Kindness Ripples Out

Photo by Daniel Mingook Kim on Unsplash

I was recently reminded of the power of the Buddhist practice of loving kindness or Metta. It is quite simple in not always easy. It centers on the following phrases:

• May you filled with loving kindness.
• May you be well.
• May you be peaceful and at ease.
• May you be happy.

The power and the blessing of this practice comes from who the "you" is. Often it begins with someone you love or who loves you. Then it moves on to someone toward whom you are neutral. Next is someone who pushes your buttons then someone you still hate. For each of these chants, the invitation is to speak from the compassion in your heart, don't make it a ya-da-ya-da of meaningless repetition. Bless the person to whom you offer this gift.

Another powerful practice is to bless yourself. "May I be filled with loving kindness, may I be well. May I be peaceful and at ease. May I be happy." Let it resonate and open up those places that feel shadowed, dark, unacceptable. Loving kindness has a deep, healing power that ripples out and reminds us of our connections to each other. May this week bring you the blessings of loving kindness.

The World Is Our Mirror

Erin Profaci, unsplash.com

Have you noticed how when you're feeling good, the world seems to be a kinder, gentler place. The weather refreshes or impresses you, even if it's pouring rain. People around you seem friendlier, smile more often.

Our attention is affected by how we feel, what we think, our sense of ourselves. What are you reflecting out into the world? Are you a place of peace, compassion, welcome? Here's a simple practice that can assist you in reflecting those qualities out into the world. The practice comes from www.RandomActsOfKindness.org which has 50 suggestions. Here is the one I chose for today: Write a kind message on your mirror with a dry erase marker for yourself, your significant other or a family member.

It's such a simple practice -- and it makes a world of difference. Here's to kindness!

Share the Welcome of Kindness

We have been practicing kindness together for three months now. Most of our practices have been personal, quiet commitments we made to ourselves, our communities, our world. Today, let's invite others into the practice.

Our logo is familiar to you as it's part of our blog layout. It also appears in a bilingual welcoming poster created by Liz Larew. Here is the link where you can download a copy of the poster. 

This week I invite you to print a few copies and show them to businesses where you shop. Ask if they would be willing to display the poster in their window, letting everyone know they are welcome. And kindly accept their response, whether yea or nay.

Let me know how it goes. Blessings to all.

Before Getting Down to Business

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Has the picture made you hungry? It does look rather delicious. I wonder if the person who ordered it took time to see and thank the person who brought the food to the table?

Some years ago, on a tour in Bali, I stayed at a large hotel. Without exception, every staff person I met  -- on my way to the restaurant, at the front desk when I needed something, or simply going out for a stroll -- said hello and asked me how I was. It was different than our routine "Hi, How are you?" "Fine, thanks." They paused to see and appreciate me.

Returning to the states, I've done my best to carry this practice into my daily work. Throughout the day, when I see a colleague that I want to talk to about something, first, I greet them and check-in for a bit. Then, I get down to business. It takes a minute or so, sometimes more. When I'm in a rush, part of me just wants to get things done. Then I remember, people aren't things, Each one of us matters and deserves to be seen and appreciated.

That's this week's practice. It would be lovely if you left a comment on your experience. Namaste.

Kindness Is As Kindness Does

Photo by Guy Basabose on Unsplash

This week's practice invites us to pay attention to why we do things, not just anything (though that's a powerful practice), what motivates us to be kind. Gift someone with a kind word, a bit of help, some small thing -- without expecting anything in return. Click on the Weekly Kindness Practice tab above.

Sometimes we do things because it will get us something, earning respect, being appreciated, feeling important, putting someone in our debt. Although those acts may benefit others, they are more like business deals -- I do this, you do that -- than bits of kindness. 

There's another sticky wicket in practicing kindness. It doesn't come from a should. If you're sitting with, "I really should do these practices," rather than do them, you might want to settle into your heart and love yourself up a bit. See where the pushback is, where the "should" lives. Bless it and know that there is more to you than what you think you have to do.

Here's to kindness, just for the joy of it.