“Basic human nature is compassionate,” says the Dalai Lama. “We humans have an innate, not learned, disposition toward affection, care, gentleness, and positive mental and emotional states.”
Like the Dalai Lama, I am convinced that compassion and kindness belong to our nature as human beings. To the extent that we practice these values, we deepen our own humanity. To the extent that we neglect these values, we distort our own humanity.
When we get into our own way, words and actions of un-kindness can step into the limelight, whether we consciously want it or not. As a result, we often start to justify our words.
Especially in times of Social Media which offer a million opportunities to take a stand when it comes to a certain topic, people tend to loose their manners.
The ongoing C-Pandemic gifts us the best examples. Instead of meeting each other from a place of respect and curiosity, different opinions create chasms of separation. Today’s dialogue becomes an all or nothing altercation, even a winner-takes-all kind of war, that doesn’t allow any further space for venturing a few centimetres off a position or not. This is an energy that creates friction, division and unsafety in a world that is being asked to unite as one, as the antidote.
The new angry normal feeds off the trilogy of shame, blame and guilt. Of looking down at each other instead of lifting each other up. If we look closer into nature we can see that nature at its core is inherently co-operative, not combative. So how is it that we are constantly working not only against ourselves and each other, but also against our very nature?
We may not be responsible for the world that created our minds, but we can take responsibility for the mind with which we create our world. – Gabor Mate
We never know what is going on in somebody’s head. We can only know so much when we look at ourselves. Everything else beyond that is presumed as assumption if we don’t seek the conversation.
We should be compassionate and kind to everyone. End of discussion. The reason we should be compassionate and kind to everyone is because to act differently is to act against our very nature as a human being.
The way the world is built today, she is based on economic growth systems that are established on the extraction of natural resources thus alienating us increasingly from nature and each other.
As a brand ‘humanity’ stands at the core of our business. Ananda Soul has been established to create a better tomorrow, to be of support of communities and our customers. We reflect mindful intention, sustainability and responsible consumerism. #Changetheworldalittle puts our integrity and purpose into words through giving back and inspiring empowerment through transparency and education.
We want to encourage consumers to question their consumption and the impact their day-to-day choices have on each other and the planet. We want to create goods that bring about blessings, love stories and good intentions and spread them throughout the world and by doing so pursue a path of sustainable production and creation that is the least harmful to our nurturer, Mother Earth.
Being aware of the imprint we leave on the world through Ananda Soul is one of our biggest focusses. That is that we constantly investigate the most ethical materials and production procedures, causing the least harm possible to our beloved planet. The ability to use our brand as a voice to support communities and projects is one of the main pillars of Ananda Soul. With our #changetheworldalittle initiate we support individuals, projects and organizations in their endeavours of making a difference in today’s world. We are in business for a thriving humanity and planet.
To create purpose in our daily business requires to become more conscious of how the heart’s natural state is compassion. If we do so we can take control of our lives by seeing the love that is always around us.
No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted. – Aesop
Kindness matters. And change…well, change takes time. In order to support you in your journey to cultivate kindness we want to offer a simple daily task: simply because 2021 is the year to explore the good instead of focussing on the negative noise. Every single day for the rest of the year, reflect on your day at the end of the day and write down the best moment that you’ve experienced. The simplicity of taking a moment to explore the good in our world is important, especially when we are feeling low. It doesn’t have to be the most exciting event, it can be something as simple as feeling the sun on your skin in a moment of stillness, of giving your dog an extra long belly rub or cooking a delicious dish for yourself and your loved ones.
2021 is asking us to go outside of our comfort zone and be loud with our kindness.
And know, everything is going to be alright.
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention. – Khalil Gibran
