Too often we get caught up in the doom and gloom of those around us. Have you ever noticed how you can be in a perfectly good mood and BAM — all of a sudden someone comes into your space who’s grumpy, irritable or mean-spirited and suddenly your good mood has vanished? It can truly wreck your day if you’re not on top of your game.
We forget, however, that this phenomenon can just as easily work the opposite way. If we’re in a bad space and someone meets us with loving kindness, it can turn our day around. Whether that someone is a stranger, child, partner or friend is irrelevant. The power is in the act.
When we give love and kindness, it comes back to us tenfold. Giving often feels as good as—if not better than—receiving. One kind act can change a person’s day, including your own. When we take the time to get out of our angry position, overwhelmed state or our stubborn adherence to an unflattering view of our partner, we leave room for kindness. When we let go of the negativity—even for a moment—we breathe life and hope back into our relationship.
Dare to let go of your anger and lead with love whenever possible. There will be plenty of time when anger will be warranted…and when it’s not, be sure to fill the space with loving kindness. Too often we allow our anger to fill up a room, yet keep our joy, love and laughter in a tightly sealed jar.
Open the jar. Go out of your way to spread kindness, love and joy throughout your relationships. Don’t ignore what you need to address…AND don’t ignore what you need to be thankful for. Consciously perform kind acts and set in motion a ripple effect of kindness throughout your relationships.
CHALLENGE: Pay attention to the impact you have on others. For the next week, go out of your way to do kind acts to those you care about and ask them to pay it forward by doing kind acts to others. Sit back and watch the ripple.