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TODAY, November 13th WE CELEBRATE WORLD KINDNESS DAY!

World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was formed in 1998, to promote kindness throughout the world and is observed annually on November 13th as part of the World Kindness Movement. It is observed in many countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.A.E. World Kindness Day presents us with the opportunity to reflect upon one of the most important and unifying human principles. On a day devoted to the positive potential of both large and small acts of kindness, try to promote and diffuse this crucial quality that brings people of every kind together.

The purpose of World Kindness Day as outlined by the World Kindness Movement is "to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us."

Kindness is the act of being friendly, generous or considerate. Simply put, kindness is being nice to others. Kindness is being generous with others, giving your time, money, and talent to support those in need. Kindness is being compassionate, really listening to someone and supporting them. Being nurturing and caring to others, to enjoy doing favors for them, to take care of them and to perform good deeds.

What are the benefits of Kindness? Research shows:

  • People who give to others, in small and in large ways, tend to be happier as a result.
  • People who are consistently kind and giving tend to be healthier and live longer than their less generous counterparts.
  • People like kind people which can provide opportunities to develop meaningful relationships and love.
  • Kindness directed inward (self-compassion) can contribute to higher self-esteem, less anxiety and depression, and greater life satisfaction.
  • Random acts of kindness have been connected with a range of benefits, including greater positive emotions, lower negative emotions, greater well-being, and higher peer acceptance.

Some Quotes on Kindness:

  • “If we're destroying our trees and destroying our environment and hurting animals and hurting one another and all that stuff, there's got to be a very powerful energy to fight that. I think we need more love in the world. We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that.” Ellen DeGeneres
  • “It's not our job to play judge and jury, to determine who is worthy of our kindness and who is not. We just need to be kind, unconditionally and without ulterior motive, even - or rather, especially - when we'd prefer not to be.” Josh Radner
  • “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Aesop
  • “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it makes not only others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.” Dalai Lama
  • When we practice loving kindness and compassion, we are the first ones to benefit. Rumi

Kindness toward oneself, self-compassion, brings forth many positive benefits: feelings of happiness, optimism, stronger connections with others, increased motivation and mastering of your goals, and less anxiety, fewer feelings of failure and inferiority, less self-criticism, perfectionism, anger and close-mindedness.

Have you heard of the Loving-Kindness Meditation? It is a type of meditation that you can practice to increase your compassion for yourself and others. Want to give it a try? Here is a link to the guided meditation…

https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/loving_kindness_meditation

Let’s spread World Kindness Day throughout this month of November!

What are some simple ways you can sprinkle some Kindness each and every day and create more positivity and feelings of happiness for yourself and others?

Here is a fun graphic to give you some ideas!

One more thought!

Check out Tom Hank’s new movie, “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” arriving in theaters November 22nd! “Won’t you be my neighbor?” The ultimate act and message of kindness…

 

Did you know that Kindness is an internal character strength that we all share? Character Strengths are the qualities we value in ourselves, our friends, our children, our colleagues, and our leaders. If you would like to identify and learn more about your own character strengths and how they can increase your overall wellbeing, access my calendar HERE and let's engage in a complimentary 30-minute exploratory conversation!