Choose Kindness and Receive Happiness

Day 20: Choose Kindness and Receive Happiness

“No matter what the situation, remind yourself ‘I have a choice’.” – Deepak Chopra

I saw the above image, rendered by artist Genildo Ronchi, on Facebook yesterday. Seeing this image made me think of the power of choice and how sometimes I get to a place in my life where I forget that I do indeed have a choice. This picture and the quote above are a perfect reminder that I have the power to choose happiness and kindness in every situation. What do you choose today?

Everyday we are presented with opportunities to make choices about our attitude and empowerment. Every situation, no matter how painful or challenging, we always have a choice. We have the power to choose peace over confrontation, happiness over sorrow, kindness over indifference or rudeness and love over hate. There are many situations where I feel powerless and that is when I must dig deep to find the choice. It can be as simple as walking away, not engaging or even turning off my phone. 

1. Kindness to Self:

   There are times that my feelings are so big that it feels impossible to change my attitude, that is when I choose to let those feelings run through me, but with a condition. I give them a certain time frame. 20 minutes and then after that I choose how to feel. Happiness is a choice, kindness is a choice, but also allowing space for the feelings to come out instead of denying or pretending is an important part to being able to turn my day around.

2. Kindness to Others:

   Choosing to treat others with kindness is a choice we get to make everyday and all day long. However, treating our loved ones will kindness is not always easy. The people we know the best can be the ones that anger us, frustrate and “push our buttons” the most. I am confident that staying centered and choosing kindness will bring peace and eventually contentment.

3. Kindness to Strangers:

   We always have the choice to treat others with kindness, no, it is not always easy or convenient, but boy does it feel good to see the reaction of surprise on the face of the stranger. I especially notice this in the service industry. Those people that work very hard to serve us, whether they are our waiter, bus boy, barista, parking garage attendant or the the lady at the cross walk. A simple wave, eye contact and smile are priceless in this busy and often indifferent world. Choose kindness and receive happiness!

4. Kindness to Our Planet:

   In every moment today, make the choice to keep the health of our planet on your mind. What little change can I make today? Turn off your car in the carpool lane, turn off the water when washing the dishes or brushing your teeth, and (for me) take shorter showers.

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com/FernandoAudibert