Journey to Success, here at WA, it starts with Kindness
Did you know that Google did research to determine what is most effective in their teams ability to succeed? It was called Project Aristotle. They spent years and loads of money, on this research. Can you guess what the surprising result was? Nope, it was not financial. Nope, it was not social.
It was, wait for the drum roll please, kindness!
Simple kindness. The same thing that we are taught from the first moment we utter a sound.
Can you imagine their surprise that efficacy was determined by kindness? Wow, that turns capitalism on its head, yes? A journey in success, it starts with kindness. I adore the irony of the study's findings, don't you?
And it was also noted in another study that people preferred their leader or bosses to be compassionate. The concept of compassionate leadership is not new. But seems to have devolved in the last years.
In reality, we all want our bosses or leaders to lead with compassion. Don't we? Have you noticed that when someone is kind, we actually feel a glow inside our bodies? Whereas if someone is acting quite the opposite we feel cold,heavy and isolated.
How do we really want to participate in the world?
I think that goes for our personal outlook as well. I want to be with people who lead with compassion and kindness, don't you? I mean how many of us have spent time with people who are less than compassionate and how it changed our day?
So perhaps it is the perfect time for a compassionate kindness project? I know, I hear some of you, get off your rose colored glasses soapbox.
But you know what? Kindness is healing. Kindness builds hearts and souls. Kindness is the balm to connection and community.
And I will fully disclose here, I really like, and thrive, being in the mode of kindness. Do you?
Have you noticed this? That when we are in a state of kindness, we are larger givers of comfort and ease. We smile more. We participate in joy.
Have you heard about this project? I have heard of some Facebook projects where people have painted stones with affirmations and then hid them. Kids find them and talk about the affirmation. And try to collect as many rocks as possible. It sets the stage for learning how to pay it forward.
What would and could we do as adults?
COMPASSIONATE KINDNESS ADULT PROJECT
I would like to think that we, as the ones most responsible for how our world is thriving, are willing to take a chance to rise up. It is such a simple act.
Just standing up for being our kindest and witnessing random compassionate acts. All day long. We can bear witness to seeing others doing simple sweet things for each other.
From helping someone out of their chair, to sharing smiles, or mentoring a young person. It is so simple. It does not take much time. And we can record these acts or just bear witness.
Can you imagine if we, all over the world, took just one hour of each day to record a kindness of one person to another? Can we possibly imagine the impact it would have?
Here we go, we found the cure to the dislocated and disenfranchised. Do we realize the type of power we have in our hearts to truly make this a phenomenal change?
And I do not know about you, but for me, this type of project really gets my soul soaring. The concept that we always have in our hands and hearts the ability to truly change our world, well what is more empowering than that?
And in this moment, our own legend gives birth. What does your legend look like? The proverbial but true hero's/heroine's journey.
Have you fed your priceless internal journey today?
I know that this sounds very idealistic. And, well, it is not a new thought. Or even original. But it dawns on me, it keeps staying in our periphery for a reason. Doesn't it?
Did you know there is such a thing as World Kindness Day?
Have you ever observed it?
WORLD KINDNESS DAY
I thought it was just a bit of a commercial Hallmark moment when I read that there is such a thing as a yearly World Kindness day. According to Wikipedia it was established in 1998. And it is observed November 13th every year. It was introduced by a coalition of NGO's known as World Kindness Movement.
According to Wikipedia, hugs and kindness cards are handed out. As well as recognizing acts of kindness in communities. What a lovely day.
To know that every moment of that day, we are all being held in compassionate kindness. What would that be like if we were willing to expand it to more than one day? Two days? One week? One month? Or 365 days per year?
Can you possibly imagine the impact? How would we feel deep inside our true hearts?
And here is also the disclaimer. If we are not kind within ourselves, we are not truly achieving kindness in the world. So please extend kindness to yourself. It is vitally important to all of us.
TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
Forever we have heard this echoed in our hearts and minds. The question is are we willing to take this on? This is truly powerful. Just the fact we are choosing to make this stance and change in ourselves is a monument to our true natures.
So what is it going to take? What do we need to simply bless each other? What do we need to simply learn to smile instead of frowning? What does it take to know that each person we see, is a mirror of our connection to our own divinity and the universe?
There is a country that we have all heard about, it is called Bhutan. Its Gross National Product, GNP, is happiness. Yup, Happiness.
Does that sound appealing to you? Just the concept that living in happiness, is a possibility is to some of us beyond comprehension. But it was our making to not choose happiness.
So Let's reverse this trend. We rise up. We act in kindness. We talk in kindness, We love in simple random acts of compassion. Wow, look at us! We are truly changing the world.
If you are part of a community, ask the community to join in this project. If you are part of a faith group, ask them to join in this project. If you work in an office, ask them to work on this project. And if your boss is skeptical, cite the google project.
Where ever you go daily, ask people to join in. Create your own happiness cards and pass them out. Use loads of colors and put simple affirmations on each card.
There is no way we cannot make these changes. It just takes such a simple act of compassionate kindness. And if you need to, create a reward system for yourself or your community to enhance the project. It can be a large reward or a fabulous chocolate.
AFFIRMATIONS FOR COMPASSIONATE KINDNESS
At each moment of each day we have the choice to see kindness or see darkness. It is within our grasp to see simple kindness. Whether we opt for that choice is a testament to how we are choosing to live. Try this twice a day.
When you pass someone, either in a car or walking. Simply say to yourself with a smile on your face, May you be blessed. May you be blessed. Feel the difference in your body as you say this. It releases a sense of endorphins of well-being. You will feel lighter. And happier. So blessing another, is a gift to you too.
If you find yourself going into a reaction that is not kindness, quickly say to yourself, May I be blessed. May I be blessed. You will feel a letting go of what was going to happen and instead find a sense of gratitude and comfort. It is actually giving yourself compassionate kindness. When have we been taught to do that before?
Do this for a week, at least twice a day. You will be amazed at how much more compassionate your inner world will be.
Let me know what reactions happen for you.
When I was in the throes of being so very ill., and not able to leave my house. I knew that what I needed was hope, kindness and light. So I started making what I call rainbow catchers.
I wove jewelry wire into designs, and added beautiful faceted large prisms. I hung them all around my windows. And then each day, when I least expected it. Light would shine through my windows, and I would have floods of rainbows everywhere. Dancing on the walls and floors.
It gave me such a sense of hope awe and beauty.
So there it is. The light is awaiting us. We just need to step into it.
This is our true divine nature, isn't it? I know it is beckoning me. Can you feel it?
CONCLUSION
There is not just one season of compassionate kindness. It is a daily practice. It is a continuous way of showing that kindness is our Gross National Product of every nation.
Even the fact that Google spent huge amounts of money on a research project to prove what we innately know. When we are kind to each other, our worlds flow.
So Let's join reins and hold each others hearts. We have the capacity to make each day World Kindness Day. Just saying it makes me smile. Does it work for you? What are you waiting for? I see someone standing next to you awaiting your beautiful smile.
May you always know how very important and blessed you are. And may your choices be responsible for changing your world to a place that just shimmers in simple kindness.
Thank you so much for being here. I truly expect a worldwide movement to happen.
And just think, WE all started it here. We are the path forgers!
Because, this rose is for you! With much love and a hug.
As always in peace and much gratitude and hugs,
JOIN THE MOVEMENT HERE AND NOW.
Recent Comments
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Yes, I agree with everything you've said here, and you've said it so beautifully. It disappoints me that kindness is deemed an inefficiency and a 'nice to have' in so many places, rather than an essential and an outcome.
There have been times in my life that for need of work, I've found myself in such joyless, light-less places. Your gorgeous description of the dancing rainbow colours of light reminded me of how much more I yearn for beauty during those times, and I crave the space be creative in the way some people crave chocolate ice-cream.
Thank you for such a lovely post!
Hello Ivy! How are you? Thank you so much for your lovely and kind words.
I absolutely hear you, and you said it so very well. I have never understood why kindness is belittled. But then again, I think it is up to us to reclaim it. For the pure beauty of it.
i hope you create a space that absolutely reflects the beauty of your heart. And move in there! Create that space..you will thrive.I promise.
Beauty and creativity is not a luxury, it is the food of the soul. It is where all life begins in truth.
Please tell me how you create a space for yourself. in peace and gratitude, ariel
Oh hey - Creating is the engine of our home! My husband and I were both students of an arts institute when we first met, many years ago. We have both been professional arts practitioners.
But that's just a tiny expression of the creative drive, and what nourishes us, I think. There are two main things we seek in our private space.
1. Our space needs to be filled with life:
The home is filled with strong colour, art works from people we love, musical instruments, and rambling plants.
Fish and frogs go lively in the pond, and there is now a cacophony of birds in the trees we planted on this once-bare block.
Dogs tear through the maze path running through our garden beds.
The girls have been climbing trees to pick cherries and mulberries all week.
2. Our space needs to feel like a sanctuary:
home has to feel like a hiding place from the world. So we purposefully chose a small, very private place in an overlooked suburb.
Within this space we have carved even smaller, more secretive spaces.
In some we drink tea in deep garden shade; elsewhere an awkward nook is transformed into a reading corner.
Those two things, mostly. Movement and life are encouragements for even the weariest traveler. And from the space to breathe, recuperate, and reflect on things in quiet corners, come ideas... so many ideas!
This is what building that special space does for us. And it makes me feel stronger and more hopeful. Can we ever have enough of that?
Oh Ivy! I am coming to visit your special spaces..lol.. It is exactly how I try to live also. My space, although small has been referred to by visitors as a sanctuary and gentle refuge. It has been vitally important to me to create a sanctuary.
And when we live in those beautiful spaces that you have so lovingly created, we are changing the world. One heart beat at a time. Because we give ourselves the gift of creative beauty and inner peace. We become the creators of our lives.
I am so happy you wrote this back to me. It fills me with great joy.
May each moment in your special space be the abundance and creativity that fuels you. As it is...
I hope we get to share more of our journey together. in peace and much gratitude!
What a great aspiration, Ariel. When you see on the news the scale of nastiness between certain peoples and groups, it does make you wonder how such massive problems of hatred can be solved. Maybe if we each do our own little bit to make kindness in our circle of friends and acquaintances, there will eventually be an influence on the bad things that happen, I hope so! Alan
Hello Alan, I do believe you are right. Each of us doing a little bit of kindness will completely change the landscape. Just like here at WA, everyone is just inherently showing kindness. Imagine an outside world functioning in complete kindness. Wow. that is the world I want to live in. Don't you?
That is a nice post Ariel. In business kindness works. The other day I was at the NAPA auto store. They always treat me nice and are very helpful. The big thing is that the kindness is genuine. The day I went they gave me a wrong part. The issue was resolved with kindness on both sides. I will continue to be a customer. When I see kindness used as a tool of manipulation that's when I leave. When kindness is displayed it must be genuine.
Trevor
So well said Trevor! Many thanks for this. And NAPA now has a life long customer just because it made the choice of kindness. I know it certainly makes my day.
And with WA, I think it is the norm! May your journey be amazing.
Good afternoon Ariel,
Lovely rose and lovely post.
The world needs more of this kind of movements.
I get quite a lot of newsletters like from The Shift, We the World etc.Uplifting things in there, it restores your faith in the human race.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
I hear you Taestke. I also seek out that kind of writing. Because I truly believe we are the change. And we are making it happen. Thanks.
What an amazing post Ariel. I can relate to this concept and have been trying to live my life focusing on "Gratitude and Happiness".
Many years ago watching a video of Dr Wayne Dyer (Mr Motivation) i adopted an objective of his which has changed my life, although it is not that easy to always keep to it - "Never Criticize, Complain or Judge"
I live in South Africa and was very privileged to work for IBM, the large international computer company, for 27 years and traveled the world. When i retired in 1994 i started a Non Profit Company that was training disadvantaged farmers to make a living. In 2011 I started managing a large non profit that provides community and social development services and support to hundreds of orphans, vulnerable children and disadvantaged single parent families, living in poverty ravaged communities.
This has been extremely rewarding, despite the challenges, but the happiest days of my life.
But the highlight of my life, strangely enough has been the overwhelming support,love and caring from so many people during the last 18 months on my stage 4 cancer healing journey, which resulted in me being in remission for the last 3 months - This was the epitome of unconditional kindness giving me so much happiness and a positive mind. I clearly have a lot to give back just to break even :-)
Indirectly this is why i am at WA, my goal and final purpose in life is to develop an Entrepreneurial Centre for the Youth living in these poverty ravaged communities who are unemployed and battle to find food every day and being recruited in to gangs and being forced to use drugs and participate a wide range of criminal activities to pay their way.
Strangely enough we also had a rock painting project where kids searched for them and then gave them to people living in old age homes. it was very well received and taught our children the importance of KINDNESS !!
This weekend We recently had our Orphans Christmas Party for 450 kids - this is what happiness looks like
Oh wow! You are truly amazing. And the poster person for what happens when kindness is the guiding light. I am very grateful to hear your story . I wish you continued great health. And may you know how you have truly changed the world.
i cannot wait to hear more of your journey. Do let me know if there is anything I can help with.
in peace and gratitude, ariel
What a lovely post! I think there is a lot of kindness going on hehere at WA. Every time we answer a question or comment on a post. Even when we choose not to criticize one another is an act of kindness.
So its not going to surprise me when a lot of people answer you with, "I can do this!" or "I do this every day." It's one of the reasons I stay here. Everyone is so kind here. The act of paying it forward is an act of kindness and generousity.
Thank you for such a beautiful post!
Good morning Anita, thank you so very much! Yes that is so true of WA. I am so grateful for this community indeed.
I hope to hear exactly that.
big hugs for a very sweet day full of kindness and joy..and no pain for you today!
Youre so welcome and thank you for the good wishes! I have had 5 great days, virtually pain free. I ran out of the promotional bottle of the oil you suggested. I have tincture ordered, but its not going to be here until Friday. I just have to get through til then. No biggie.
At least I have found something that works...thanks to you! I could never thank you enough. Did I tell you I did all the cooking for Thanksgiving. (Full disclosure, my husbany chopped things for me.) This is the first time in many years! It was so nice!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for my life back!
Oh Anita, I am beyond ecstatic for you! Can you see my happy dance? May you never know such pain again. Big hugs.
Great post as always Ariel. What you have written is all true, however, as a salesman, I find capitalism to be a good thing. Earning a profit not only empowers me to help the people I have already helped, it enables me to reach out and help even more people. Although there are predatory salespeople, the philosophy of reaching people through genuine kindness is what makes a true salesperson successful. My philosophy of sales has always been that "Sales is not about convincing or manipulating someone to buy something for my own personal gain. Sales is about getting to the truth and building long term relationships." I have always helped people satisfy their needs and wants while providing the greatest value for their money, and they in turn have supported me with referrals that have kept me in business. Part of the money I make goes to cover my personal expenses while the rest goes to care for others. This is a good thing.
Please keep writing and inspiring thoughts. You are truly awesome at it!!
Hello and good morning. Indeed I was not taking a stab at capitalism but rather what has become of it. And I am so happy to hear that you create a pathway we can all get behind.
I wish you well. And so many thanks for being here.
Ariel,
My apologies. Naturally, you would not be negative about anything. Please forgive me. My wife calls me "Shrek" because I can be such an ogre. I loved reading your post, and you are correct in that things have gone too far down the bad path of capitalism. We sure could use more people like you, beautiful dreamers, to balance it out.
Hi! Ariel,
Good morning! I totally agree to be kind and compassionate. Your post has always brought a load of inspiration.
But, before being able to deliver such, we have to first enrich our personal spiritual and physical value, ability, and capacity. Without these, what we act would be more like an external social coercion. To deliver the things of kindness and compassion, it is a good idea to stress, at least equally important, the effort of internal generation and expression. If balancing the internal and external forces, the kindness and compassion would be genuine and harmonious - a bliss.
That is just my thought to share.
Cheers,
James
Good morning James, you are so absolutely right! Thank you for this! And I am so sorry I did not stress that point. For in this space of internal change everything happens.
I wish you great joy and kindness today. Thank you so much for being here.
Hope you are well?
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Everytime I hear the phrase "Random Acts of Kindness", I run that direction because each time I have in the past, it just melts your heart to share or be able to give that act of kindness to someone who really needs it, and yes we all do!
I did not know of this research project by Google, thank you for sharing this inspiring post!
Also, in the world we live in right now, "kindness" will never expire, and a constant reminder is useful for everyone, everyday! Lately, I'm finishing up a book that I should of read years ago, written by Dale Carnegie - "How to Win Friends, and Influence People"! I cannot tell you enough how this one book has opened my eyes to what we can all bring to ourselves and others!
Hello! I so do hear you! I agree. It is the most simple kindnesses that open our hearts. And the thing is, it is easy,free and precious to give. So why hold back?
That book has changed millions of lives. I wish you great success and joy every day! Thanks for sharing this journey with me.