Kindness & Compassion Collage
Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash
Perhaps you remember the old adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Even more relevant today in the era of ultra-processed foods, but that’s a topic for another blog.
What if we rewrote it? Something like:
“Kindness and compassion each day keep overwhelm at bay.”
- OR -
“Kindness and compassion each day help keep stress away.”
This isn’t just a cute rewrite. It certainly does support your well-being and the well-being of communities. And it’s supported by evidence-based science.
Think of what follows as a collage of possibilities, something to snack on slowly, like your favorite treat.
KINDNESS
Science Support
· People who engage in regular acts of kindness report lower levels of anxiety and depression.
· Even witnessing kindness, not just doing it, can elevate mood and increase prosocial behavior.
· Research suggests we derive more happiness from cooperation than competition.
· Kindness has even been shown to support positive changes in the brain linked to well-being and resilience.
Wisdom Speakers
· “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” - Dalai Lama
· “Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” - Charles Glassman
· “Kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” - Mark Twain
Lessons in Practice
· Kindness is not passive, meek, or merely “nice”, it carries quiet strength and the power to ignite potential.
· Kindness is choosing love over fear.
· Kindness doesn’t fix everything, but it changes everything.
· Kindness is a micro-practice with macro impact.
COMPASSION
Science Support
· Loving-kindness and compassion practices are associated with increased positive emotions and life satisfaction (research from Barbara Fredrickson).
· Self-compassion is strongly correlated with resilience, motivation, and reduced burnout (work of Kristin Neff).
· Compassion helps regulate the nervous system, calming the body while supporting emotional connection.
Wisdom Speakers
· “Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded, but a relationship between equals.” - Pema Chödrön
· “I am larger, better than I thought; I did not know I held so much goodness.” - Walt Whitman
Lessons in Practice
· Compassion invites us to learn from our past but not live in it.
· Compassion is how we remember we belong to each other.
· Compassion calms the body while it opens the heart.
REFLECTION & PRACTICE
· How much of your personal energy is spent each day planning, ruminating, fantasizing, brooding, judging, comparing?
· What might happen if even a small portion of that energy was gathered in and returned to yourself?
· How might it feel to hold yourself, and others, in kindness?
Start simple:
· One kind thought toward yourself
· One small act of kindness toward another
· One moment of compassion when things don’t go your way
Daily doses. No doctor RX required. However, there are side effects which include calm, connection, and a quiet sense of enoughness.
In-joy and pass a little kindness along the way.
Debbie