Making Space for Kindness
April 10, 2014 1 Comment‘The effect of positive emotions on helping others is stronger and longer-lasting than self-interest.”
– Wayne Baker and Nathaniel Bulkley
At times thinking about social change can get rather complex, and rightfully so. And it can be helpful to ground ourselves in some of the simpler (though not necessarily easy) and timeless principles and practices of gratitude, kindness, and generosity. This video, from a rather surprising source, speaks truth about the power of giving, recently validated by a study conducted by Wayne Baker and Nathaniel Bulkley, who are also creators of The Reciprocity Ring. Both the study and this video remind me of an ongoing line of inquiry I have with respect to networks for social change – How can we cultivate skill, will, and structure so that the natural impulse to give (and receive) can thrive?
How are you making space for kindness? What does this look like? Feel like? Sound like? What is the impact?
1 Comment
There were a few reports this week about how, properly structured, spending money on others can increase happiness more than spending on oneself. If people have choice and can find connection through giving, it can satisfy all 3 basic needs for well-being: relatedness, competence, and autonomy.
http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_norton_how_to_buy_happiness
http://www.psmag.com/navigation/health-and-behavior/happier-spend-money-others-74081/#.U0l6tqlOrug.twitter #IISC @IISCblog