As defined by Dictionary.com, HOPE is: “To
wish for something with expectation of its
fulfillment.”
As you read this week’s newsletter, think
of HOPE as not only something to wish for but as a way of
life. Learning to live with purpose, provides us with the HOPE
of a better tomorrow for others and ourselves. HOPE is what
helps to make dreams a reality. HOPE will inspire you to live
a life of contagious kindness as you seek to create a positive
impact on the lives of many.
At every moment of the day, we are either making the world a
better place or making it worse. Because we are all
inter-connected, our thoughts spread out and affect everything
around us. This is not just opinion; this is documented
research from a number of prestigious universities and
scholars. When we feel bad or when we are experiencing stress,
we may treat others with a lack of kindness and respect, which
in turn can lower their mood, and they might do the same to
the next person they meet, and so the cycle begins.
Your thoughts, your words, and your actions are extremely
powerful. You have the power to help lift someone up or bring
them down. How you interact with those you meet may be that
one last straw that sets someone into an emotional tailspin of
depression or that spark that provides them with
encouragement and HOPE for a better day... or maybe even a
better life.
Think of how many people you meet in any given day. Now
imagine what would happen if your mood affected their mood.
And how their mood then affected the people they meet in
their day. Ultimately, one person’s bad mood could spread
like a plague, negatively infecting hundreds... maybe even
thousands of people.
Now imagine if your mood was positive, loving,
compassionate and kind. Imagine how your encouraging words and
actions could make a positive difference to so many others.
Your passion and enthusiasm could spread to not only those you
interact with but to countless others as you allow for your
kindness to be spread from person to person around the globe.
Just as a flood starts with only one drop of rain... you
have the power to create a world of kindness and compassion
just by practicing simple acts of kindness and love each day.
Your kindness will inspire others who in turn will inspire
others and before you know it... a mighty movement has been
unleashed.
Now, this does not mean you have to be like Mother Teresa
and make it your mission to seek out depressed people to cheer
up (however if you feel called to do it then go for it). It
means to simply look at every interaction you have as an
opportunity to affect someone’s life in a positive way. An
opportunity to share a little HOPE and love. Regardless of
your profession or lifestyle, it means to live with higher
degree of concern for others than for yourself. You never know
who may be on the other line of the phone, who is in an
elevator with you, or who is sitting next to you in a lobby...
maybe they are experiencing some type of hardship or strife in
their life and could use someone to reach out to share a kind
word or encouraging thought. Who knows, maybe one day
you will be the one who needs that tender hand of
comfort or gesture of patience and goodwill.
So this week, be encouraged to look at every moment and
every interaction with others as an opportunity to make their
day or even their life. Go out of your way to interact, to say
hello, to let someone merge into traffic in front of you, to
listen to others needs, to treat others as you would like to
be treated. Ironically, it is not as easy as it seems. We get
so caught up in our busy lives that we tend to forget the
simple pleasures of a smile, a wave, or even a kind word. Even
if you start your day in a bad mood, deliberately do something
nice for someone else. You will quickly see a change in your
own outlook and in the outlook of others.
Be a giver of H.O.P.E.
Help Other
People Everyday
Your Partner in Kindness,
-Daniel
Kindness. It starts with you, pass it on.
