Kindness Suggestion
BE COMPASSIONATE, BE HONEST,
HOLD A VISION OF THE HIGHEST GOOD
I’ve developed a reputation for telling things like they are. I don’t do it in a mean way or to be disrespectful, judgmental or critical. I simply tell the truth – in a compassionate way, in a way which leads to taking responsible and self empowerment.
Through-out my life I’ve had the experience of going to friends with a problem or situation I felt pretty lousy about. Those friends would empathize with me, agree it was all the other person’s fault, tell me how bad they felt for me, and how horrible my situation was. Sometimes they even got angry or scared or sad or vengeful with me. I was able to share my problems and grief, but in all honesty, it didn’t change much. In fact, often times it amplified my distress.
I’ve also had the experience of going to other friends with a problem or situation I felt pretty lousy about. Those friends would empathize with me and let me know they felt compassion for my situation. But then they would encourage me to see how the choices I made affected what had happened. They prompted me to take responsibility for however little or much I had to do with the resulting scenario. And they encouraged me to move through feeling lousy, to come up with ways of dealing with the situation and resolving it. They let me know they believed in me and that they knew I would move through it no matter how bad things appeared. They held a vision of my highest good even when I couldn’t. It changed everything, even if I wasn’t sure exactly how things had changed in that moment.
I want to be the kind of friend who tells the truth and encourages responsibility and self empowerment. It’s true, sometimes realizing we had a role to play in landing ourselves in a lousy situation can hurt. But more than just hurting, it can be extremely liberating! By taking responsibility we can make choices which lift us up, move us through, and help us heal so we don’t have to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. And for those times we do have a “repeat” we know we’ll be able to get through it yet again.
Everyone needs to vent sometimes just to get the “yuck” out. But when the vent is over, let’s be the kind of friend who keeps moving the situation forward and helps others take responsibility, empower themselves, and see the possibilities and opportunities in their challenges. Let’s be compassionate, be honest and hold a vision of their highest good. (Even if they can’t yet.)
— ©
TAKE THE SFPNN KINDNESS CHALLENGE!
Living through the words of Gandhi, we must be the change we want to see in the world. We must also acknowledge those who are in the act of creating those changes. Therefore, we have two challenges for you.
Kindness Challenge # 1: Do something kind today and every day. It doesn’t have to be of earth-shattering proportions to make a positive difference. Simply saying “Thank You” or letting someone know they’re appreciated can have a tremendous impact. Find little ways to be kind and to make our world a kinder place. And feel free to tell us about your kind act!
E-mail: “KINDNESS”
Kindness Challenge # 2: Share something kind someone has done for you! People are kind to us in a myriad of ways on a daily basis. But we often overlook their kindness. Become aware of acts of kindness and acknowledge the person performing them. Then share their kind gesture with SFPNN.
E-mail: “KINDNESS”
For more Kindness Suggestions: http://www.sfpnn.com/kindness_suggestion.htm