Stories of Kindness from Around the World

I feel it is important to remember as we are moving through this kindness challenge that being kind shouldn't feel like something 'extra' you are having to do in a full list of many things to get done during your waking moments.

Kindness comes in many forms, some extraordinary, some less bold and noticeable, but kindness in all its forms is equally important. Something like picking up a piece of trash you see laying outside in the parking lot, thanking someone for their efforts, offering to run an errand for someone who has an overabundance of tasks to get accomplished, all can be just as impactful as a grander gesture. Many times, kindness can be found in just paying attention. When you take the time to notice what someone enjoys or the hard work they do, it says to that person that you care about them and notice their efforts and the things that interest them.

It it, I would be willing to bet that we are all kind in our thoughts, words and deeds many times throughout the day. The kindness challenge can be taken as a personal challenge to bring consciousness to kindness, take note of those moments in the day when you are expressing that kindness and rather than performing the action unconsciously, bring your consciousness to it.

Pay attention to the kind actions people perform around you every day and take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate them for what they are doing. Just bringing consciousness to our moments of kindness can fill us with greater happiness and a more positive approach to the day.

Focusing on the positive has been shown to have benefits to one's health and well-being, just as focusing on the negative has been proven to have a detrimental effect. Feeling more positive and upbeat about the world around us can also benefit us in times of increased stress, making the stress both emotionally and physically less draining on our bodies and less likely to have an adverse effect on our immune system. While kindness can't cure all that ails you, in all of its many forms, it can certainly make you less vulnerable to those stressors and ailments that do come your way. That is a pretty cool thing.