Experience Life Magazine is on a mission to “make kindness the norm!” Join me and register for their week-long kindness challenge. Throughout the week of May 4th, you’ll receive emails with thoughtful tips for practicing greater compassion. Participate to be kinder AND for a chance to win KIND bars! Another win-win.
They also had a great article this month called the Power of Kindness.
I loved the 8 strategies for cultivating kindness: (Check out the whole article HERE. Please note that the summary below is mine)
- Adjust your automatic responses. They say “stress triggers us to act in unkind ways.” They give examples and then suggestions for ways to change your automatic reaction. I need this one – STAT!
- Put your hand on your heart. [Literally] Apparently, we are physiologically wired to be soothed by a hand on the heart. They say that if you put a hand on your heart you “begin to use a gentler tone with yourself and others.” Worth a try!
- Shift your focus to what’s working. Being grateful for the good in your life makes you kinder. This one is a no brainer but it can be hard to practice in the moment.
- Know the difference between obligations and opportunities. Be present and mindful. Don’t schedule things back to back. Take time and appreciate where you are. Another important one to practice!
- Respect those you help. Be humble and help out of kindness.
- Be conscious of the money effect. Apparently, studies show that focusing on money and material wealth can cause you to be unconsciously less kind. Interesting but I can see how this can happen.
- Start at home. Research shows that we can be kinder to strangers than those at home. This is really something to think about. The Husband and I can take things out on each other sometimes. I will more actively practice this one!
- Remember that kindness is a practice, not a project.
You can also take their survey to see “How Kind Are You?”
Why take this quiz? They say:
“Our brains have a “negativity bias,” which predisposes us to fear-based, kindness-killing behaviors like rushing and defensiveness, explains Elisha Goldstein, PhD. But we can develop habits to help override those impulses. The exercise below helps reveal which pro-kindness habits you’ve already mastered — and which might deserve more of your conscious attention.”
You can keep up with Experience Life on the web, Twitter and Facebook. And don’t miss 101 Revolutionary Ways to be Healthy – another Finds’ fave!
PS. Be kind to me and don’t forget my great giveaways. More win-wins!