In Challenging Times, Kindness and Awareness Light the Way
As I reflect on our continuing challenging circumstances—the great unknowns and disasters of climate disruption, horrific and illegal behaviors by elected officials, economic craziness, and much more—several things are clear. First, compassion, care, and on-the-ground help are desperately needed for masses of people, almost always the less fortunate in society, whose lives are being upended by these circumstances. This is exactly the moment to cultivate kindness—in our actions, in our thoughts, and in how we respond to others.
Cultivating Kindness Can Change Everything
It is my personal experience, and so I am so bold as to suggest the following: we can change everything, inside and out, by cultivating kindness.
Henry James said, “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind, the second is to be kind, and the third is to be kind.” (I love that the Huffington Post calls this a
Killer Kindness Quote.) I find James’ quote one to live and love by (and one that can totally turn a tough day around). And there is no doubt: were we to bring
kindness to the ups and downs we are facing and help others to deal with them, we ourselves and the whole world would be very much the better for it. That’s a very happy fact, and it’s within our power to do.
Self-Kindness Is the Beginning of Transformation
In
Mark Nepo’s Book of Awakening, there are two posts specifically on kindness. In the first one, Nepo focuses on the importance of being kind to ourselves. It seems weird and counterintuitive, but it is clearly true that we cannot truly be kind, deeply kind, authentically kind, to others without first learning to accept, nurture, allow, honor… yup—be kind to ourselves. It isn’t selfish. It’s transformational.
Developing self-kindness/compassion has been a long journey for me. I keep discovering, uncovering, new and deeper, if subtler and more hidden, ways that I am critical and hard on myself. Each new insight is an opportunity to soften, open, and become more accepting of my patterns and foibles. This process is both humbling and nourishing.
Finding Kinship and Kindness in Everyday Moments
But of course there is more. Nepo (and many others as well) invites us to open into our kinship with all living beings. and to discover the kindness that connects and interconnects us with all that is and
the Mystery. Here is a lovely book about just this path: Kinship
with All Life, by Allan Boone.
Sometimes it’s easy to feel the connections… but there are times when I feel isolated, grouchy, disconnected… How precious and welcome it is to discover that looking carefully at a shiny wet leaf, a child’s smile, a dog frolicking, a sunset, a flower… can open my heart to that kinship, the kindness, the miracle that we are, that everything is. Gratitude can also be a door into interconnection and kindness. Enjoy Louis Swartzberg’s awesome presentation, and let your heart open and sing.
Here are some earlier posts you may find helpful or relevant:
Live Out Loud the Language of Love. I feel at times despair, and at other times cautious optimism that we may now be sufficiently cracked open to make real and lasting change… at least that we are embarking step-by-step on that long journey.
As we move into longer, lighter days, I wish you health, happiness, blessings abundant, joy, resilience, overflowing kindness toward yourself and all beings, and a good summer to you and yours.
Jill Schroder is the author of BECOMING: Journeying Toward Authenticity. BECOMING is an invitation for self-reflection, and to mine our memorable moments for insights, meaning, and growth. Check the website for a sample chapter, or see the reviews to get a flavor for the volume. Your feedback, forwards, shares, likes are most welcome.
But of course there is more. Nepo (and many others as well) invites us to open into our kinship with all living beings. and to discover the kindness that connects and interconnects us with all that is and the Mystery. Here is a lovely book about just this path: Kinship with All Life, by Allan Boone.
