For the past couple of years I’ve been intentionally trying to read more. If you’re into intention setting, “I am an avid reader” is something I have been saying to myself until it becomes true. For most of my adult life, this has not been true, but I’m working on it.
I’m currently reading a book called 10% Happier. If you’ve ever had any interest at all in meditation, it is a really good, easy read. It’s very relatable for someone like me who lives in a constant state of “monkey brain”.
Anyways, something jumped out of the book at me today in perfect time for our Kindness Mission!
It is of course valuable and important to be kind for the sake of others. In other words, we don’t need to have a reason to be kind to someone and we certainly shouldn’t aim to do it with a return in mind.
The author of 10% Happier, Dan Harris, is a well known TV News Anchor. In a series he was doing about meditation, Dan had the privilege of interviewing the Dalai Lama.
After talking about meditation, the Dalai Lama switched gears into the topic of compassion. To Dan’s surprise (and my own) the Dalia Lama said this, the “Practice of compassion is ultimately benefit to you.”
It wasn’t a trick or a deep philosophical statement, the Dalai Lama was referencing actual science that shows that when we are kind to others, it actually benefits us.
The studies the Dalai Lama was speaking about were done at Emory University, and had results that nearly made me chuckle.
“Brain scans showed that acts of kindness registered more like eating chocolate than, say, fulfilling an obligation. The same pleasure centers lit up when we received a gift as when we donated to charity.”
While our Squad embarks on practicing their superpower of Kindness this month, I thought this was a good tool to add to my own toolbox.
Let’s face it, some days, being kind for the sake of being kind feels like a drag. On those days, grab this tool and remember, when you show kindness to others, you win, too! (The recipient of your kindness does not need to know this. It can be our secret!)
If you haven’t started painting rocks for the Kindness Mission, wait no longer! Once you start - you’ll never want to stop! Join us and earn your free Kindness Patch for your Cape at TinySuperheroes.com/Kindness-Mission-June-2022.
Love,
Robyn
PS: If you want to make sure you're always in-the-know, send a text to me at 314-582-6708 so you don't miss a thing!