Kindness Tips the Balance

When I feel out of balance, I find that one of my most empowering strategies to return myself to balance is to be kind to someone. At that moment, I might choose to be kind to myself, but more often I find it's more empowering to me when I choose to be kind to others.

While I hesitate to make kindness into a "technique," I think it's a powerful and easy means of shifting consciousness. Opportunities for kindness abound. Wherever you look, you can find situations and individuals asking you to be kind, friendly, helpful, considerate, compassionate.

Nothing is needed to complicate this suggestion. Keep it simple. Perhaps you offer a single word or phrase, an admiring glance, a genuine smile, an inviting gesture. It is the small kindness that is easiest to add to another small kindness that can help you to experience a day filled with kindness.

The other day, a situation presented itself to me that invited a simple act of kindness. I decided not to, reasoning with myself that it was "none of my business." And that is true -- it was none of my business. The interesting thing is that three more situations presented themselves to me within the next hour that also invited simple acts of kindness. To these, I offered information or a suggestion. I didn't interfere, I just offered where it seemed that what I had to give was wanted or needed.

To me, kindness is about making an offering with no thought of return, acceptance, or recognition. In fact, I do the kindness to others for me. I know that I'm usually fed more by my own kindness to others than anyone else is fed. This is happy selfishness. If someone else is inspired or uplifted by my kindness, that is a bonus. If I am a witness to their inspired transformation, that is another bonus.

I often smile, which can be an act of kindness. Sometimes I go on a smile rampage and make it a point to smile at everyone. I try to see how many people, in their busy lives, will smile back. I don't try to force anyone to smile or ridicule them when they don't. I smile because it feels good to smile and I watch the Universe respond to me.

Kindness, like all acts, occurs in the present moment. Right now, you are kind or you are not. If the moment passes without kindness, you do not get that moment back. You can create the next moment with kindness, though, so the one moment without kindness can be the inspiration to be kind in the next. You will get another chance to be kind, and another chance, and another chance.