In all honesty, this past month has been mentally and emotionally draining for me.
As a proud Jew and lifelong advocate for peace and justice for all people, I am heartbroken by the massacre that happened in Israel on October 7, 2023, and I have been feeling lost, distraught, and hopeless in its aftermath.
Kindness and Connection are two rays of light and hope that have helped bring me through this terrifying time and other challenges in the past.
With November 13 being World Kindness Day, it seems apropos to share how Kindness and Connection can be a salve for pain and isolation when we are faced with difficult obstacles.
How to show Kindness and Connection for ourselves and others:
First, extend kindness, grace, and space to yourself to allow yourself to express your emotions.
That could look like:
Remove unnecessary engagements and tasks
Choose to spend time with people who love and support you
Nourish your body with the foods you love
Build in extra breaks to your schedule
Move your body and get some fresh air outside
Take time to reflect, read, and rest
Once you’ve given yourself time and space to be with your emotions, even the hard ones, you might notice you have the capacity to begin to find small ways that you can extend kindness to others and build connections.
I find that my clients report the same. When they begin taking actions, even very small steps, toward kindness to others, they begin to feel a sense of lightness and a return of joy.
Many people who seem to be doing “fine” are actually really suffering, and your gesture of kindness can lift their spirits and in turn, build warmth and connection within your own heart.
Look for small ways to express kindness and build connections every day.
This week, maybe you could:
Say a heartfelt thank you to people working at the grocery store or coffee shop
Offer an honest compliment to people you meet
Clean up a mess, even when it’s not yours
Set your phone down and listen fully to your loved ones
Reach out to a friend to check in
Provide support when you see someone struggling
These are easy gestures of kindness and connection that we all can do.
We may never know the positive impact that these simple acts will have on those that we interact with, and that is ok.
When we are kind to others it allows us to take our minds off our own situations and challenges and focus on others, which is a small kindness that we can give to ourselves.
Now, I invite you to seek small ways to express kindness and build connection every day, and notice how these acts bring you joy!
Please share ways that you extend kindness and connection by sending me a message or commenting on LinkedIn.
Remember: together we truly can make this world of ours a better place for all.