Let’s make kindness more contagious

My hometown is recovering from an outbreak of the South African variant of COVID, which is highly contagious, but I really believe that we can reduce the effects of anything in our lives by reducing the attention we put on it, and we can amplify the effects of anything thing to which we give our attention. Let us resolve to make kindness more contagious by understanding the choices we have.

Focus on love instead of fear

There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love. When we are afraid, we withdraw from life. When we are in love, we open ourselves to all that life has to offer with passion, excitement, and acceptance. And we have to learn to love ourselves first. -John Lennon

LOVE is the experience of positive emotions such as happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment, peace and joy.

FEAR is the experience of negative emotions such as anxiety, anger, guilt, and hate, and is often described as false experiences that seem real. If you think about all the times you feared something, compared to the times your fears were actually justified, you’ll understand that we tend to be scared by “what ifs” more often than by their actual occurrences.

There are many things we can spend our energy on that will help us to be well and do good, just as there are many uncertainties to take our mind on a wild ride full of fear and insecurities. The first question to ask yourself then is: “What result am I looking for and which of the two options above will get me closer to what I want?”

Self LOVE and Self Care

Being honest with yourself is a fundamental pillar for health and safety. They probably understand your needs better than anyone, and if they don’t, seek help because there are a wide variety of services available to you. Take care of your safety, follow protocols and reduce stress by feeding your body, mind and spirit properly. You have control over yourself, so take responsibility and spend your energy on YOU.

What you can’t control is what other people do, which makes dealing with their actions and circumstances a waste of energy. You will only go crazy trying to control others when you have no authority over them.

How to show kindness when you don’t feel like it

Times are stressful! Trust me, I have been on the COVID conflict roller coaster more times than I care to admit, but I have also come out unscathed, stronger, and more confident in my resolution skills. You can too. It’s a mindset shift, and it’s easier said than done. Here are some tips for being nice, even when you don’t feel like it.

Recognize that everyone is fighting an uphill battle.

What you see of someone’s life is like the tip of an iceberg. You have no idea what lies below the surface, and your assumptions are fine… probably inaccurate. Acknowledge that everyone is struggling with some aspect of their new future, grieving what has been lost, fearing the unknown, trying to stay well, etc. it helps us to feel compassion for them, instead of making up stories that are not true or trying to exert control over them.

offer support

How can you help? You can run an errand, be a good listener, maintain confidentiality, provide a meal, send well wishes…there are many ways we can give of ourselves to show solidarity with people facing difficult circumstances.

share hope

COVID creates conflict in the workplace and in the communities where we spend time in person or virtually. Hope is contagious. By helping others understand that this too shall pass and that we will come out stronger as individuals and as a human race because of this adversity, we can give hope for a better tomorrow.

Kindness is also contagious. Imagine what could happen if we made kindness more prevalent in our interactions with people, in our conversations with people, online, and in our thoughts?

Penny

“There is within each of us a potential for goodness beyond our imagination; to give that does not seek reward; for listening without judging; to love unconditionally.“? Elisabeth Kübler-Ross