How To Change The World...Today

It’s a beautiful morning here in the UK as I write this, and I’ve just finished a short meditation -? part of my? ‘morning routine’ -? something I honed with prolific author and thought leader? Hal Elrod with his book The Miracle Morning.

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Talk about a book that is life-changing!?

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So, while I was all set to write about amplifying your message, and positioning yourself as the expert in your field, I actually now feel drawn to write about another kind of impact you can make.

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And that’s the simple act of kindness and its multiplying effects.

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I tend to work with passionate, focused business owners who are doing 'Big Things' (publishing books, hosting events, speaking on stage) to create their impact in the world. And sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in all these huge and important projects and forget that sometimes just being you, just being kind is all the impact you need to make today.

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Even the tiniest act of kindness can elevate someone's day.?

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It tells another human being that they're not alone.?

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That someone's out there thinking of them.?

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Being kind goes way beyond the person for whom we bought that coffee or gave that compliment.?

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Kindness is a contagion as we emanate it. We spread it.?

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Meditation expert Tamara Levitt uses the metaphor of a pebble in a pond to explain the expanding effect of kindness. Imagine standing at the edge of a small pond on a calm morning and in your hand is a smooth rounded pebble.?

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Now throw the pebble into the middle of the pond and watch as it plunges into the still water and creates a tiny burst of energy sending gentle ripples outward, reverberating all the way to the edges of the pond.?

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Shortly even the lily pads that float around the perimeter are rolling delicately atop the quivering water when we make a donation or volunteer our time or pick up the tab, we are instigating a beautiful little splash that will ripple out farther than we'll ever know.?

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There's a whole circle of people who will be uplifted by our gesture and feel inspired to be more kind themselves. And that's where the multiplying effect comes in.?

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When we observe an act of kindness, we are impacted by it in the same way as the recipient is.

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A single, kind gesture doesn't just impact the person on the receiving end. It impacts everyone who observes it or even hears about it.?

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To me, that's amazing. Just how many people can be affected by one small act of kindness??

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So really the invitation today is to spread kindness around in any way you can. When we share an earnest smile with a total stranger on the morning bus. Who knows how that tiny gesture has impacted the world by lunchtime??

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As you interact with others. Don't be afraid to make some waves and feel the power of your kindness reverberating.?

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As the Dalai Lama said, This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy, our own brain, our own heart is our temple. The philosophy is kindness.

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So yes, do your ‘Big Things’, stride forward, and make progress today…but for a little nourishment for your soul, take a second for an act of kindness.? It really could change the world.