I was watching “60 Minutes” last night and I was overwhelmed by the sorrow, grief, and stress of the healthcare workers in New York and by the many families who lost loved ones to the COVID-19 Virus. In addition, I was talking to one of my friends who runs a mission in Guatemala and he says that things are even more dire there.
While it’s not possible for me to go to New York or Guatemala, I can promote kindness and generosity in my sphere of influence here in the Twin Cities with family, friends, and colleagues, and so can you.
While it’s not possible for me to go to New York or Guatemala, I can promote kindness and generosity in my sphere of influence here in the Twin Cities with family, friends, and colleagues, and so can you.
A source in inspiration for me is Amit Sood, the founder of the Stress Reduction and Resiliency program at the Mayo Clinic. He has a formula for managing stress that can be helpful to all of us. His program centers around the promotion of Joyful Attention and Kind Attention.
With Joyful Attention you start the day before you get out of bed with the expression of love and gratitude for the special people in your life. Kind Attention is doing your best to connect, either directly or indirectly with the first 10 to 15 people you meet. It could be as simple as a warm greeting or connecting with positive eye contact with someone you meet on the street.
Sood then proposes you live your life through the lenses of compassion, acceptance, acknowledging a Higher Power, forgiveness, and gratitude. Compassion is acknowledging the suffering of another. Acceptance is acknowledging that I’m not in control. Acknowledging a Higher Power is the realization that there is a Spirit greater than ourselves. Forgiveness is the ability to forgive someone who hurt you and create a new beginning in your relationship. Lastly, gratitude is recognizing our blessings in how we live our lives and serve others.
Remember the questions of service you are encouraged to ask. How can I be helpful to you? How can I support you in this time of trial?
Remember we are all in this together.
With Joyful Attention you start the day before you get out of bed with the expression of love and gratitude for the special people in your life. Kind Attention is doing your best to connect, either directly or indirectly with the first 10 to 15 people you meet. It could be as simple as a warm greeting or connecting with positive eye contact with someone you meet on the street.
Sood then proposes you live your life through the lenses of compassion, acceptance, acknowledging a Higher Power, forgiveness, and gratitude. Compassion is acknowledging the suffering of another. Acceptance is acknowledging that I’m not in control. Acknowledging a Higher Power is the realization that there is a Spirit greater than ourselves. Forgiveness is the ability to forgive someone who hurt you and create a new beginning in your relationship. Lastly, gratitude is recognizing our blessings in how we live our lives and serve others.
Remember the questions of service you are encouraged to ask. How can I be helpful to you? How can I support you in this time of trial?
Remember we are all in this together.
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