Cultivating kindness in our family is a choice
we make every day. Which seeds do we plant, nurture, and grow? Acceptance and
understanding, or do we opt for the often easily accessible fear and judgment?
The way we live our daily lives greatly affects everything around us and especially
influences our children. We must comprehend our choices, behaviors, thoughts,
emotions, actions, and habits all intertwine to create our existence – our life
garden. Allowing kindness to be an essential component in our gardens leads to
a life of peace, love, and
balance.
Now how do we share all this grace and kindness
with our kids, so they too can harvest this bounty of benevolence? Simply put… get
heart-centered! Let love be the guiding force in your life to be the shining
example for your child. Demonstrating, supporting, and celebrating love is the
meaning and purpose of all life and we share this love with others through our
conscious actions. Keep these four seeds of wisdom in heart and hand to
cultivate kindness in the lives of your loved ones:
Honor: Living a life of honor is to demonstrate
truth, honesty, and integrity in your actions and beliefs. Allow your choices
and behavior to reflect the best parts of you and also take responsibility when
your actions affect another. When living with great respect of every soul, you
begin to see the world as an amazing opportunity to share love and kindness.
Empathy: The ability to feel, sense, or relate to the experiences of another. Knowing what it is like to walk in their shoes or wear their hat, so to speak. Having understanding and compassion for the actions and behaviors of those we encounter infuses us with a deep sense of connectedness. We demonstrate a higher awareness when we leave harsh judgments behind and opt instead to empathize with others.
Altruism: Living a life in benefit of the interests of others – being of service to society and the world without gain to the self. Altruism is being nice and kind to those around you without regard to a payoff for yourself. It is not being a servant to someone or under the influence of another’s control. Demonstrating this behavior to our children is the best way to nurture their internal sense of benevolence and generosity.
Gratitude: The
emotion and energy we exude when in deep appreciation of the circumstances in
our world. Long-embraced as an essential virtue in philosophy and countless
religions, thankfulness leads to a life of peace, health, and prosperity. Being
grateful for the diverse experiences of living directly correlates to success
in achievement, well-being, and social bonding. When we are grateful, we are
kind.
Deb Snyder is
the award-winning author of Intuitive
Parenting: Listening to the Wisdom of Your Heart (Atria/Beyond Words) and a
champion of heart-centered living. For more information, please visit www.heartglowliving.com
***
July is kindness month at Little Pickle Press, and we are fostering Kind Karma—that is, random acts of kindness. This month, please share your Kind Karma stories with us and be entered to win a full set of our award-winning books. Click here to participate.
The post reflects all that I know to be true about how to live my life. Thank you for posting, Dani. This post made my morning! So much that I am printing the post taping it above my desk. One of my favorite things in the whole world, even over ice cream, are random acts of of kindness. Paying the bridge toll is my random act of choice. But there are so many!
ReplyDeletePlugging meters that have expired is one little act. What a bummer to go to the library, get lost in books, only to return to your car and have a parking ticket! Not when I'm around. :)
ReplyDeleteA lovely and inspiring post! I recognized each of the seeds of wisdom as something that we strive to make a part of our children's lives. It was so helpful to have them listed and clarified as well. Our roles as parents cannot be overestimated- we can work to improve the world by growing aware, thoughtful, kind little people to carry on after we are gone.
ReplyDeleteIn elementary school, we had what we called the 7 Pillars of Character--this post reminds me of that notion that was instilled in us from 1st-8th grade. Thank you for the post, Deb!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this article. All of these values are amazing to embrace in everyday life. Thank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully said! Empathy is such a gift, and doubly precious coming from a little one. Our son will sometimes climb up on the couch for a cuddle when he knows that Daddy isn't feeling well. Just a few quiet minutes, then off he goes. We didn't have to teach him about empathy, but I hope we do a good job of modeling honor, altruism, and gratitude.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post. It is a terrific blueprint for us all, and the little ones will benefit as well. Most often they follow the examples set for them by the important and trusted adults in their lives.
ReplyDeleteSo I'd still like to read some actual examples of random acts you all do. Another one, though not daily, is setting up an anonymous gift at the local grocery store. That's usually kind of spontaneous, too. Maybe as a result of hearing someone counting their pennies in one aisle. It's easier to accomplish in a small town.
ReplyDeleteInspiring to find this message today. You are helping to build a good world. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWords look good in print but don't always translate to life's actions. Articles like this make it easier to think about the linking of our heart to daily thoughts/actions, which as we all know, is what makes the world go 'round. Since we have a short amount of time in this world to make a difference, pariculalrly as it relates to our children, it is important to listen to these types of messages and then, do the right thing. Thanks Deb.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathryn!~Deb Snyder
ReplyDeleteSharing your own things is such a wonderful way to be kind to another. Whether it be your time, energy, clothing, food or money; it doesn't have to cost to be kind. :) ~Deb Snyder
ReplyDeleteThank you for such positive feedback! Many blessings!!! ~Deb Snyder
ReplyDeleteAudrey, What a sweet story about your son. Thank you for sharing! Many blessing your way. ~Deb Snyder
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Cameron, for your positive feedback. It is so wonderful to connect in this way. Many blessings to you! ~Deb Snyder
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Hugo. I am so thrilled you enjoyed it. Many blessings! ~Deb Snyder
ReplyDeleteThank you, Khadijah! You are exactly right...together we can make a better world every day...for today and tomorrow. Many blessings! ~Deb Snyder
ReplyDeleteVery kind gesture! I also like paying for people behind me at the tolls. :)
ReplyDeleteMelanie, Thank you for being you! Many blessings and ice cream your way. ~Deb Snyder
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be great if this was required reading to be a parent?
ReplyDeleteThat would be great! ;)
ReplyDelete