Welcome yogis to our month of kindness in December.
If you are here you have received a little envelope from me with messages numbered from 1-31 for each day in December. It is like an advent calendar but it runs the whole month long. The messages alternate an inspirational quote on day one with an invitation for an act of kindness on day two and continues on in this way until the end of the month.
Let’s strive to complete all the acts of kindness. A few require spending a little money and if that just doesn’t work with your budget then get creative on how you can still act kindly that day. Some of the kindness activities will stretch you to behave in ways you might not normally and others will come easily. Set the goal to complete them all and then tell me about it.
Here’s my thought process on the magnifying or ripple effect of intentional kindness…
- The intention, anticipation and the kind act is felt by many; the giver, those who simply interact with the giver, the receiver of the kindness and those who interact with the receiver.
- The retelling of how it felt to anticipate, act and receive feedback about the act of kindness allows the giver’s mind to receive the benefit of the act of kindness more than once.
- Others who read or hear about the act of kindness experience along with you what it was like to be kind so that just by the retelling their mind and body occupies the same space of open receptivity and joy that acts of kindness bring.
It isn’t about accolades or trying to appear like you are a better person because you have been kind. I think the point is to share what it felt like to be intentionally kind. Or if it required bravery on your part or creativity, share that. If you want to leave some of the details out because it feels more authentic to you, then that makes sense. Sometimes a quiet act of kindness feels amazing.
Watch it all: your intention to be kind and then the unfolding of kindness. Watch your mind and your body throughout the process. Watch your mind and body on the retelling. Watch your mind and body reading/hearing the kindness stories of others. Be on the lookout for kindness everywhere this month and share that too.
Good luck and be kind 🙂