The Kindness Box

[Geoff-Allen]

There are countless quotations about kindness and about the path to creating a kind life. As I post them on my home page, I will also archive them here to create a growing library of inspirational quotes. Below the quotes, I plan to compile a list of books and films I have encountered that address kindness–either directly or indirectly. I invite you to send me your suggestions for additions to the lists.

Quotes & Resources

There are countless quotations about kindness and about the path to creating a kind life. As I post them on my home page, I will also archive them here to create a growing library of inspirational…

ayearoflivingkindly.com

Enjoy your browsing!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Helping, fixing and serving represent three different ways of seeing life. When you help, you see life as weak. When you fix, you see life as broken. When you serve, you see life as whole. Fixing and helping may be the work of the ego, and service the work of the soul.

Service rests on the premise that the nature of life is sacred, that life is a holy mystery which has an unknown purpose. When we serve, we know that we belong to life and to that purpose. From the perspective of service, we are all connected: All suffering is like my suffering and all joy is like my joy. The impulse to serve emerges naturally and inevitably from this way of seeing.

Serving is different from helping. Helping is not a relationship between equals. A helper may see others as weaker than they are, needier than they are, and people often feel this inequality. The danger in helping is that we may inadvertently take away from people more than we could ever give them; we may diminish their self-esteem, their sense of worth, integrity or even wholeness.

Helping, Fixing Or Serving?, By Rachel Naomi Remen, MD | DailyGood

Helping, fixing and serving represent three different ways of seeing life. When you help, you see life as weak. When you fix, y...

www.dailygood.org

 

[Geoff-Allen]

I had the privilege yesterday of spending the day with a roomful of non-profit leaders—both the chief staff executives and the elected leaders of a variety of trade and professional associations. We spent a lot of time talking about the qualities of good leaders. We identified numerous traits the best leaders seem to have, and kindness was certainly among them. So was servant leadership, as well as such qualities as passion, sense of humor, compassion, adaptability, and inspirational. It seems to me the concept of leadership has changed over the three decades I’ve worked with non-profit leaders and boards.

Rachel Naomi Remen – A Year of Living Kindly

Posts about Rachel Naomi Remen written by Donna Cameron

ayearoflivingkindly.com

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

For a few videos of Rachel - try this search -

Generous listening Rachel Naomi Remen

Or go to YouTube itself -

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Generous+listening+Rachel+Naomi+Remen

Yet to watch many of them so click on whatever floats your boat!

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

I suspect that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it's given from the heart. When people are talking, there's no need to do anything but receive them. Just take them in. Listen to what they're saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. Most of us don't value ourselves or our love enough to know this. It has taken me a long time to believe in the power of simply saying, "I'm so sorry," when someone is in pain. And meaning it.

Inspirational articles from Living Life Fully

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Happy family books about kindness - plenty to choose from -

For example -

As parents, we want to raise kids who grow up to be kind and compassionate and maybe even thoughtful enough to return their grocery store cart to the parking lot corral.

Thankfully, research shows that kids act with kindness and compassion from a very early age – before we ever try to teach them to be kind. For example:

• Babies as young as six months old show a clear preference for kind and helpful behavior as opposed to mean behavior.
• 3-year-olds can actually be great about sharing prized toys with their friends.
• When given the opportunity to be kind to others, kids feel happier than if they’re doing something that just benefits them alone.

The best children's books to encourage your child to be kind to others

Read these books about kindness, and you'll be priming your child's brain to grow into a kind, compassionate soul. We all know the world could use more of those!

happyyouhappyfamily.com

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

“The greatest gifts you can give someone are your time, your love, and your attention.” ~Unknown

The other day I saw this phrase on social media: “Spread kindness, not COVID-19.” And I started thinking about how kindness is contagious, which reminded me of a viral video I’ve always loved:

A skateboarding kid falls, and a construction worker helps him up. The kid then sees an elderly woman struggling with grocery bags and helps her carry them across the street. That woman then gives coins to a woman at a parking meter who’s rifling through her purse. And on and on it goes—one act of kindness rippling through the city as each person pays it forward to someone else.

I think we could all use a little extra love and kindness right now. We could all use a reminder that even when times are tough, people care. And that’s what really matters. Not that we have everything we want, but we have everything we need, because people are looking out for us.

And really, I think that’s that foundation of kindness: paying attention. Noticing when people are struggling, or when they’re in need of ear, or when they could use a little encouragement or motivation to keep moving forward. Noticing the good in people and acknowledging what we see.

How to Make Someone Smile: 10 Mindful Acts of Kindness - Tiny Buddha

I've come up with 10 COVID-friendly ideas to practice mindful kindness and make someone smile. Tag, you’re it—pass the good vibes on!

tinybuddha.com

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Remember a time when someone was kind to you?

Now, think of when you did something good for someone else and how happy it made both of you—that warm feeling of satisfaction that lodged in your heart and refused to go away.

You made someone happy and lifted their spirit.

Guess what?

That should be every day.

There’s a saying, ‘Love makes the world go around.’

Kindness does the same thing. And yes, we can use these words interchangeably. Why’s that?

An act of kindness is one of love.

Doing good comes from a place of love, and he who has received kindness knows what it means to be loved. But it should not stop there.

You should share that love. There’s enough to go around.

The World Needs Your Kindness and Mine to Become Better for All by Christiana Jolaoso - We are Kinder

The World Needs Your Kindness and Mine to Become Better for All by Christiana Jolaoso “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of...

www.theworldkindnessmovement.org

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Affection, gentleness, warmth, concern – these are all words that are associated with kindness. While kindness can have a connotation of meaning someone is a softer personality type, that is not the case. Being kind often requires courage and strength. Kindness is a valuable interpersonal skill, but most importantly, kindness involves choice.

Kindness involves choice because there are many alternatives to kindness that will tempt us through life — including, of course, apathy and anger. Circumstances may test us. People may try us. News may trouble us. Yet, despite these obstacles, we each have the beautiful ability to actively choose to be kind.

KINDNESS – Why it's more important than ever - TEDxSydney

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou A brilliant quote, reminding us that how we interact with others on a daily basis is far more important that what we do. Regardless of your...

tedxsydney.com

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Most people think about kindness occasionally. I challenge you to practice kindness daily. Every day, look for opportunities to be kind to someone else. If you pass a homeless person on your way to your morning coffee, buy them a cup too with a simple breakfast. If you notice your kids keep pestering you for attention, put your phone down and give it to them. If you notice someone crying on a bus on your morning commute, hand them a tissue. If you’re on the lookout for acts of kindness you can do, you’ll be more likely to find many throughout your day each day. Even something as simple as logging into Facebook each day to wish every person a happy birthday can go a long way to make people feel special.

25 Ways to Make a Difference in the World in 2023

Want to start having an impact on people? Here's 25 ways to make a difference in the world and start spreading positivity and good will.

declutterthemind.com

 

[sun rise]

There are a lot of kindness stories on this site proving that kindness comes in small acts. “Giving Every Day”: 50 “Good News” Stories That Prove There’s Still Positivity In The World

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Embarking on the journey to cultivate kindness through our actions, we turn our focus towards nurturing a compassionate heart. This particular prayer is dedicated to awakening our ability to empathize deeply with the struggles of others. Just as Jesus showed compassion to those around Him, we seek to embody this same spirit in our daily lives. Compassion is the bridge that connects us, allowing us to feel with others rather than feeling for them, creating a deeply rooted sense of understanding and mutual respect.

A dozen 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

Enjoy!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

 

[Geoff-Allen]

We all know kindness is important. But I think it’s also important to acknowledge that while often the kind thing to do is crystal clear, sometimes it’s a little murkier. It can be tricky to know what counts as kindness, towards ourselves and other people, and which behaviours might seem like kindness but do more harm than good. In this post, I want to share a few thoughts on the true meaning of kindness towards ourselves and others, especially for those grey area situations of life in which kindness feels less clear-cut and less, well, kind.

Wikipedia defines kindness as: “a behavior marked by ethical characteristics, a pleasant disposition, and a concern for others.” Let’s unpack this definition ...

The True Meaning of Kindness - Becoming Who You Are

If you've ever struggled to know what counts as "kind," this post is for you. Keep reading to discover the true meaning of kindness.

www.becomingwhoyouare.net

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Depression is a serious but treatable disorder that affects millions of people, from young to old and from all walks of life. It gets in the way of everyday life, causing tremendous pain, hurting not just those suffering from it but also impacting everyone around them.

If someone you love is depressed, you may be experiencing any number of difficult emotions, including helplessness, frustration, anger, fear, guilt, and sadness. These feelings are all normal. It’s not easy dealing with a friend or family member’s depression. And if you neglect your own health, it can become overwhelming.

That said, your companionship and support can be crucial to your loved one’s recovery. You can help them to cope with depression symptoms, overcome negative thoughts, and regain their energy, optimism, and enjoyment of life. Start by learning all you can about depression and how to best talk about it with your friend or family member. But as you reach out, don’t forget to look after your own emotional health—you’ll need it to provide the full support your loved one needs.

Helping Someone with Depression - HelpGuide.org

Learn how to support someone who is depressed while keeping your own life on track.

www.helpguide.org

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Here's a vaguely on-topic sentiment

 

[Geoff-Allen]

 

[Geoff-Allen]

 

[Geoff-Allen]

A happy person goes out of their way to help people. Some studies show that those who volunteer at least 5.8 hours a month tend to rate themselves as very happy. There are numerous benefits to helping others. For instance, when you focus on helping those in need, you spend less time going over negative events in your head. You might also experience feel-good hormones from a neurological perspective for helping others. It’s called Helper’s High.

Helping people is also a social activity. And people are meant to be social, so there’s usually a happiness boost from being around others too. Helping people also creates a sense of altruism from doing a good deed that can ripple off to generate more good deeds. And that enables you to feel even happier. If you want to be a happier person, your act of kindness can be big or small, and it’ll still have an impact.

Comes from this huge site -

17 Happy Person Traits and Habits to Help You Model Happiness

The best way to learn to be happier is to model yourself after people who are already in that state. Here's 17 habits of a happy person.

declutterthemind.com

Enjoy your browsing!