| FEBRUARY II KINDNESS |
| REPEAT ASPIRATION EVERY DAY FOR 7 DAYS WEEK 3 ASPIRATION: Today, I will practice acts of Kindness with the intention of bringing healing to myself and the whole world. SUPPORTS ~DAY 1~ “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” ~ Philo ~DAY 2~ “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ~Leo Buscaglia ~DAY 3~ “Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless.” ~ Mother Teresa ~DAY 4~ “You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” ~John Wooden ~DAY 5~ “The little unremembered acts of kindness and love are the best parts of a person's life.” ~William Wordsworth ~DAY 6~ “Deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments.” ~The Talmud ~DAY 7~ REST AND REVIEW Now, without judgment review your week. This week there were times I was able to perform acts of Kindness many times. Now breathe in how it felt. Then breathe out the wish for everyone to share in the feeling of Kindness towards one another. Now, look at your short-falls. This week I there were times I was unable to feel kindly. Breathe in your painful emotion and breathe out the wish: May all those who feel (name the feeling you had) be spared from this feeling. Feel free to use your own words in this practice. REPEAT ASPIRATION EVERY DAY FOR 7 DAYS WEEK 4 ASPIRATION: This week we are going to do our aspiration differently. Each morning do a mantra practice: First you do it for yourself, then for someone you love, then for a person you don’t know very well, like your local bank teller, and then do it for someone who you don’t like. (Note: Do not try to do this practice who you are working out your forgiveness with. The goal of this practice is not to “fake until you make it,” sort of speak, and not to force you to repress feelings. Therefore, start off small and as you heal, you can work up to the people who have caused you great pain.) Do the Mantra below every day and more if necessary. "May I enjoy happiness and the root of all happiness. May (name the person you love) enjoy happiness and the root of all happiness. May (name the person you don’t know well) enjoy happiness and the root of all happiness. May (name the person you do not like) enjoy happiness and the root of all happiness” SUPPORTS ~DAY 1~ “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” ~Barbara De Angelis ~DAY 2~ “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.” ~The Dalai Lama ~DAY 3~ “Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” ~Eric Hoffer ~DAY 4~ “When you carry out acts of kindness you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, yes, this is how I ought to feel.” ~Harold Kushner ~DAY 5~ “There is only one way of not hating those who do us wrong, and that is by doing them good.” ~Henri Amiel ~DAY 6~ “What this world needs is a new kind of army - the army of the kind.” ~Cleveland Amory ~DAY 7~ REST AND REVIEW Now, without judgment review your week. This week I was able to say my mantra several times. Now breathe in the positive feelings you felt when did your mantra. Then breathe out the wish for everyone to share in feeling (name the positive emotion). Now, look at your short-falls. This week I there were times I didn’t feel what I expected to feel when I did the practice. Breathe in your how this felt and breathe out the wish: May all those who feel (name the negative emotion) be spared from feeling (____). Feel free to use your own words in this practice. |
| “Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” ~Lao Tzu~ |
| ENDING PRAYER: The Cultivation of Universal Loving-Kindness May all beings be happy and peaceful (free from suffering and distress) May all beings be safe and secure (free from fear and harm) May all beings be healthy and prosperous (free from pain, illness, and lack) May all beings live joyfully and with ease (free from struggle and conflict) ~Buddhist Mantra~ |
KINDNESS COMMENTARY: It takes no genius to recognize the importance of Kindness in this world. We
have written books about it, sung songs about it, and the Dalia Lama has even made it “his religion.” It is as
if the Universe keeps sending us messages that Kindness is a healing balm for a difficult world. Kindness is
the genuine support and caring for each other, which makes Kindness is different than “niceness.”
Niceness is something we are taught as children in order to get along with people we don’t necessarily like.
Without niceness our workplaces could become war zones. However it is easier to be nice to people who
annoy us than to be kind to them, because Kindness comes from the genuine desire for another’s happiness.
It is essential for our healing to understand the difference between Kindness and niceness. Because,
niceness often creates “pleasers,” “manipulators,” and “doormats.” Since, Kindness wants what is best for
self and others, it comes with the understanding that sometimes the kindest word you can say is “No.”
Kindness doesn’t support the foibles of humanity, nor spares them from their own lessons, but rather it lets
people know there is someone who actually notices they have value. A wonderful aspect of Kindness is its
reciprocity. The Universe set it up so that when help another feel value, we recognize our own importance
here on earth.
Nevertheless, Kindness needs to be exercised like a muscle, because it can atrophy from our focus on the
just trying to survive our own pain. If you haven’t read the book, “Random Acts of Kindness,” by Conari
Press, it might be very healing for you if you did. This book helps one to reconnect with our true self, the
Kind-self that is lying dormant inside of us all.
It doesn’t matter how great or small your actions of Kindness are. You can hold the door open for the person
who is behind you, say a kind word to the frazzled clerk in the check out line, or bring chicken soup to a sick
friend. Make the practice of Kindness part of your daily life and you will find it is healing for your soul.
have written books about it, sung songs about it, and the Dalia Lama has even made it “his religion.” It is as
if the Universe keeps sending us messages that Kindness is a healing balm for a difficult world. Kindness is
the genuine support and caring for each other, which makes Kindness is different than “niceness.”
Niceness is something we are taught as children in order to get along with people we don’t necessarily like.
Without niceness our workplaces could become war zones. However it is easier to be nice to people who
annoy us than to be kind to them, because Kindness comes from the genuine desire for another’s happiness.
It is essential for our healing to understand the difference between Kindness and niceness. Because,
niceness often creates “pleasers,” “manipulators,” and “doormats.” Since, Kindness wants what is best for
self and others, it comes with the understanding that sometimes the kindest word you can say is “No.”
Kindness doesn’t support the foibles of humanity, nor spares them from their own lessons, but rather it lets
people know there is someone who actually notices they have value. A wonderful aspect of Kindness is its
reciprocity. The Universe set it up so that when help another feel value, we recognize our own importance
here on earth.
Nevertheless, Kindness needs to be exercised like a muscle, because it can atrophy from our focus on the
just trying to survive our own pain. If you haven’t read the book, “Random Acts of Kindness,” by Conari
Press, it might be very healing for you if you did. This book helps one to reconnect with our true self, the
Kind-self that is lying dormant inside of us all.
It doesn’t matter how great or small your actions of Kindness are. You can hold the door open for the person
who is behind you, say a kind word to the frazzled clerk in the check out line, or bring chicken soup to a sick
friend. Make the practice of Kindness part of your daily life and you will find it is healing for your soul.
| “Now please be inspired to your innate Kindness by this video provided for you by Humanity Healing. |
"PRACTICE KINDNESS" |
