Kindness starts with you

WHAT CAN I DO? The answer to this most common question starts with the recognition that you already have the Power of Kindness. You are already on your Kindness Path. You have already begun to answer a Kindness Call to Action. You are already helping to Create a Kinder World.

While there will be many different steps along any Kindness Path, it can be helpful to start with this simple parable. The first Kindness Steps along a Kindness Path (Self-Kindness and Acts of Kindness for Others) are what most people do, and they are often called Retail Kindness. As examples, think of Being Kind to Yourself as eating a (sugar-free) cookie and Doing Kindness for Others as giving cookies to others.

The other Kindness Steps (Teaching Kindness, Sharing Kindness Forward, and Leading Kindness Projects) are called Wholesale Kindness. To continue the examples, these would include teaching others how to bake cookies, helping others to create cookie bakeries, and setting up food banks for distribution or food kitchens for preparation.

In fact, there are actually many other Kindness Steps along any Kindness Path, and groups, organizations, and companies, as well as people, can also promote and practice Kindness. In other words, Retail Kindness is directed at Being Kind to People, while Wholesale Kindness is directed at creating more or broader Kindness Institutions or Activities, which would then lead to More Kindness Benefitting More People.

Besides more Retail Kindness, the world needs more Wholesale Kindness, as well. Companies can sponsor and encourage employees to engage in Kindness Projects, and then promote their results. Groups and organizations, and even young people not in school, can help teachers and families Teach Kindness. Imagine if more groups, communities, and companies engaged in, and shared their stories of, Different Kinds of Kindness activities, projects, and steps. This would inspire others and increase the amount of Kindness in the world.

Your Kindness Path Never Ends. It is a Lifetime Experience. You will help Spark a Global Kindness Movement. Read more about Your Kindness Roadmap by clicking on the image for the animated mini-book. Then, you can explore more about some of the Kinds of Kindness in the following tabs. Remember, Kindness Really Matters Now.

ANSWER THE KINDNESS CALL TO ACTION

BEING KIND TO YOURSELF

Understanding Self-Kindness and Being Kind to Yourself are essential to Following Your Kindness Path throughout your life.

But what does Being Kind to yourself mean exactly? It means treating yourself with love and compassion. We can all be our own worst critic. Extending compassion and understanding towards yourself, especially when you have experienced tragedy, failure, or a stressful season in life is the essence of Self-Kindness.

Self-Kindness begins with humility, because knowing, accepting, and being yourself helps you treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. Knowing yourself means knowing your unique personality, talents, values, special gifts, and dreams. Accepting yourself means that you value every part of yourself unconditionally, that you forgive yourself often, and that you do not compare yourself to others. Self-acceptance increases your happiness and helps you feel grounded and emotionally stable. Being yourself means you realize that you are unique and valuable, and you have a purpose in the world to love and to Be Kind to others.

Be a Better Version of Yourself

Being Kind to Yourself takes practice. It is a daily commitment you make with yourself. Ultimately, your Kindness Path leads you towards becoming a better version of yourself. Give yourself the Kindness you would like to receive from others and enjoy the journey of knowing, accepting, and being you!

Be Kind to yourself today
You are worth it
So that you can be Kinder to others
You are valuable
You can enrich, empower, and encourage others
You are enough
You can make a difference with Kindness

The Character of KindNESS

A person traveling on a Kindness Path does more than just Do Acts of Kindness for Others. They also Embody Kindness in all their actions and relations with others. To be Kind is to be passionate and compassionate, to be intentional and thoughtful.

Even if Kindness is part of your very nature, when you are considering being Kind, you will also be doing something that will take your time, your resources, or your energy. Ask yourself:

• Whom can I encourage?
• Whom can I help?
• Whom can I thank?
• What can I give?
• What can I share?

And then, in addition to Doing Specific Acts of Kindness, ask yourself how you can also embody expanded attributes in your Kindness.

• Forgive
• Listen with empathy
• Love unconditionally
• Give compliments generously
• Overlook faults and mistakes
• Be patient and gracious
• Accept imperfections
• Encourage
• Uplift

learning more about kindness

Everyone has the ability to Be Kind and to Teach others, young and old, about Kindness. In addition to discussing specific Acts of Kindness, there are Kindness Resources you can use to stimulate, discuss, and recognize a variety of Kindness Activities.

DISCUSSING KINDNESS. Talking about Kindness is one of the most important things you can do, no matter what your purpose. You can Teach Kindness to young people, for example, by encouraging them to talk with their parents, grandparents, or teachers about their Acts of Kindness. The Kindness Cards are easy to use for these and countless other purposes. Anyone can invent their own Kindness Challenges using the Kindness Cards.

APPRECIATING KINDNESS. You can use the Kindness Certificates to encourage and recognize Kindness. Teachers, parents, grandparents, and friends can give or send them to children, students, or other friends. Groups, colleagues, organizations, and companies can use them to recognize or publicize their Commitment to Kindness. Anyone can post them on social media.

The available Certificates are Advisor, Advocate, Ambassador, Butterfly, Champion, Citizen, Crusader, Hero, Leader, Parent, Partner, Pathfinder, Promoter, Sponsor, Student, Teacher, Trailblazer, and Volunteer.

CREATING KINDNESS CONVERSATIONS

In addition to Doing Acts of Kindness, we must all Spread Kindness Forward. We must use today's messaging tools to expand the Global Kindness Movement. You may never know how a particular Kindness Ripple will travel through the sea of other people's lives, but if you have changed one person’s life, then you will have succeeded, and you will have changed the world.

Messages - What do you want to say that will encourage others to Spread Kindness, to Join the Kindness Cloud? What will inspire others? What will encourage others? Will you suggest they share Kindness Challenges, Kindness Stories, or Kindness Ideas? Explore the Ideas tab.

Methods - How will you reach people? What tools will you use? Traditional media or online social media, calling or emailing people, posting images or contacting others, and so on. Will you create or share simple posts or complex videos, documents or blogs, and so on?

Audiences - Which group or groups of people will you target? How will you select them? Will they be people whom you, like your friends, family, neighbors, or colleagues, or your teachers, classmates, or students? Or, will you try to reach people online whom you may or may not know personally?

Or, you can try them all.

There is no perfect way.

Just try.

Finding Your Purpose

As your Kindness Path takes you from Retail Kindness (directly benefiting individuals) to Wholesale Kindness (increasing the people and institutions that enable even more Kindness), you are becoming a Kindness Leader.

You are giving others the ability to shine their own Light of Kindness in their communities and to increase the Institutions of Kindness that will benefit others. And, you are empowering others by helping them recognize that they, too, can be Kindness Leaders.

When you Lead Kindness, you create a path for others to follow. You set an example by offering assistance, advice, and ideas. You help others to find the resources that they can use to Spread and Lead Kindness.

Being Kind and Doing Kindness are both important, but Creating More Kindness is even more significant. Spreading and Leading Kindness becomes Your Purpose. Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. Helping others find their Purpose in Kindness is a rewarding life experience. When you share ways to give others hope, encouragement, and inspiration, you are a Kindness Leader.

Spread The Kindness Spirit

What is Kindness?

Kindness is Not Just an Act
Kindness is an Attitude
Kindness is Who You Are

Kindness is Not Just a Place
Kindness is a Path
Kindness is Your Purpose

Your Kindness Path Never Ends
Your Kindness Purpose Never Ends
Never, Ever, Give Up

How YOU Can Use Kindness

To Make a KINDer World

Find Kindness Within Yourself
Do Kindness for Others
Spread Kindness to Others

Set Kindness in Motion
Keep Kindness Moving
Share Kindness Forward

Ask Not What Others Can Do for You

Ask What Kindness You Can Do for Others

Give the Gift of Kindness Every Day
You Will Enrich Others and Ennoble Yourself

You Will Never Run Out of Kindness
You Have an Infinite Supply

Let Kindness Ignite a Fire Within You
Inspire Others with Your Kindness Passion

All We Are Saying is Give Kindness a Chance

ANSWER THE KINDNESS CALL TO ACTION