Volunteering may be good for body and mind
There’s something gratifying about volunteering. Whenever I work a charity event—which I try to do with some regularity—I often get more out of it than I give.
Stephanie Watson, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
I already knew about the mental health benefits of volunteering. Studies have shown that volunteering helps people who donate their time feel more socially connected, thus warding off loneliness and depression. But I was surprised to learn that volunteering has positive implications that go beyond mental health. A growing body of evidence suggests that people who give their time to others might also be rewarded with better physical health—including lower blood pressure and a longer lifespan.
Being Kinder to Others
Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t always easy to be kind to others. So practice a little kindness in your daily life whenever possible.
- Being a kinder person is not a simple or easy process. Know that it takes time and effort to change your impression.
- You can’t fake kindness. Genuine interest equals genuine connections. Be honest and sincere with others.
- Being nice is not the same as being a doormat. You can disagree with people and still be kind about it. Practice.
Kind Things To Do
KIND THINGS TO DO . . . for yourself, and for others
The easiest way to spread kindness is to smile at the people you make eye contact with each day. At work, at home, when shopping, wherever you are. Family, friends, associates, strangers, anyone you make eye contact with. Vicki Bennett, in her book I’ve Found the Keys, Now Where’s the Car?, tells us “Wherever you go, remember to take your smile with you.” (There are situations where a smile may be misinterpreted, so common sense should prevail). Your smile not only brightens the day for those you give it to, it makes you feel good too, so it’s a double whammy!
If you can think of any more kindnesses, please contact us ch@kindness.com.au or write to The Australian Kindness Movement, PO Box 1, The Oaks NSW 2570, Australia, and we will add them to our lists.
134 Ideas for random acts of kindness
The devastation of the recent Sandy Hook tragedy has prompted people to start asking themselves, “What can I do to change this?” and “How can we prevent this from happening again?”
SOCIAL· TAKE ACTION!· THINGS TO DO • AUTHOR: ANNA NEWELL JONES
Ann Curry says, “If you do good, you’ll feel good.” She suggests that we all perform 26 Acts of Kindness, 1 act of kindness for every single life that was lost in the shooting (can’t help but cry as I write this).
Here are some ideas to help you spread the kindness. Not everyone is bad. Don’t lose your faith in humanity.
Be Kind to Yourself—Right Now
People often find some difficulty in caring for themselves, in receiving love, in believing they deserve to be happy.
To be kind to others, you need to start with yourself.
By Sharon Salzberg
Imagine for a moment the amount of energy you expend brooding over the future, ruminating about the past, comparing yourself to others, judging yourself, worrying about what might happen next. That is a huge amount of energy. Now imagine all of that energy gathered in and returned to you. Underlying our usual patterns of self-preoccupation, stinging self-judgment, and fear is the universal, innate potential for love and awareness.
Loving kindness meditations point us back to a place within, where we can cultivate love and help it flourish. Developing care toward ourselves is the first objective, the foundation for later being able to include others in the sphere of kindness.
How to Do a Loving Kindness Meditation
This loving kindness practice involves silently repeating phrases that offer good qualities to oneself and to others.
You can start by taking delight in your own goodness—calling to mind things you have done out of good-heartedness, and rejoicing in those memories to celebrate the potential for goodness we all share.
Silently recite phrases that reflect what we wish most deeply for ourselves in an enduring way. Traditional phrases are:
• May I live in safety.
• May I have mental happiness (peace, joy).
• May I have physical happiness (health, freedom from pain).
• May I live with ease.
Repeat the phrases with enough space and silence between so they fall into a rhythm that is pleasing to you. Direct your attention to one phrase at a time. Read More