Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The New Stimulus Package!


Here is just another way we should all be looking at life now a days! When life doesn't seem to be heading in the right direction, don't you think, we should be the ones to begin to turn things around? I hope you enjoy this bit of encouragement!

Are you just plain sick of being bombarded by the media with the untold horrors and predictions of our impending doom? I've heard the words "Stimulus Package" so many times it doesn't even mean anything anymore.

I want to introduce a new kind of stimulus package that doesn't have a thing to do with the government: Kindness. What do you think would happen if everyone practiced being kind for just one day? I sure as heck know. The world as we know it would be transformed.

Impossible? Consider this: I organized a Kindness Challenge at a local arts and jazz festival in April. My goal was to remind people what happens when we practice being kind. It's a feeling most of us have forgotten. The challenge was to entice 100 people attending the festival to do 100 kind acts within 100 minutes. The result amazed everyone involved because when all was said and done, more than 130 people did over 400 kind acts in an hour! When we truly give kindness from the heart, BINGO, a new kind of stimulus package is born.

Kindness is contagious. It starts a ripple effect that has no limits. Each act of kindness is like dropping a stone into the water. First, the receiver of the kind act benefits. That person then gives back a smile, a hug, laughter, or some other positive response. So the giver also receives.

Then something truly amazing happens. Any person who simply witnessed the kind act also benefits. In Meaning & Medicine, author Dr Larry Dossey states helping others "can stimulate healthy responses in persons at a distance who may view it only obliquely." This witness may then be inspired to do a kind deed too, and the ripple effect could never end.

How can you start a stimulus package in your own world? 3 steps. First, feel gratitude for all the fine things in your life. Defy the media and change your perspective. Choose to see the good, and more of what's good will start to reveal itself to you. Second, spend as much time as you can doing the things you love. If you enjoy sitting on the porch and listening to the wind, spend more time doing it. If you love to listen to your favorite music, do that more often. Doesn't cost a thing! Third, practice being kind to yourself and others every single day. Model kindness and inspire others to do the same.

Change your mind; change the world.

6 comments:

  1. I enjoy spending time with you! It would be lovely if we had a porch we could spend time together listening to nature. Of course if we sat outside all we would hear is traffic from the street behind us lol.

    I love you!

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  2. I love this blog. I think it might be in my top 3 favorites. I always look for updates!!

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  3. I loved reading this! I STRONGLY believe in acts of kindness and practice it each day. I would love to get more blogs involved in a kindness movement. You in?

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  4. Now THIS is my kind of stimulus package! :> )

    LOVE IT!

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  5. AMEN!! Change your perspective - that's a stimulus package in itself! And yes, kindness does have all kinds of health producing side effects. And yes, it does have a tremendous ripple effect, it inspires everyone.

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  6. Howdy Kat
    Amen to Kindness !
    I once again experienced this today as I went out to sit on the porch swing there were several faces hanging over my backyard fence .
    This is not that unusual ,but today there were a few new faces staring at me .
    I smiled ,I waved said hello .
    Went back back to my writing until I realized they were still all staring at me .
    So I got up walked over to the fence and began chatting with the strangers and before long we
    all knew one anothers names ,we had exchanged hand shakes etc.....
    The long and short they wanted to be invited over because I always look happy sitting all alone on my back porch ?????
    Who would have guessed .
    So now I have a few more new friends to teach about random acts of kindness !
    Thank you for sharing todays post .
    Kindness works .
    Love and joy to you and yours .
    Until next time
    Happy Trails

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Looking forward to seeing how you made a difference today!