Daily Gratitude: It’s so tempting to ignore this concept right now. It’s easier to fall into the hatred and criticism mode.

But is that right? I guess that’s depends on your definition of “right”.

Is it the way you want to live? That’s an easier question to answer. How does the absence of kindness make you feel? What happens inside you if you’re happy and smiling at people and they just scowl back?

Do you start to feel upset that they didn’t reciprocate? I know that’s how I’ve felt at times. But then I try to wonder what’s going on in there life that might be causing them to not respond “as I’d like them to”. I put that in quotes because I also have to remember that just because I WANT someone to do something or be a certain way doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. Sigh- more letting go needs to happen.

But that is something to think about – why are you smiling at them? For you or for them? Even if it’s for you that’s ok. Doing small acts of kindness increases the release of oxytocin- the so called “love” or “bonding” hormone. And that’s a good thing.

How hard is it to do something kind? Really? What can you do that’s kind? How can you comfort someone? Even just a little bit? How would you feel if someone did something kind for you?

Can you make a list of things you can do that would show kindness to someone? Try it. Then go down the list each day and say “I can do that today”. And maybe pick a “target” person, group or organization to bestow your kindness on.

Let us know how it goes.

Daily Gratitude: This can seem pretty scary and make someone immediately want to scroll away.

It’s like when you were learning to swim and you had to let go of the side, conquering that fear that you were going to drown.

Or maybe when you took the training wheels off your bike wondering if you were going to crash.

I’ll bet you’re thinking “sure but we kids then. Now we’re adults and we know what the dangers really are”.

Ok. Now transport yourself back to 2020 when no one knew if it was going to be the end of humanity. We didn’t know what was going to happen did we?

Many people died yes but so many of us threw away the training wheels and made the most out of it.

We had no choice back then so it was even more frightening.

When you have a choice of whether to hide or step out, think back to those other times when you survived the stepping out process.

It’s not easy but you do have history doing it and that’s what is key in convincing yourself that you can at least try.

Go out and take a chance. You’ll be proud when you discover a new land!

Daily Gratitude: Are you willing to adopt this philosophy for a day or two or maybe a week?

Can you look at everything you do and then evaluate it as you would do a high school experiment perhaps?

What premise did you start with? What did you intend to prove or do? Did you have a plan?
What happened? How did it go?
What went well?
What didn’t go so well?
Do you see where maybe you made a mistake or two?
Is there a way you can change it?
What should you change and do differently?
How would you prefer it turned out ?

Answer these questions and more- even when you think things went pretty well. In most experiments the scientist can find something that can be refined.

Let’s not just do things or say things without weighing the consequences. We need to take responsibility for our actions.

And then we need to change them if they have hurt other people.

Let’s make some changes.