Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Breaking Down Barriers & Opening Hearts with Kindness

Saying we love is one thing but showing it is quite another. You may have heard, “If you love me, show me and I will know it by what you do and how you treat me.” Love calls for action. It demands evidence. One recognizable way of putting love into action is through kindness. Kindness is an active expression of love. It is demonstrated by doing something good. Kindness reaches out first. It takes the initiative in being considerate or helpful.

Giving is the hallmark of kindness. Kindness is…generosity in giving and sharing of oneself to benefit someone or something. It is freely and willingly devoting one’s time and attention to another. It is showing that you understand and want to listen and be supportive. There is something about kindness that makes a person feel good. Kindness arouses all kinds of pleasant emotions. It is tender-hearted and makes people feel loved and cared for. Its warmth comforts and envelops the soul.

Kindness communicates love. You experience it whenever…

Someone cares enough to help you.

Someone puts your needs above their own.

You are given favor without asking.

You are the recipient of a warm and friendly smile.

You are given someone’s undivided attention.

You feel understood and cared for.

Someone is sensitive and considerate of your feelings.

Without kindness people would be more concerned with what they can get rather than what they can give. They would think primarily of their own interests and put them above others. However, where there is kindness acts of love abound. People do amazing things as they give freely and generously. Their kindness begets more kindness and keeps love alive in their lives. You, too, can keep love alive in your life with even the smallest acts of kindness.

 
REFLECTION:
 
Would I describe myself as a kind person? Why or why not?

When I give is it done freely and generously? Explain.

Do I usually take the first step in being kind or do I wait for someone else to take the initiative?

In what ways do I usually express kindness toward others?

Am I sensitive to the needs of others? How do I show it?

How can my acts of kindness show someone I love them?

Is there someone to whom I can show kindness in order to communicate my love for them? If so, what might I do?

 
EMPOWERING THOUGHTS & AFFIRMATIONS:

People often seem to be more concerned with what they can get rather than what they can give.  I choose to be a giver.

I can enjoy the rewards that come from giving.

I choose to put love and respect into action today.

I choose to speak kind words to others.


Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. ~Barbara De Angelis

Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless. ~Mother Teresa

Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate. ~Albert Schweitzer

When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. ~Tenzin Gyatso

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. ~Mother Theresa


CLICK HERE for: Free Printable Worksheet


Taken from The 10 Keys to Happy & Loving Relationships Part 4 (Love is Kind) by Krystal Kuehn, BeHappy4Life.com




Copyright © 2007, 2010 Krystal Kuehn. All Rights Reserved. New Day Counseling Center


Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC is a psychotherapist, author, teacher & musician. She is the cofounder of New Day Counseling, a family couples counseling and child teen counseling center, BeHappy4Life.com, an award-winning, self-help and inspirational site where you can find hundreds of free resources, insights & words of inspiration to change your life, and Baby-Poems.com where you can find beautiful baby poems, baby quotes, cute sayings & baby videos that will touch your heart & increase your joy & gratitude for the children you love & enjoy! Check out Krystal's other blogs: Give Thanks Journal, Baby Poems blog and Words of Inspiration blog!



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