finally, how we make our gift is important. The Bodhisattva avoids reluctant giving, angry giving, disrespectful giving and scornful, derisory giving, all of which are improper.

The Paramita of Generosity | SamyeLing.org

www.samyeling.org

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

"The whole world is my home, and the human race, my family. With God’s kindess I embrace all men."

Affirmations for Self-Healing by Swami Kriyananda

Kindness is love in action. Paramhansa Yogananda counseled, “Be calmly active and actively calm.” To be consistently kind we need to consciously direct our thoughts and emotions by operating from our inner center with poise and grace. Through the practice of regular meditation we calm our restless thoughts, thus enabling us to respond with kindness, rather than just reacting to people and circumstances.

When we consciously choose to be kind, we experience an intrinsic feeling of love and joy. When we practice kindness we are focusing on the needs of others, thus also practicing self-forgetfulness. God can then use us as channels for divine grace, which in turn increases our capacity to manifest kindness.

Kindness is love in action — Ananda

Kindness The whole world is my home, and the human race, my family. With God’s kindess I embrace all men. Affirmations for Self-Healing by Swami Kriyananda Kindness is love in action. Paramhansa Yogananda counseled, “Be calmly active and actively calm.” To be consistently kind we need to...

www.ananda.org

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Altruism is when we act in ways that help others without expecting anything in return. Though some people assume that human beings are fundamentally self-interested, recent research suggests otherwise.

Studies have found that people’s first instinct is to cooperate rather than act selfishly. Even toddlers and non-human primates display genuine altruistic behaviour.

While you don’t have to be a neuroscientist to know that doing good feels good, the extent of the altruism effect may surprise you. Numerous studies have shown that there is a very strong link between altruistic behaviour and happiness. And it offers a whole host of other mental and physical health benefits too.

In this post I’ll share the research on the altruism effect and also give you simple tips to use altruism to boost your own mental strength in daily life.

The altruism effect: Why the good you do is good for you - Melli O'Brien

Altruism is when we act in ways that help others without expecting anything in return. Though some people assume that human beings are fundamentally Learn the positive benefits of altruism and what the research tells us about the effect on your life. The good you do really is good for you.

melliobrien.com

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Altruism is when we act in ways that help others without expecting anything in return. Though some people assume that human beings are fundamentally self-interested, recent research suggests otherwise.

Studies have found that people’s first instinct is to cooperate rather than act selfishly. Even toddlers and non-human primates display genuine altruistic behaviour.

While you don’t have to be a neuroscientist to know that doing good feels good, the extent of the altruism effect may surprise you. Numerous studies have shown that there is a very strong link between altruistic behaviour and happiness. And it offers a whole host of other mental and physical health benefits too.

In this post I’ll share the research on the altruism effect and also give you simple tips to use altruism to boost your own mental strength in daily life.

The altruism effect: Why the good you do is good for you - Melli O'Brien

Altruism is when we act in ways that help others without expecting anything in return. Though some people assume that human beings are fundamentally Learn the positive benefits of altruism and what the research tells us about the effect on your life. The good you do really is good for you.

melliobrien.com

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

A few kindness links PLUS a book -

Press & Links

Queries To contact Donna directly, please use the contact form here. Press Kit You can download the full press kit for A Year of Living Kindly here. Pictures These photos are free to download. Cli…

ayearoflivingkindly.com

Enjoy!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Kindness treat people better

For example -

12 Rules of Kindness - Rule 4 - Treating Others Sonia McDonald Blog -

It’s a shame that we still see people regarding kindness as weakness, whether at work or in life. The old adage, “Treat others as you’d like to be treated.” has stuck around all these years because, quite simply, it’s fantastic advice! Even when you don’t agree with someone, what have you got to...

soniamcdonald.com.au

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

“There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life — happiness, freedom, and peace of mind — are always attained by giving them to someone else.” — Peyton Conway March

How generous are you with your emotions?

Do you praise people often? Do you praise others at all? Do you tend to see others for their positive traits or do you harp on their flaws? Do you seek to bring happiness to people around you or are you just focused on making yourself happy?

Are You Emotionally Generous? - Personal Excellence

“There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life — happiness, freedom, and peace of mind — are always attained by

personalexcellence.co

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Longtime Butler readers know I promote Pema Chodron every chance I get — her no-bull**** Buddhism makes sense even if you have no interest in Buddhism. The full-length book to read first is When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times — a title so relevant you’ll be surprised to learn it was published in 1995. This book is an abridgment of The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving Kindness. Turning that book into a pocket-sized paperback, with short chapters, was a publishing masterstroke. If you ride a subway or ride a bus or sit in a waiting room, it’s surely better nourishment than anything you’re currently consuming on your phone. And if you read a bit just before bed, as I do, I can attest it has the power to slip into your dreams, alleviate misery, and suggest the possibility of peace.

Pema Chodron: Awakening Loving-Kindness | HeadButler

"There's a common misunderstanding among all the human beings who have ever been born on the earth that the best way to live is to try to avoid pain and just try to get comfortable. You can see this even in insects and animals and birds. All of us are the same. A much more interesting, kind...

headbutler.com

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Yogis have long understood the importance of helping others, understanding this virtue to be indispensable on the journey towards enlightenment. Karma yoga, one of the four main yogic paths, is the path of selfless service, rooted in the notion that actively helping others frees us of our egoic expectations of receiving something in return for our work. When we play an active role in assisting others, with expectations for return released, we move closer towards finding peace and happiness through a variety of underlying mechanisms.

Helping Others: A Sure Path to Happiness — The Yogi Press

Selfless service helps to purify the heart so that we come to feel more present and more at peace within ourselves and with the world around us.

www.yogi.press

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Karma Yoga service -

Perhaps equating karma yoga with selfless service, doing “good” deeds, and working for free is a well-meaning response to the structures of inequity and inequality inherent not just in the yoga and wellness industry but in our communities at large. However, “giving back” to those in society who continue to be exploited or marginalized by the very structures that have normalized the upper-income “whiteness” common to yoga studio and wellness culture is not karma yoga. Studio owners who ask their teachers to work for free under the guise of “karma yoga” are also missing the mark.

If we are practicing karma yoga from this vantage point, we are still assuming we know what’s best for others and have control over whether our well-intentioned actions may potentially harm them. Furthermore, if we are coming from a place of privilege, that does not mean we get to freely immerse ourselves in the struggles of others in order to spur our personal or “spiritual” transformation.

More at this site -

Why Karma Yoga Goes Beyond "Selfless Service"

A misunderstanding of karma yoga can often lead to more inequality. Here, a teacher reflects on a more effective approach.

yogainternational.com

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Kindness prayers

Prayers can nurture kindness - for example -

Heavenly Father,

In Your infinite wisdom and boundless love, You created us to live in harmony, to share our joys, and to bear each other's burdens. Today, I pray for a heart like Yours – one brimming with compassion and empathy for the struggles faced by those around me. As the Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep, instill in me the courage to set aside my own comfort to truly understand and aid those who suffer.

Open my eyes to see beyond my own experiences, to recognize the silent battles being fought by my neighbors, friends, and even strangers. Let my heart be moved by their pain, and inspire my actions to bring solace and relief. Teach me to listen with kindness, without judgment, offering my shoulder as a pillar of support and my words as a beacon of hope.

In moments of weariness, remind me of Your everlasting strength, that I might continue this journey of compassion without faltering. For it is by sharing the weight of others' crosses that we truly embody Your love and grace.

Amen.

Many more prayers at this site -

12 Caring Prayers to Cultivate Kindness in All Actions | Christian Pure

Explore 12 powerful prayers to inspire and spread kindness through every action. Discover how to cultivate a life filled with compassion and positivity. Start your journey of kindness today!

christianpure.com

All the best!