[This 21-day series — 21 Days of Action with Kindness is also a Facebook event. If you’re on Facebook you are invited to join us… Today is Day 3. Here is a link to Day 1’s message and suggestions ► http://bit.ly/eYZT8V ; Day 2 is here ► http://bit.ly/hG52EQ ]
Hello!
The past 2 days we’ve focused on kindness to self, a loved one in the relationship venue and you’ve also been asked to do something kind for someone that is spontaneous and in the flow of your day.
Today we will spend one more day in the self venue. So far these are the suggestions:
1) Change negative self-chatter to something positive and encouraging
2) FORGIVE yourself for what was left undone yesterday
3) TAKE A BREAK at an unusual time and take a walk
4) Be kind to your body and REFUSE to eat anything you already know is not good for you
5) SMILE at your reflection as you pass a mirror
6) Recall and list the things you are grateful for in your life
Today I ask you to revisit #2. You might have skipped by it. Very often we think “Oh I don’t need to do that, I’m pretty good with not feeling guilt, shame and those terrible emotions.”
I’d like you to go deeper, if you have had that thought. Why? Because on a daily basis, even if you forgave yourself yesterday, we have new thoughts, emotions and actions that may fall below our highest expectations for our self.
Forgiving yourself daily is necessary. See this Daily Forgiveness Ritual I have committed to; done daily this will clear your heart of any lingering doubts, blame or regrets…these feelings fester and grow into bigger, heavier burdens if we leave them unattended. Left unattended, this weight interferes with living and enjoying life at the highest level.
If you agree that kindness is love in action and that loving yourself is a priority if you are to love anyone else or be kind to anyone else, and you also understand how guilt, blame, shame or any other kind of negative emotion forms a block between you and self-love, love of others and happiness in general, then you’ll understand why and how forgiving yourself daily is an essential act of kindness you must provide.
So today, linger here a bit. If it helps you to see what you are forgiving, write it out in list format and then do the ritual above. You can shred, burn or in anyway destroy this list in a ceremonial fashion to symbolize your release of all baggage.
After doing this exercise, celebrate in some symbolic and meaningful way…your choice completely. [Just let it be something you will not regret :-)]
Also do a spontaneous act of kindness today – for anyone, anywhere, just as you go through the course of your day.
Simple Acts of Kindness…just some samples:
1. Smile at someone – sincere
2. Holding doors
3. Carrying bags for elders
4. Breakfast in bed for loved one
5. Phone call to family member
6. Letter/card to friend, family expressing sincere care, concern, admiration, etc
7. Offer to clean a space for an overworked Mom or busy teenager
8. Flowers – unexpected
9. A long walk with a child, or a bike ride, play in snow, or just be together
10. A kiss on forehead, just because
11. Visit the sick in hospital
12. Volunteer at shelter or community center
13. Volunteer at Church, Synagogue, Mosque, etc
14. Compliment a child – sincerely and substantively (give details and examples)
15. Help a child with homework
16. Listen to a child
17. Give your partner 30 minutes of dedicated listening time
18. Pay for someone’s meal at a restaurant – on stealth mode
19. Send a financial gift to someone who needs it, unexpectedly and even anonymously
20. Leave love notes in lunchboxes and book bags and briefcases and handbags
21. Sending focused positive energy to someone
22. Get family members, staff or friends to sign a card with love notes for someone
23. Share a funny story or cartoon with someone who needs a laugh
24. Send a thank-you note to a friend or family – for doing what they always do
25. Pay the toll for someone behind you
Feel free to add to this list and help others to creatively bring kindness into their daily life.
Wishing you an abundance of love and kindness,
Julette
♥~