3 Reasons to be Kind

When giving a lecture near the end of his life, author Aldous Huxley said, “People often ask me what is the most effective technique for transforming their life. It is a little embarrassing that after years and years of research and experimentation, I have to say that the best answers is – just be a little kinder.”

Kindness requires less energy. Grudges are draining because they feed distracted energy, which becomes wasted in worry, resentment, suspicion and criticism. If we call our energy back to us by being a little kinder, self-transformation happens faster. Most of all, self-kindness will change your life. 

Here are three key ways kindness promotes personal growth and transformation:

1. Kindness heals. Studies show that being kind is a healthy response to most any situation and at the same time positively influences our capacity to heal. Studies demonstrate children thrive when treated with kindness; when facing illness patients progress their healing more quickly. And as adults in our day-to-day lives, kindness is the antidote to stress.
2. Truly successful people are kind. Having only money doesn’t equate to success. I’m talking about someone who knows how to give and receive love, lives joyfully, and attracts abundance through unselfish acts of kindness. When I gave the eulogy at my Father’s funereal what I was most impressed by was how many people told me that he was a kind person. “Every day our eulogies are being written. Only you can develop the content for your forthcoming eulogy.” (From Winners Never Cheat). Think about what sort of legacy you want to be remembered for… How would you describe success?
3. Kindness gives meaning to our lives. Kindness isn’t flashy. It doesn’t get reported on in print or tv as much as violence, war, and depression. And in spite of these things, because of kindness humans keep evolving. “It is tremendously important that we try to make something positive of our lives. We were not born for the purpose of causing trouble and harming others. For our life to be of value, we need to foster and nurture such basic good human qualities as warmth, kindness and compassion. If we can do that, our lives will become meaningful, happier and more peaceful; we will make a positive contribution to the world around us.” – His Holiness the Dalai Lama

When we are healed and living meaningful lives, abundance flourishes and success manifests in all ways. It may be a bit less complicated than what we make it out to be. The answer to a happier life lies in our innate power to be kind, starting with being 10% kinder to yourself. We cannot afford to continue with the negative habit of beating ourselves up. The easiest most real solution for supporting personal growth is the one you are empowered to deliver to yourself: giving yourself a break, cutting yourself some slack and being kinder in your thoughts and actions towards yourself.

Love yourself, love your day, love your life!
Silvia

—————————————

Editor’s note: This is another amazing guest post by Daily Cup of Yoga contributor Silvia Mordini, E-RYT, retreat leader, happiness coach, and yogipreneur. Enthusiasm to love your life is contagious around Silvia. Her expert passion connects people to their own joyful potential. Silvia lives her happiness in such a big way that you can’t help but leave her classes, workshops, trainings and retreats spiritually uplifted! Born in Ecuador, raised traveling around the globe, she is an enthusiastic citizen of the world and spiritual adventurer. She has over 10,000 hours and 15 years of teaching experience, owned a yoga studio for 9 years and after being run over by a car used yoga to recover physically and emotionally. Silvia leads Alchemy Tours Yoga Retreats and Alchemy of Yoga RYT200 Yoga Teacher Training.

Silvia can be reached on the Web at http://www.alchemytours.com ; or http://www.silviamordini.com, or via email at silvia@alchemytours.com. Twitter: @alchemytours, @inspiredyogagal; Facebook: Silvia Mordini; YouTube: lovingyourday; Pinterest: Silvia Mordini; Intagram: alchemytours.

Photo credit: Manduka on Instagram