When in doubt
When in doubt, be kind. That’s it. Just be kind. Kindness is one of the most effective mediums of positive change — within ourselves, in our relationships, and for the greater good.
We live in unusual times (that’s an understatement!) and I find myself regularly cycling through different moods and concerns, alternately wondering how to stay safe, how to stay sane, and how to contribute to the greater good.
When in doubt, I turn to the simplest and most effective of behaviors: Just be kind.
Kindness does not mean that we accept injustice, or let others run roughshod over us. It means that as we honor and assert our dignity and our needs, unequivocally, we can do so without demeaning others.
This is what I teach in my Personal Leadership (PL) workshops: how to be kind to ourselves and others especially when we are triggered. Rather than measure the amount of kindness we dole out based on what we believe the other deserves, the PL approach is completely different, and far more effective: Who am I in the world irrespective of how others behave? How can I stand up to behavior I don’t like while honoring the dignity and integrity of all parties?
Kindness goes a long way to effecting positive change in every realm, because wrapped up within it is listening, caring, thoughtfulness, inclusion, and presence.
Kindness is an essential ingredient for a society to thrive. Let's extend it to others, acknowledge it when it is extended to us, and look for it in those who lead.
And while we are at it, let's #VoteKindness. This is a new and dynamic group I recently joined. It highlights kindness as a human value to look for in any candidate, of any political party, at the local, state, or national level.
Kindness is the glue that holds a society together. We all have a role to play.
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Copyright © 2020 Sharon V. Kristjanson. All rights reserved.
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