We all know that meditation, mindfulness, and yoga can help optimize an average life, where there are normal pockets of stress. But these practices are also used to help those managing larger amounts of stress, including mental health disorders and physical pain.
Kindness also flourishes easily. Here are 25 ideas for seeds of kindness that you can plant this week. They can benefit people you know, people you don’t know, and the planet. We’ve even included acts that let you express kindness toward yourself, to remind you that you are deserving, too.
However, this isn’t strictly true; a lot of extroverts like their space as well. After all, it can be energetically exhausting flitting from appointment to a social gathering, engaging as many people as you can along the way.
However, some studies are adding even more credibility to those who say “boring” activities have optimized their lives.
What’s holding you back from your most authentic life? You might have fallen into one of these three anti-authenticity traps.
These days, you may hear someone discussing empathy not just as a quality, but as a cornerstone of their being. They embody empathy, and its effects are seen in every situation. They’re empaths.
When we do this, we’re missing opportunities to reap greater benefits from mindfulness. To test the mettle, as they say.
It’s a great exercise to set goals, to dream, and to plan for new and exciting experiences. It helps us imagine a future where we’re productive, fulfilled, adventurous.
Suddenly, we replay every conversation and comment over and over in our minds. We scrutinize facial expressions and modify our appearance or behavior. And for what? So that others may view us favorably. It makes us feel good and valuable to be liked and approved of.
While some negativity is normal and natural, bad thoughts can spell even worse news for some of us. Letting them proliferate can increase our risk of suffering from anxiety, depression, panic, and mood swings. And in general, it’s just terrible for our self-esteem.
However, just because we’re engaging in the most responsible forms of self-care doesn’t mean we’ve truly got ourselves covered.
The truth is, there is no real yardstick for practicing minimalism. You can enact these few small steps this month, and be well on your way to healthier, calmer, more conscious living.
