The Kindness Box

[Geoff-Allen]

On the way back from work every evening, more often than not there would be a homeless man standing at the exit of the freeway... He always waved at every car, he was always happy and smiling and sometimes almost dancing. Every day after work I would remember to gather any spare change, and put it aside to give to him if I saw him. A feeling of joy would come over me every time I saw him, as I came off the ramp. He had that effect... Occasionally the red light would be on for a minute and we would ask each other about our day. His answer would always be the same, “I’m blessed!”. Then one day I was called into my boss’s office and was told that I was being laid off due to the economy...

Comes from these stories about kindness -

Top Ten Kindness Stories of 2010 | KindSpring.org

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Kindness ideas divided up into different categories/situations -

Acts of Kindness | KindSpring.org

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

What would the world look like if we designed for generosity? Instead of assuming that people want to simply maximize self-interest, what if our institutions and organizations catered to our deeper motivations? This compelling TEDx talk explores this question and introduces the concept of Giftivism: the practice of radically generous acts that change the world. The video is charged with stories of such acts, ranging from: the largest peaceful transfer of land in human history, to a pay-it-forward restaurant, to a 10-year-old's unconventional birthday celebration, and the stunning interaction between a victim and his teenage mugger. With clarity and insight, it details the common threads that run through all these gift manifestations, and invites us to participate through everyday acts of kindness -- in an uplifting global movement.

Designing For Generosity | KarmaTube

 

[Geoff-Allen]

“I want to encourage kindness, but I don’t know how.” So many communities want more kindness, but don't have the time, capacity, or resources to create such circles. Teachers, for instance, deeply recognize the need for this in schools where bullying and narcissism are at all-time highs - but don’t have the bandwidth, resources, or support needed to implement these ideas in their classrooms. To remedy that, we propose building local Kindness Crews.

More here -

Acts of Kindness | KindSpring.org

Enjoy!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Link to --->

Ways to Be Kinder to Yourself Every Day

You can only say so many mean things to yourself before you actually start believing them. Stop talking yourself down and instead be your biggest motivator, giving yourself all the pep talks you need throughout the day, even if that means sneaking off to the bathroom at work to do so. Sometimes you have to be your own biggest cheerleader, and that starts with ditching the negative self-talk.

Self Love: 30 Ways to Be Kinder to Yourself Every Day | Best Life

 

[Geoff-Allen]

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Whether it’s buying a coffee for the person behind you in the queue, leaving a book in a public place for someone else to enjoy, or simply holding the door open, being kind does not have to be difficult.

With the aim of making the world a more compassionate and connected place, November 13 was named World Kindness Day in 1998, and has been inspiring individuals towards incorporating selfless acts into their day-to-day lives ever since.

But with our hectic and crowded schedules, there is one person we can often forget to be generous to – ourselves.

Read more at this site -

Six ways to be kinder to yourself for World Kindness Day

Enjoy!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Comes from this site -

How to Be Happy: 26 Strategies Backed by Research

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Another interesting site.

Goood deeds day -

Good Action - Goodnet | Gateway to doing good

Plus check-out their other menus!

Enjoy!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Another site about helping others -

Also click on their menus ...

“In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. ”

 

[Geoff-Allen]

I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. We must all learn to work not just for our own self, family, or nation but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources, and through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment.

~ Dalai Lama

More at this site -

Do One Thing - Quotes for a Better World - For Volunteers

Enjoy!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

The last 3 minutes before you fall asleep, instead of reviewing what went wrong in your day or tallying up everything that didn’t work out, or underscoring who you felt hurt by, program your subconscious brain with positivity and gratitude. Really feel the sensation of gratitude in your body by going through your day and giving thanks for everything that went easily and worked out on your behalf. Think of all the moments of connection, kindness and compassion from family, friends, co-workers, or neighbors. Remember the blessing of the warm water in your shower and the food that nourished you. Think of the beauty of nature as you drove home from work. Give thanks for your life.

More tips here -

Claiming Your Own Happiness

Enjoy!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Great thinkers from Martin Luther King Jr. to the Dalai Lama to my daughter, Addison, all have had something to say about the importance of helping others. The civil-rights leader stated, "Life's most persistent and nagging question is 'What are you doing for others?'" The soft-spoken spiritual leader called doing good deeds "our prime purpose." And my 12-year-old put it this way: "Helping feels good because it's nice for the other person and for you."

Smart words. And as it turns out, kids are actually hardwired to be considerate and kind. "The desire to help is innate," says David Schonfeld, M.D., director of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. And their sense of doing good develops as they grow. "At first, children like to help others because it helps them get what they want. Next, they do so because they get praise. Finally, they begin to anticipate the needs of others, and it becomes intrinsically rewarding to do nice things for people in their lives."

More here -

14 Little Ways to Encourage Kindness

All the best!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Today, judging others seems to be an activity practiced by too many people. It’s all too easy to post comments about other people, whether they’re celebrities or ordinary, everyday citizens. Unkindness isn't new; we've been doing it since ancient times. But today the ease, speed, and anonymity with which people can pass judgments on others are unprecedented. Kids who are at the forefront of tech and social networking are learning from what they see around them.

Children also tend not to be able to see the big picture. Because young children usually focus on the now and don’t think too far ahead, they may not realize the full effects of what behaviors like meanness, exclusion, or bullying can have on other kids. And kids are naturally self-centered, which means that they aren’t always able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes or make a conscious effort to think about how someone else might feel. That does not mean, however, that kids are naturally unkind.

Full article at this site -

Ways You Can Teach Your Kids Kindness and Why You Should

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Tonglen is a Tibetan word which means “giving and taking.” As a spiritual practice, it refers to the sending and receiving of energy; taking in the negative (pain, suffering, fear, etc.) and giving back the positive (peace, joy, comfort, well-being).

The practice can be traced back to 11th century Tibet, and the Kadampa school of Buddhism founded by Dromton Rinpoche. Dromton credits his teacher, Atisha, with training him in Tonglen practice, and tradition holds that Atisha learned it from his teacher Serlingpa, in Sumatra.

Buddhism is often said to have “two wings,” which work together to lift the aspirant to enlightenment: wisdom (insight into the true nature of reality) and compassion (selflessness, caring, loving-kindness). Tonglen belongs to the latter – it’s intended to cultivate compassion and open the practitioner’s heart.

Comes from this article -

https://zenfulspirit.com/2015/12/10/how-to-transmute-negative-energy-with-tonglen-meditation/

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Mindfulness meditation proponents often tout it as a way to create a more compassionate society. But that claim seems a bit dubious upon first glance.

After all, meditation is an internal affair—focusing on our own experiences, emotions, and thoughts—and people generally meditate alone. What does that have to do with how we treat anyone else? While some meditation practices directly aim for increasing compassion—such as loving-kindness meditation—others focus more on creating mindful attention, a focus on one’s present experience. This seem less likely to automatically impact how we relate to others.

Full article here -

How Nature Can Make You Kinder, Happier, and More Creative

Enjoy!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Humans are selfish. It’s so easy to say. The same goes for so many assertions that follow. Greed is good. Altruism is an illusion. Cooperation is for suckers. Competition is natural, war inevitable. The bad in human nature is stronger than the good.

These kinds of claims reflect age-old assumptions about emotion. For millennia, we have regarded the emotions as the fount of irrationality, baseness, and sin. The idea of the seven deadly sins takes our destructive passions for granted. Plato compared the human soul to a chariot: the intellect is the driver and the emotions are the horses. Life is a continual struggle to keep the emotions under control.

More here -

The Compassionate Instinct

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Book review Meredith Gaston kindness

Meredith’s latest release ‘The Art of Kindness‘ encourages us all to cultivate the joy of kindness in daily life. Divided into three parts, ‘Kindness Towards Ourselves’, ‘Connective Kindness’ and ‘Kindness Towards the Earth’ this book takes an integrative, bigger picture look at kindness as it relates to our personal and collective wellbeing in daily life. Meredith’s whimsical drawings and beautiful words remind us that small acts of kindness truly are the sunshine needed for happiness to grow. With a delightful melange of prose, illustrated quotations, positive affirmations, meditations and more, this uplifting, enriching and inspiring offering encourages us to enjoy life to the fullest with greater empathy, peace and joy.

The Art of Kindness - Meredith Gaston

Cheers!

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Affirmation - Gentleness | Photographic Print

 

[Geoff-Allen]

Found another great site - very well family -

Remember, Kids Are Always Watching

Got a piece of juicy gossip you're dying to share? Want to tell off a neighbor who did something rude or offensive or yell at a driver who cut you off? While we can't always perfect, every good parent knows that kids are always learning from the examples we set.

If we want our children to be kind, empathetic, and well-mannered as they grow up, we must try to be on our own best behavior and be respectful of others.

For full article -

Traits That Good Parents Have in Common

Cheers!