An Act Of Kindness

By Ton Pascal

My personal philosophy is that an act of kindness a day will keep the evil spirits away. An act of kindness is a positive affirmation and attitude that will not only change your perception of the world, but also that of the person who receives the kindness- Kindness goes hand in hand with the Law of Attraction.

From whatever social, religious, or geographic background you may have came from, I am sure that you’ve heard stories and parables about good deeds being rewarded. This concept has been ingrained in the human mind since the beginning of time. It is a fact recorded in stone, clay tablets and/or manuscript parchments going back centuries.

The Christian Bible, for example, has many tales and parables of how a good deed is seen and rewarded by God. In Matthew 25:34-36, we read: Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'

Another example is the Jewish concept of a mitzvah that has also a secondary meaning; a moral deed performed as a religious duty. As such the Hebrew mitzvah (“commandment”) came to be known and expressed as an act of human kindness.

Could all of these people, with their different beliefs and cultures be wrong? I don’t think so.

“Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” wrote the American writer Anne Herbert in 1982 on a place mat at a restaurant in California. I’m glad to see our global community becoming much more involved in changing people’s perception towards positive living and behavior. In Canada I’ve seen several TV commercials encouraging young teenagers to have good manners, and promoting the concept that helping and supporting one another is a beautiful trait of character building. I hope this trend catches on.

Across the world there are a lot of selfless groups anonymously assisting and cheering up other people. Kindness is not only divine but also a contagious energy that will lift your own spirits. Try it and you’ll see the results immediately.

Include kindness into your daily positive affirmations. Make a list of the kind things you think you can do for others. Some people like to do things as part of a group, others prefer to do it by themselves, in their own way. Whatever you decide do, do it today. Start with a sincere smile at the stranger in the street. Or hold the door open for someone. It’s not just good manners, it’s a polite, positive and thoughtful act you should do for friends and strangers alike.

Here are a few other selfless things you can do without spending a penny to gain priceless rewards:
Smile a lot.
Send a ‘thinking of you’ card to a friend for no reason.
Compliment a colleague for his or her excellence.
Talk and have a normal, non judgmental conversation with a homeless person.
Hold the train door open for someone rushing to get in.
Give up your seat for someone, not just an elderly person.
Send someone who has helped you in the past a hand written note of thanks.
Give a compliment about your waiter / waitress to his / her manager.
If you are not in a hurry; give another driver your parking spot.
Tell your family members how much your appreciate them.
Help an elderly neighbor carry the rubbish out.

Have a great journey,

Ton Pascal