Let’s start with some questions.
When was the last time someone did something kind for you? How did it make you feel?
When was the last time you did something kind for someone else? How did it make you feel?
When you think back on, say, the last week, how often would you say you experienced kindness—either as the receiver or the giver? How do you feel about that?
We open with these questions to get you thinking about the role kindness plays in your day-to-day life. All too often, it feels like kindness is hard to come by. Everyone is so busy meeting their responsibilities and pursuing their goals that it can be hard to slow down enough to show kindness or to appreciate it when it comes your way. And given that so many of us seem hardwired to remember negative experiences more clearly and more often than positive ones, kindness can be hard to hold on to.
We would argue, however, that kindness is absolutely essential for building community, living happier lives, accomplishing shared and ambitious goals, and more. If you are a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, keeping kindness at the forefront of your thoughts and actions can make a huge difference in your effort to leave drugs or alcohol firmly in the past.
Being Kind to Yourself and Savoring Kindness from Others
Many people—maybe even you—find it hard to be kind to themselves. And sometimes they also have trouble noticing and appreciating when others are kind to them. A person in recovery might find it particularly challenging to show kindness to themselves or to take a moment to enjoy when someone is kind to them. Often, negative memories from the past—including time spent using drugs or alcohol—intrude and make it hard to focus elsewhere.
That is why it is important to be intentional when it comes to being kind to yourself and to savoring the kindness of others. Here are three ways to make progress toward those goals:
- Lean into affirmations—positive statements you can repeat to yourself—when negative thoughts threaten to command all of your attention.
- Keep a gratitude journal to record positive moments in your day—including when others are kind to you.
- Practice mindfulness to learn to stay more present in the moment more often rather than ruminating about things that went wrong in the past or worrying about things that might go wrong in the future.
Being a Consistent Source of Kindness in the Lives of Others
Every day, all of us have plenty of opportunities to be kind to other people—but we do not always follow through. That might be because we are distracted by our own thoughts and worries. Or it might just be because we feel grumpy on a particular day. Not only do those situations make it hard to be kind, but they can make it all too easy to be unkind.
So again, intentionality is required if you want to be sure to extend more kindness to more people more of the time. Happily, the strategies we outlined above can serve you well here, too. As you become kinder to yourself, cultivate a spirit of gratefulness, and learn to stay present, you will likely find that it becomes easier to be kind to others.
That is something worth taking an extra moment to think about. Being kind to yourself and noticing when others are kind to you can help you be more kind, more often when you are interacting with friends, family members, coworkers, and more.
Being a Contributor to More Kindness in the World at Large
So far, we have been focusing on kindness in your immediate circle. But of course, there is plenty of need for kindness in the wider world. There are plenty of opportunities to do good in your community in big and small ways. Those acts of kindness can make a real difference in the lives of others and bring you an uplifting feeling of pride and satisfaction.
There are any number of ways to get started. You could volunteer for a social services or arts and culture organization. You could make regular donations to causes that are doing good work. You can help clear a sidewalk covered in snow, pick up trash around the neighborhood, or contribute to a free pantry that serves those in need in your community.
When you engage in these acts of kindness, you may well spark a real sense of purpose in your own life—and that sense of purpose can be a powerful pillar of support for your recovery. And that is another thing worth thinking about: doing good in your community can help you do well in your recovery efforts.
Kindness Is Always on Offer at Wooded Glen Recovery Center
Some people put off getting help for a substance use disorder because they are worried that the staff at the recovery center will be judgmental. Let us assure you that you will never encounter judgment at Wooded Glen Recovery Center.
Located in Henryville, Indiana, Wooded Glen is staffed by highly trained, experienced, and empathetic individuals who are fully committed to helping you make a lasting change for the better in your life.