‘If you can be anything in this world, be kind.’
A few years ago, I was introduced to a Japanese author called Masaru Emoto and his book The Hidden Messages. Emoto believed that water responded to human energy, whether that was in the form of thoughts, words, or intentions.
When I read his work, and realised the implications, I was fascinated. Emoto would expose different containers of water to either kind or unkind words, such as ‘I love you’, or ‘I hate you’, freeze the water and examine the water crystals that subsequently formed.
What he found was that the water exposed to kind words, thoughts and intentions formed beautiful, symmetrical crystals, whilst the sample exposed to unkind words, formed misaligned and misshapen crystals. Emoto concluded that the water was reacting to different emotions and intentions and acted like a mirror reflecting our inner world back to us.
It was incredible work, and although some of the science community did not believe or support his findings, it seemed to show that water was not just a passive element. When you think that we humans are made up of over 60% water, you can begin to understand why this work is so important.
Several institutions have also researched the effect of kindness on both our bodies and on those around us. The Heart Math Institute has researched emotions such as kindness, love, and compassion and found that by practicing these emotions our heart rhythm becomes more coherent and smoother. This reduces the stress we are feeling and improves our mental clarity.
When we are being kind and compassionate, the emotions that we are feeling not only affect us but also the recipient of that act, and this state of being affects both energy fields involved creating a ripple effect. The ‘pass it on’ movement mirrors this phenomenon, as well as the Random Acts of Kindness movement which was founded in 1995 in San Francisco in response to a period of random acts of violence. The mission was to make kindness the norm, not an unusual experience. The effect on our energy field is reflected in the common phrase ‘a change of heart’, and the kindness studies have shown that being kind is a way of improving everyone’s mental and physical health.
Kindness literally changes our chemistry by producing serotonin and dopamine that help us feel better and more satisfied with our lives. When basic principles of kindness are taught in schools, grades go up, disciplinary action goes down, relationships are closer and more inclusive and there is less bullying.
Being kind to others boosts self-worth and optimism and reduces the effects of loneliness and depression.
Just two minutes a day being kind reduces cortisol and helps us live longer, such as smiling at a stranger, or saying thank you. When you look at all these physical benefits you begin to realise that we can positively affect our own mental and physical health for the better by being kind and compassionate, and that as this extends out whole communities can also benefit. It has been shown that one random act of kindness triggers five more which is a great expansion.
When you understand the effect of these emotions, why wouldn’t you be kind and how amazing that we can do something so positive to affect both ourselves and the world around us. Smile at a stranger today and feel the benefit. If you are a leader, manager or own a business make kindness an important element of your work culture and see productivity increase.
we can change our own internal narrative and create a ripple of kindness that will eventually transform our world for the better.
As I was reading about these studies it reminded me of some practices that I have learnt over the years connected to kindness, and which you can try.
The first is Tonglen Breathing which I first heard about through Pema Chodren, a Buddhist nun who is so entertaining to listen to. Her talks are full of wisdom, humour, and humility. The concept behind Tonglen breathing is to breath in our own suffering and pain and breath out relief. This sounds strange and not something we would normally look to do, but by understanding pain we can move past it and into a space of kindness and compassion. In other words, the inner work needs to be done, and by using this powerful process we can transform our own negative emotions into positive energy. Once you can feel compassion for yourself, you can extend the practise to others. If someone is unkind to you, be kind.
The Loving Kindness Meditation is another practise where you extend love and kindness to yourself and in turn to others, whether they be a loved one or someone that has hurt you. This may not be easy at first, but by embracing this practise we can eventually extend those beneficial emotions that help us mentally and physically. The extent of your heart is limitless, and you can eventually practise including your community, your country, and the entire planet in your practise. By doing so we begin to understand our connectiveness to others, and the power of our own emotions to transform.
Being kind should be the normal state of all of us. If we focus on the number of kind acts, we carry out each day, rather than the negative stories we watch on the news and our social media feeds, we can change our own internal narrative and create a ripple of kindness that will eventually transform our world for the better.
By Natasha Joy Price
More to Life Elder
Author, Spiritual Light and Podcast broadcaster.
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PODCASTS
- Apple –
- https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/balm-to-the-soul-energy-healing-to-soothe-mind-body-and-soul/id1589694649
- Spotify –
- https://open.spotify.com/episode/7HYOa5gyOVLogYcD8Kopm4
- Amazon Music –
- https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/194386dd-e264-4cbf-a835-06fd48c39b45/balm-to-the-soul—energy-healing-to-soothe-mind-body-and-soul
- Podcast Addict –
- https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/balm-to-the-soul-energy-healing-to-soothe-mind-body-and-soul/6191515
