LeStallion
LeStallion
Transforming Lives with Simple Acts of Kindness
50 Kindness Journal Prompts
Have you ever wondered how small acts of kindness can transform not just someone's day but entire lives? Join us in this episode as we explore the profound impact of kindness, starting with the most crucial aspect: self-kindness. Learn how treating yourself with compassion can lower anxiety, increase resilience, and make you more empathetic toward others. From reflecting on personal achievements to forgiving past mistakes, we dive into actionable tips inspired by Clara Penrose's "50 Kindness Journal Prompts," equipping you with practical ways to cultivate kindness from within.
As we progress, we highlight the ripple effect of kindness, proving that minor gestures can set off a chain reaction of goodwill. Through heartwarming personal stories, we illustrate how simple actions like holding a door open or buying someone a coffee can create lasting positive impacts. Emphasizing the importance of gratitude, we urge you to actively appreciate the kindness you receive and recognize the generosity behind it. By consciously choosing kindness in everyday interactions, you can foster deeper connections and a greater appreciation for life. Tune in and get inspired to make the world a kinder place, one small act at a time.
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All right. So today let's dive into kindness, kindness.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay it seems.
Speaker 1:Well, it seems like one of those things you know, you hear it all the time, but we're going to try to like really get into it today and figure out what's up, with kindness.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And we're using this blog post 50 Kindness Journal Prompts. Okay, it's by Clara Penrose and it's really cool. It's like all these different, like thought experiments, almost to help you be more kind or just notice kindness more.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think that's key here, like we're not just talking about the concept of kindness in the abstract.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But giving you something actionable that you can take away.
Speaker 1:So the post it's broken up into like these five themes, ok, and the first one, this is the one that, like when I saw it's like whoa, this is interesting. Kindness to self yeah, like not being selfish but being kind to yourself. Why is that so important? We hear that a lot, right, but like, what's the reasoning behind it?
Speaker 2:Well, imagine if you were to treat yourself with the same kindness that you would offer a close friend. Right? That's essentially what self-compassion is. Right. You're acknowledging your own worth.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:You're forgiving yourself for past mistakes. We all make them.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:And you're basically silencing that inner critic that we all have.
Speaker 1:Totally.
Speaker 2:And research has actually shown that self-compassion is linked to lower anxiety, greater resilience.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:All that good stuff.
Speaker 1:It. Resilience yeah, all that good stuff. It's like that prompt. There's one in here about a time that you achieved a goal and it makes you think about like how are you kind to yourself during that process, like not just celebrating at the end?
Speaker 2:we forget that part exactly, and and we achieve things because of how we treat ourselves along the way yeah those moments of self-doubt where you need to dig deep.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That's where the kindness comes in.
Speaker 1:And Penrose actually says kindness to yourself is not selfish. It is essential for your well-being and your ability to be kind to others.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's like that, saying you can't pour from an empty cup, right. If you're constantly running on empty, beating yourself up, how much can you really genuinely offer other people?
Speaker 1:yeah it's about refilling your own reserves of compassion so that it overflows oh, I like that yeah yeah, that makes a lot of sense because I know like when I'm stressed out, right, if I haven't had my coffee or whatever, I'm way more likely to like snap at someone or just not even notice. Like my kindness, batteries drain Exactly.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know, when we practice self-kindness, we build up that resilience, we build up that empathy.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And it allows us to be more present, more compassionate to other people, because we've given ourselves that same courtesy.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we got to be kind to ourselves first. That's like the foundation. Then we can go out and be kind to other people, exactly which, I guess, leads us perfectly into our next theme, which is acts of kindness. Okay, so this is about those everyday gestures could be big or small that have like a ripple effect. Hmm, have you ever noticed like even just holding a door for someone, it can totally change their demeanor for the rest of the day?
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. It's amazing how these small acts can really impact how we feel.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Think about a time that someone surprised you with kindness. How did it make you feel?
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. Yeah, there was one time. I was having just the worst morning and the barista at my coffee shop he just like gave me this free pastry. He was like you, look like you could use this and it totally changed my whole day around.
Speaker 2:See, and that's the amazing thing about kindness right.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Doesn't have to be this big, grand gesture, right, it could be something so small and simple.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And still have a profound impact.
Speaker 1:It's like Penrose says kindness is the glue that holds communities together. A small act can make a big difference.
Speaker 2:And it reminds us that we all have the power to make a positive impact.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Every interaction we have, no matter how small, holds that potential for kindness.
Speaker 1:That's a good point.
Speaker 2:So you know, it's one thing to like receive kindness, but Penrose also talks about gratitude for those acts of kindness. That's what we're going to get into now.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:It's about shifting from just sort of passively receiving it Right To actively appreciating the kindness.
Speaker 1:Oh, I like that yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So it's not just about having nice things happen to you.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But like really taking them in, letting it like sink deep or something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, one of the prompts actually asks you to think about a time that you felt truly grateful for someone's help. Yeah, and what was it that made it so significant? It's about recognizing the generosity behind the act, really letting yourself be touched by it.
Speaker 1:That reminds me actually last week my car broke down.
Speaker 2:Oh no.
Speaker 1:Talk about a bad day, right, yeah, and this guy, this stranger. He just stopped and helped me push it to a safe spot.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:I was so flustered I don't even think I like thanked him properly, oh man. But like thinking back on it, it wasn't just the help, it was that he stopped.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Like so many other cars had just driven by.
Speaker 2:Yeah, wow.
Speaker 1:It made me feel seen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know yeah, and I think that's what Penrose is getting at here.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's about strengthening those feelings of gratitude and connection, okay, helping us focus on what we have rather than what we lack it's like that quote gratitude is the memory of the heart yes when you said that, I was like, I know that. Quote it's a good one. Yeah, it is a good one recognizing kindness in that way.
Speaker 1:It really does make you appreciate life more absolutely which leads us to, I guess, kind of our next theme okay which is observing kindness okay it's about like opening your eyes to those little acts of compassion that often go unnoticed.
Speaker 2:Becoming a mindful observer of the world around you right.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You're looking for those subtle but really powerful displays of empathy.
Speaker 1:There's this prompt about observing kindness in nature. Have you ever seen an animal being kind?
Speaker 2:All the time. I mean, there are countless examples of it really yeah elephants mourning their dead, dolphins helping injured companions oh, it really makes you kind of challenge your assumptions about where we might find kindness that's so cool.
Speaker 1:It's amazing how seeing it in like those unexpected places, yeah. Really shifts your perspective. It's like, oh yeah, it is everywhere if you just are looking for it. Exactly speaking of unexpected places really shifts your perspective. It's like, oh yeah, it is everywhere if you just are looking for it Exactly. Speaking of unexpected places, there's a prompt in here about witnessing kindness, like during hard times.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Those moments can be so impactful.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. It's about those like glimmers of light in the darkness. Yeah, reminders that even amidst, you know, really difficult times.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Compassion still existsers that even amidst you know, really difficult times, yeah, compassion still exists.
Speaker 1:Like when my friend, her mom, passed away last year.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Even just like someone bringing over a meal or offering to like listen to her.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Meant the world to her, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's that reminder that you're not alone.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Even when things are really tough, those small acts of kindness can bring so much hope, yeah, and remind us of the inherent good in humanity. Totally, penrose doesn't just want us to observe it, though.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:She wants us to act.
Speaker 1:To do it.
Speaker 2:So that brings us to our final theme spreading kindness.
Speaker 1:Okay, let's talk action.
Speaker 2:Let's do it.
Speaker 1:We've explored all these facets of kindness.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Now, how do we actually put it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, this is where we go from contemplation to action. Okay, taking what we've learned and actually putting it into practice in our lives. I like it and the prompts here. They offer some really fantastic concrete ideas.
Speaker 1:Uh-huh.
Speaker 2:For example, one of them suggests creating a kindness challenge for yourself.
Speaker 1:A kindness challenge.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I like that yeah.
Speaker 1:So what would yours be If you had to pick one? What would your kindness challenge be?
Speaker 2:Ooh, that's a good one. Yeah Well, one idea I had was to commit to one act of kindness for a stranger every day for a week.
Speaker 1:Oh.
Speaker 2:Something as simple as letting someone go ahead of you in line at the grocery store.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Or paying a compliment to the cashier.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's nice.
Speaker 2:These little things can really make someone's day.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:What about maybe we can like start a kindness tradition?
Speaker 2:with, like our friends or family or something. I don't know. Maybe it's like a weekly thing where we like write thank you notes to people who've made a difference in our lives.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love that.
Speaker 2:Like volunteering together at a local charity or something.
Speaker 1:Exactly, and those shared experiences can be so powerful.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And it's a way to kind of build a sense of community.
Speaker 2:Yeah, around, kindness, I like it.
Speaker 1:You know, there's actually another prompt in this section about the ripple effect of kindness.
Speaker 2:Oh, have you ever experienced that.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, where one act of kindness kind of inspires another, and so on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's like that. Saying kindness is contagious. Yes, I remember one time I was driving and this car in front of me stopped to let this pedestrian cross the street.
Speaker 1:Even though they didn't have to, it wasn't even like a crosswalk or anything Right and it just I don't know it made me want to do something nice too. So, like at the next drive through, I paid for the coffee for the person behind me.
Speaker 2:Oh, I love it.
Speaker 1:It's just, it makes you want to keep it going, you know it's amazing how witnessing kindness can inspire us to pay it forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, create this beautiful chain reaction of compassion Totally, and it doesn't have to be anything grand or heroic.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Sometimes the smallest acts can have the most profound ripple effects.
Speaker 1:So true, yeah, Penrose. She writes spreading kindness is like planting seeds Each act has the potential to grow and bloom in ways we may never fully see. That's a great analogy. It is a good one. Yeah, you might not even ever know what impact your kindness had, but that shouldn't stop us from doing it.
Speaker 2:Exactly. We just got to plant those seeds of kindness wherever we can. I like it.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So I guess, as we're kind of wrapping up here, yeah. Our deep dive into kindness.
Speaker 2:The deep dive into kindness.
Speaker 1:Yes, what's like the biggest takeaway for you. What's really resonating?
Speaker 2:You know, I think for me it's that reminder that kindness isn't this passive thing that just happens to us Okay, it's an active choice that we can make in every single interaction and that even the smallest gestures can have a really big impact.
Speaker 1:I like that.
Speaker 2:On both the giver and the receiver.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's good. Yeah, it's empowering to know that we have that power to just make that choice, yeah. It's empowering to know that we have that power to just make that choice, yeah. So, as you're going about your day to day, think back on all this stuff. We talked about what really stuck with you and what's one little act of kindness you can do.
Speaker 2:You know plant that seed Plant that seed Exactly. Love it.
Speaker 1:All right. Well, this was fun. Thanks for diving in with me.
Speaker 2:This was great. Thanks for having me.