Kindness, Peace & Joy 

One of the greatest pleasures I have is being giving whether it is items, my time or telling people how wonderful they are without expecting praise or reward in return. Here are some areas that you should be kind in:

1) Be Kind to your family - I know they probably drive you insane MOST of the time. However, they are your family and you need to be there for them 100%. 

2) Members of your community - A call to duty is something I feel the universe expects from you! When someone needs something if you have it or can do the service you need to step up and help.

3) Kind to those you meet or see on the street, you never know what they are going thru. Words can make a difference between life and death. I once had a co-worker tell me how one day I saved her life. She was feeling extremely depressed was considering suicide and I told her just how great the color she was wearing looked on her. It made her think that if someone like me noticed something and I didn't know her that well that maybe she wasn't so bad of a person. 

4) Kind to others when it enhances something for you. I don't mean in a material sense but in a heart sense. When I am feeling sad sometimes I reach out on purpose and express to someone else a positive about them and that makes my heart feel happier. So helping others helps yourself!

Kindness will affect your:

1) Health - beneficial for the giver and receiver. It feels good! Did you know research shows that volunteers live longer and are happier people. When I feel the best inside is when I have made someone smile.

2) Puts you in a better mindset - it warms your heart to be kind

3) Relieve stress - being kind lowers your cortisol and anxiety

4) Helps your mental health- kindness alleviates depression and social anxiety. One act of kindness per day for one week increases joy.

5) Good for your heart - Cultivates your sense of social support and lessens stress, protect your heart.

6) Longevity - age better, it have less wrinkles when you smile more! Remember that girls who worry about wrinkles!

After I learned how to love myself (which took about 55 years) and develop a closer relationship with God,  Peace seem to follow suit. There are many kinds of peace:

1) Outer - this is peace all around you. The kind of peace that comes from people who influence you on how you love yourself. When you let them into your psyche to make yourself love yourself you are less likely to lose your peace.

2) Inner - This peace comes from within you. It's all on you! If you love yourself you have achieved your inner peace. When you realize just how extra ordinary you are, a sense of peace comes over you. You learn to accept yourself, your strengths and weaknesses. When you have Inner peace you can keep the Outer peace out of your head. With peace comes Joy in your heart and head. You will be able to radiate peace and joy to others. Your life becomes easier to handle both the good & bad. You actually start looking at things differently. Problems do not matter as much, you don't stress over them as hard. You learn to rely more on your inner power. It has taken me YEARS to get to this point in my life. Even on good days its still a struggle! I think basically it is how strong your belief system is. When you trust God you feel such inner peace, when you put your worries and struggles with him you feel so much Peace.

Mindful tips to help your Inner Peace

1) Meditate - This will help your mental state. Find a quiet place that is away from the hustle and bustle. A few minutes can help make a huge difference. Regular meditation can help reduce stress and promotes inner peace. I go outside in the early morning and just listen to the birds it helps me stay centered. Then again at the end of the day to just sit in the sun and unwind and meditate. 

2) Live In Present - Don't get stuck in the past. Present is the only moment we truly have. You need to embrace it, live it and no matter what has happened in the past. Immerse yourself in the current experience. Take in your surroundings, how they look, smell, sound and feel.

3) Powerful mindset - Start your day with a positive mindset. Be excited and grateful for what you will be doing. FOCUS ON THE GOOD!! Do not judge yourself. Stay away from people who tend to be negative or maybe your positive outlook will help them! Some people no matter what nothing makes them happy. It is your choice to be in their lives in not. I try very hard to stay away from that kind of energy it tends to rub off on me.

4) Love yourself - In order to truly love another, you must start with loving yourself. Appreciate who you are. Embrace your strengths and flaws.

5) Spend time with nature - This will help you feel better almost instantly. Look at the little things in life. The birds, running water, the mountains, enjoy the wind and the sun. Nothing gives me more peace than watching God's creatures working and enjoying life. It really puts everything in perspective for me

6) Forgiveness - Letting go of hate, regret, and grudges towards other people and yourself. Get rid of the unnecessary stress and all the anger in your life. When I start feeling hatred towards something I immediately say "Devil get out of my head". This takes so much strength days, sometimes peoples stupidity and lack of appreciation really bites me in the butt!

7) Breathwork - Coordinate your breath with body movements to create a state of relaxation. This will help you improve your sleep, reduce stress and increase your focus on things.

Exercise To Do - Acts of Kindness 

1) Write down 5 acts of kindness that you are doing or have done. Are you happy in your decisions?

2) Investigate Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center's Meditations. This helps you have a centered life, 

will keep you focused and calm.

3) Pay your kindness forward - One thing I really enjoy doing is being in line at a take out restaurant and paying for the person behind me. Then I ask the worker to tell the person to do one act of kindness today. 

4) Show yourself kindness - Writing to release feelings.

"The only people who deserve to be in your life are the ones who treat you with love, kindness, and respect."