As some of you know, I work in a middle school in the same town I live in. I am what is called a Student Support Advocate and basically I have a role similar to a social worker or navigator and make sure students have the resources they need to be successful in their education. A big part of what I do is support the mental health of our students.
Since the pandemic and the world turning upside down, we have been focusing even more on the the social-emotional health of our students. One way we have been doing this is through a program called Character Strong by John Norlin and Houston Kraft. It offers concrete ways to connect with students and foster a sense of belonging and community, something often missing in school and in the community at large. It is AMAZING!
Not only does it help us connect with students more meaningfully, we see a higher rate of engagement with students in the classrooms where teachers are using the tools learned.
Houston Kraft wrote a book that was recently released titled, Deep Kindness, and I think it was much to offer those of us who want to see the world become a better place.
“Practicing kindness is an essential step in helping to repair a world that has grown to be more divisive, lonely, and anxious than ever. But with quotes like, “Just be kind” or, “Throw kindness around like confetti,” we’ve oversimplified what it takes to actually demonstrate kindness in a world crying out for it.
Deep Kindness pairs anecdotes with actions that can make real change in our own lives, the lives of others, and throughout the world. Diving into the types of kindness the world needs most today, this book takes an honest look at the gap between our belief in kindness and our ability to practice it well—and shows us how to put intention into action. Exploring everything from the empathy gap to the skill of emotional regulation, Deep Kindness is perfect for anyone who believes in a kinder world and recognizes that there is a lot of work to do before we achieve it.”
Would you stop? Is there a gap between what you believe and what you would do?
You may have seen Houston on CNN talking about making the world a kinder place and the difference between just being nice and being kind.
“That distinction between nice versus kind is a profound one. Most of our world would say that they’re kind, when they’re actually just being nice. “Nice” doesn’t require nearly as much of us. “Nice” happens when it’s convenient, when it’s comfortable. The sort of kindness we need right now requires a lot more listening, a lot more discipline, a lot more sacrifice and quite a bit of discomfort.”
You can listen to Houston talk about Deep Kindness in this podcast or watch this video to be inspired. And if you are ready to add more kindness into your life, there is also a Deep Kindness journal!
I am not writing this post to sell a book but rather to sell the concept of kindness as a tool for keeping true to ourselves (our beliefs match our actions) and battling what is NOT kind in our world. Maybe you have done a few in the past or have a routine. Now, more than ever, we need to take our actions up a notch and make kindness the norm. Take those random acts and make them more intentional.
You could use Houston’s book or one of the resources below to get started in your own kindness journey:
Can Random Acts of Kindness Increase Well-being?
67 Intentional Acts of Kindness
And if you need just one more benefit for adding more kindness into your life, watch this.
Don’t let the world change you and don’t let the frenzy make you think there is no good left in the world. You can not only choose to be kind but to be kind deeply. Do it not only for yourself but for those around you, too.
Be the change. Be intentional.
Be KIND.
How are you going to choose to be more actively kind in the world you live in? Share in the comments below!
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