It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a bit of a doozy. Luckily, there’s a new year and a fresh start on the horizon! In the meantime, how can we continue to face today’s challenges through the lens of kindness? Because, let’s face it, tough times aren’t specific to 2020. Life is full of ups and downs, regardless of the year. But when kindness remains a priority, our ability to navigate the good, the bad, and everything in between increases tenfold! And, trust us, your conscience will thank you for it! So let’s chat tips and tricks for staying kind in the face of adversity.
- Take a deep breath. Whether you are dealing with the best or worst of days, just breathe! When we get overly excited, we tend to hold our breath and act impulsively. But the body and mind need oxygen to function properly and make responsible decisions! Conscious breathing soothes the body, calms and clears the mind, and creates space to respond rather than react. So take that deep breath. In fact, take two or three! Trust us, your nervous system will thank you.
- Practice compassion. Remember that we are all human. No one is perfect, thank goodness! And we all have our own unique stories filled with a lifetime of experiences that have molded and shaped us into who we are today. So when people have opinions that conflict with our own, or when they behave in ways that feel confusing or frustrating to us, we try to practice compassion. After all, until we are perfect, we can not judge. And chances are, we have no idea what a few miles in their shoes might feel like.
- Look for the similarities. As humans, we naturally want to be right. So we seek out our differences in order to validate ourselves. But what if we looked for the similarities instead? While no two journeys, philosophies, or perspectives are identical, we’re willing to bet that at least a few parallels can be drawn. And it’s in finding ways to relate to each other that we can deepen compassion, understanding, and kindness.
- Be kind anyway. At the end of the day, regardless of the person or situation, we must be kind. Being kind in the face of adversity is just as much, if not more, for ourselves as it is for the world around us. After all, we are the ones we have to face at the end of each day, and our hope is that we can do so with pride. The fact is, that kindness just feels better. So even if after breathing deep, practicing compassion, and looking for the similarities, you still find yourself struggling, make a conscious decision to be kind anyway. Choose it. For the world, for the people around you, but most importantly, for yourself. Because when you feel good about how you are showing up to life, it shows. And you deserve that kind of radiance!
