‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ Maya Angelou
If we act selfishly or self-focused this can sometimes prevent us from being as successful as we want to be. I remember when I was a teenager one of my favourite films was and has always been the 2000 film ‘Pay it Forward’ by Abrams. Doing something kind for someone compels us to act with reciprocity. It is in our biology, we are hard wired to be compassionate and kind. Not to forget that biologically, kindness reduces blood pressure, cortisol, inflammation and pain levels, while easing anxiety and depression. It falls in line with the ‘6 doctor’ model I present my clients and the essence of loving kindness to the ‘I’ self as well as the ‘We’ self. ‘We can all relate to human kindness no matter what our religious beliefs are’, (the Dalai Lama).
Kindness solidified my awareness that all of us belong to a benevolence of shared humanity. For example, If we think back over the relationships and highlights of our lives, we often remember those unforeseen moments contained something beneficial that came our way, beyond our effort, plan or expectation.
The reason why many of us got into the helping professions that understand that the way an individual interacts with others is directly linked to his or her physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and it was most likely someone’s kindness helped us feel better, make a leap of courage, or be guided to something new. It often is the special assistance — often unearned, unforeseen, unplanned and unnoticed that was and is a blessing.
I often see kindness is a boomerang. There is a positive vibrational feedback loop between kindness, grace and happiness. Kindness is good for the giver (me) and benefits the receiver (you). It’s this connection that spontaneously gives birth to the support of belonging and self-worth.
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