Lately, I find myself preoccupied with minor issues. Even as I am fretting, I am aware that I am sweating the small things. There is a desire to break away from the weight of tiny irritations and stressors. As a result, I find myself preoccupied, easily irritated with others, and ultimately, even more irritated with myself.
I know that all I need is a shift in perspective. But I often find that hard to do via thinking alone. The only thing that consistently helps me is getting out of my head and life, even if just for a moment, and focusing on generosity towards other people. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. The smallest act of grace is enough to lift me out of my funk. When I have the opportunity, greater acts of kindness expand my heart and breath even further.
The beauty of kindness is that it is a win-win proposition. It eases all of our spirits, and connects us more profoundly to one another. Ironically, the more internally preoccupied we are, the more difficult it is to see outside of ourselves and reach out to each other. What we need the most, is what feels hardest to do.
When we have been beaten down enough by life experience, we start to defend ourselves. We become protective of our sensitive souls and egos. Vulnerability becomes risky. And we gradually become closed off, believing all the while that we are less likely to get hurt. Yet all that happens is we become isolated, disconnected, and alone.
Kindness can be the beginning of opening up again. Loving just because. Caring for others because they exist and we exist, together.
Today, and in the week ahead, I encourage you to consider a microscopic gesture of kindness…it could be towards a friend or stranger, a child or a senior, even an animal or plant. It could be a word, a smile, an act. What do you notice shifting, inside and outside of you?
And if you have a few minutes, I encourage you to watch this video. It comes from the work of Life Vest Inside, an organization committed to spreading the message of kindness. Wishing you a peaceful week ahead. With gratitude, Monisha
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