Kindness is Power

A casual exploration of what kindness actually is, and how you can easily use it to improve your life and the lives of others.

Let’s start this journey with a little self-talk.

Do you want to be happy?

Yes, right?

Do you want others to be happy?

Probably yes too, right?

Do others want you to be happy?

A little hesitation on that one, huh? Maybe even a no?

Well it’s not true!

Just like you want others to be happy, they want the same for you.

After you read this article, you’ll be motivated to create a small shift to bring more kindness into your life, and the lives of others.

The power of a simple act of kindness is already within you.

Over the last 20 years, researchers have been studying what has been termed “positive psychology,” an analysis of how uplifting emotions like gratitude, love, joy, and inspiration affect our wellbeing and literally improve our lives.

What’s incredible is these emotions are already within us; it’s just a matter of whether or not we take intentional action to express them.

One of the easiest ways to do this is through performing acts of kindness.

So what is kindness anyway?

Kindness simply is a positive action that leaves someone in a better situation than before.

It doesn’t have to be as extravagant as paying for someone’s surgery or spending hours and hours volunteering.

Literally, it can be anything.

A smile. Hold the door open for another. Bring food to someone. Pay for the person in line behind you. Connect with a stranger. Say ‘I love you’ to someone close.

Even treating yourself to a night out, getting a pedicure, or a massage are all acts of kindness.

Yes, that’s right, you can, and should, be kind to yourself too!

So often we hold back from being kind because we don’t know what to do or we don’t think our actions will make an impact, but they do! The research proves this.

What’s important is to just take action no matter how small.

To get you started take a look at some awesome ideas from Kindness.org and the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

Wow! Kindness is easier than I thought, but what’s the point?

I’m glad you asked, kindness not only benefits others, but it also improves your life as much or more!

The science shows that some of the benefits of kindness are:

• Improved immune system functioning
• Decreased stress levels
• Feelings of meaning and purpose
• A sense of connectedness

Super cool, right?

Check out these awesome cases of kindness in practice.

The Good Cards: The Good Cards is a modern day version of the Pay it Forward movement that uses technology for good. With a mobile app and a physical Good Card, users are able to do good deeds, share their positive stories, and inspire others to join in the action all while being able to track the ripple effect of kindness that happens around the world in a fun and meaningful way.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Nowadays in schools, a shift in our standardized education has started to incorporate more curricula that addresses emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and positive psychology. By doing this, we are creating micro-habits of kindness with our youth; empowering them to not only be the leaders of tomorrow, but to be the ‘Kindness Leaders of tomorrow.’

Rotary International: In over 35,000 communities around the world, Rotary has created a space for neighbors to come together and help their communities flourish. Whether it’s raising funds for a local not-for-profit, doing an environmental cleanup, or engaging students in service learning, Rotary is empowering people globally to be a force for good.

Okay, I’m ready to put kindness into ACTION!

You’re all set.

Now you can see how powerful kindness actually is and how simple it is to do.

Once you start, you’ll create a ripple effect that’ll inspire people all around you to spread kindness too.

Remember with The Good Cards you’ll be able to track that impact as you inspires kindness around the world.

Don’t be shy, share with us, what’s one kind act you plan to do today?

Being a Friend & What if kindness is the only rule?

Ever since we started thinking about kindness more, from reading ELP's  blog and considering what this meant in terms of our Social Competency view of our world here at Greerton, we have been writing more about this for our children and families. We realised how important 'kindness' was in the way our whole learning and teaching culture played out. As teachers we wanted to model this and it has been so fabulous to see this happening. As with research journeys we are so often surprised and we were not expecting to see the way leadership was enhanced. We think children have a real sense of what is just and fair and when they are immersed in a culture of fairness, in its many shapes and forms, they will promote this way of being to each other. The learning stories we have written show this time and again.

Here is the learning story in an easy to read format!

What if kindness is the only rule?

Ash, isn’t it just as well we don’t have locked doors! Our children know they own this place, just as much as the adults and that we trust you! Otherwise you couldn’t have got those special things for James from the sleep room! This is just one more example of how thoughtful you are and how creatively you approach problems. I wonder, as this disposition increases over time and you use it in other contexts, if this means you will be a thoughtful, engaging leader who knows his team well and  ensures they are all able to stretch their talents. I certainly saw an example of this today!

Ash, you stunned me today and I felt compelled to write this story down because, for so many reasons, these are the ones worth telling!

I was sitting on the couch cuddling James, who was very sad because he had just fallen over and hurt himself. Do you know Ash, nothing that I was doing was helping. The tears streamed down his face and sobs shook his whole body. I looked around to see where his special key teacher was because I knew I didn’t know James well enough to help in this kind of crisis and thought Jo would make him feel better, faster. And then, Ash you were there! You had sized up the whole situation, had gone into the sleep room, collected James’ dummy and loved blanket and in the twinkling of an eye you were offering these to him. He looked up, breathed a deep, deep hick-up-y sigh and accepted your gift. Immediately he felt better, his breathing slowed and he relaxed. You waited around a little bit to check all was well and then off you went about your own plans, like a humble hero fading back into a crowd. Your plans, by the way, are so very often full of grit as you put your whole effort and attention into solving the problems you set yourself, so taking time out to help a friend is a strong measure of how much you value making sure your friends feel ok.

What  more did I learn about you today Ash?

Do you know Ash, we write many learning stories here at Greerton about things the teachers feel are important. We call it finding the magic because we want these stories to build a picture for  you and your whanau, of the kind of learner you are. We want you to know, now and just as importantly into the future, that the learning goals you set yourself, the skills you practice and the dispositions that drive your desire to keep going, even when the learning is hard, began very early in your life. We think that these stories are very powerful as you revisit them and retell them as time goes on. Stories like the way you imaginatively solved a tricky problem, or pushed yourself to the edge of your skill levels through being brave, persistent, creative and imaginative. Your folder is full of these exploits and these ways of learning. Teachers love this kind of writing but just as importantly, we want to tell the heart stopping stories of kindness, thoughtfulness and care. This is what I saw today. Out of nowhere, Ash you rescued your friend and me! You stopped what you were doing because you saw a friend in need. These are the moments that matter in life and when people like you Ash, react to someone’s distress, in this way, the world is a kinder place.

It made me think of a special author called Vivien Gussin Paley who wrote a book called The Kindness of Children. She couldn’t see how people could continue to have fun when there was someone amongst them who was sad and Ash, neither could you! I’m so glad that our assessment of your learning is not limited to skills alone. Our vision here at Greerton is to tell and reflect on the stories that make a difference to learning in its fullest sense. That’s how we grow our community of learners and teachers.

Greerton Early Childhood Centre
Lorraine Sands
March 2011