Celebrate February with Acts of Kindness

February brings Groundhogs Day (good news this year!) with thoughts of spring around the corner (we hope), and Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate love, which can be fun and special, but can also bring up less happy feelings. If that’s the case with you this year, I recommend good self-care and invite you to focus on another special day- Random Acts of Kindness Day.

• What is kindness?

The Oxford dictionary offers this definition:

noun: kindness, the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

So, kindness is a quality; a quality that we can offer and receive. We often think of directing kindness to others, but it is also something we can extend to ourselves. Kindness is compassionate, empathetic and forgiving.

• The Science of Kindness

It turns out that there is a science of kindness. According to randomactsofkindness.org, kindness is teachable and contagious. Kindness is powerful. Kindness can change our brain, our emotional state and our health.

• Is it all good?
Well, kindness is good for us, it’s powerful and limitless…so mostly yes. But, there are two sides to every coin, including this one. What is the other, harder side? It has to do with emotions that can get stirred up and awareness of what is or has been lacking in our life. For example, if we were not treated with kindness growing up or in an important relationship, that awareness can bring up feelings such as sadness, loss, grief etc.

• Then what?
Try to welcome all feelings and seek support. Offer yourself kindness for your sadness. Notice what it is that you may need to acknowledge, work on, release and heal.

• Develop a Plan
Identify ways that you can bring kindness to yourself and others. We can learn to change unhelpful, unkind thought patterns and develop habits that foster kindness. Acts of kindness set off a ripple effect of good.

• Seek Help
If you need help, contact me to set up an appointment. Together we can work though issues, hurts or regrets, and identify ways to use kindness as a healing power in your life.

Wisdom & Inspiration

• Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” – Jackie Chan

• “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana

• “I’ve been searching for ways to heal myself, and I’ve found that kindness is the best way.” – Lady Gaga

• “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams

• “Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” – Eric Hoffer

• “Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” – Charles Glassman

• “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart

Articles & Resources

Randomactsofkindness.org
https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/the-science-of-kindness

Kindness is all around us
https://kindness.org/
The Heart and Science of Kindness
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-heart-and-science-of-kindness-2019041816447