“Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand, put a little love in your heart, and the world will be a better place; for you, and me, you just wait and see…”
— Jackie DeShannon
Sure go ahead and sing the song. It’s a great song.
When we, as compassionate people, see others suffering, we naturally want to find out what the sufferer might be feeling and how we can help and be of assistance to them.
When we feel overwhelmed with our own feelings of despair and doubt, our primary mission is to find out what we can do to help ourselves.
The answer to both situations is the same: kindness.
Acts of kindness can help you get up in the morning and get through your day. Sending someone a note of gratitude or just checking in with them can make all the difference in the life of one who feels a bit left out or marginalized. Giving and/or receiving a smile, allowing someone with fewer groceries to cut in line ahead of you, allowing your thoughts to drift to those who are struggling and sending them a little bit of love through the energetic airwaves—all of these random acts of kindness feed your own heart and soul, not because they make you feel “virtuous,” but because they are acts of loving connection.
In order to make that connection, however, we have to have enough “juice” to reach out to others. Sometimes helping ourselves first, although it sounds selfish and may be the opposite what we were taught as children, can be the best way of getting the energy to help others. In a well-worn example, when you ride in a plane, you’re instructed, if the cabin pressure changes and the oxygen mask drops down, to put your mask on first, so that you’ll be able to help those around you
We all need a bit if a lift every now and again. If you are in your own low-pressure zone, and feeling sad or ill, it’s so much more difficult to reach out to others. You may find yourself feeling sorry for yourself and wishing someone would reach out to you.
If you’re lucky enough to have someone to sympathize with and tend you, allow your heart to open in gratitude. If not, you can call on that same spirit with which you help others to help lift you out of your illness or depression, nourish your spirit and replenish your “kindness bank” so that it can spill over and help others care for, love, and appreciate themselves.
Do you have the ability to be kind to yourself? Can you allow yourself the rest you need? Can you give yourself permission to replenish yourself with a good book, a bowl of soup, or even just a nap? There are many small gifts of kindness that you can give to yourself so that you can give of yourself to others.
Thank you for your many acts of random kindness.
Many Blessings ~Melinda
www.melindaiversoninn.com
