Embracing Kindness: A Source of Hope

To Spring darkness fades
Kindness falls on open heart
Faith will guide the way
~Dr. Thomas Maples

Miracles are possible in a world where kindness is the primary focus. Acts of kindness can bring about positive change, but only if we cultivate their presence individually. It is only then that we can lay the foundation for truly miraculous changes.

When you look around, do you see darkness and despair, or do you see light and hope? As Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” As the old saying goes, “truth lies in the eyes of the beholder.” Let kindness be the lens through which you view the world.

It can be challenging to find the silver lining when negative biases surround us so prominently. But with practice, faith, a little sound reasoning, and a will to persevere, we can open doors to heal the wounds that may hold us back. By doing this, can we re-engage a spirit of hope and find a common center, one grounded in kindness?

Thank you for joining me here. We are about to embark on a quest to explore a space of loving kindness. Can you feel its calling? If so, let’s embark on this journey to discover a path toward inner growth, spiritual development, and personal well-being.

Loving Kindness for Ourselves

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Love is patient. It is kind. It will also test us to our utmost limits.

Are you lovingly kind to yourself? As I reflect upon my journey in graduate school, I remember the mindfulness sessions I undertook in the more spiritual forms of psychological practice. We were required to hone many different skill sets, but still, mindfulness acted as a key reminder to be kind to ourselves. We were all graduate students, successful in our own right. However, as you might think, graduate students can be overly harsh on themselves, especially during the hustle and bustle required to complete a Ph.D. program. At least that was my experience.

However, these experiential exercises served much more than being an exercise I could practice with clients to help them engage in their own mindful journey. By practicing mindfulness, I also learned to incorporate simple practices into my daily routine, so that I may fill my glass to such a degree that there is an abundance to give to others. That was the true lesson I experienced from these exercises. If one can be lovingly kind to themselves, especially when entering a helping profession, how will they ultimately treat others? Remember the Golden Rule:

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to youl. This is the law and the prophets.

(Matthew 7:12)

An Abundant Mindset: Beyond Half-Empty or Half-Full

Kindness falls on an open heart. Have you made room to accept its presence? Reflect on the role of kindness in shaping your perspective on the world.

Philosophically, I have always enjoyed the dichotomy between optimism and pessimism. However, the division present may not be as overt as thought.

We must empty our glass if it is too full. Take knowledge, for instance. We can build upon what we have, or we might need to empty ourselves to see something from a different perspective. The need to make space within is especially true if one cannot escape the phallacy of their ways.

As I have written before, this form of consciousness is akin to re-engaging the Golden Ball of Youth. It is a juvenile perspective, one where both curiosity and naivety reign; yet this perspective allows one to see wonder where there was once stagnation. While this form of consciousness may seem ideal, we do not need to discard the knowledge we have already obtained to make room for new perspectives. Instead, we can navigate towards a world where kindness enlightens every thought by learning to engage the old with gratitude and the emergent perspectives with a sense of wonder.

We have the capacity to build upon what is present. By doing this, we would expand upon the knowledge base that no longer serves us and create an understanding that is both grounded by the soul of what was, while finding avenues to be uplifted by the spirit of what can be, creating a perfect mix between our human capacity to conserve and progress as areas for personal and collective potential.

It’s not about the glass being half-empty or full—it’s about filling it to the brim so one has abundance to give to others.

Let the Faith be Your Guide

Do you love your fellow human beings as God has loved you? This commandment may be hard. In fact, it is challenging for most. However, it is in this true commandment that the need for all other rules and regulations slips away. When all rules fade away, let kindness guide your actions.

Be kind. Show kindness to others. Be a friend. Or if that is too difficult, be friendly. Not only to your friend, but to someone you may never engage. Loving one’s enemy is a challenging task. Start by respecting your fellow human being. This ideal need not be an insurmountable peak.

Faith will guide the way. Even if you find this exercise challenging, it is not a permanent state. Nothing in this world is permanent. Yet, it may create an avenue for new experiences—one for the receiver. Yet, even more importantly, it could create something new and exciting for the giver. Even if it is in prayer, pray for someone you may not usually pray for. Two will benefit, for as we know from Shakespeare,

The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

~William Shakespeare

I wonder if a blessing of kindness can have the same effect on both those who give and those who receive.

Fill Your Glass: The Disciplined Practice of Loving-Kindness – A Sacred Journey: Where Myths Unfold and Potential Awakens

"You cannot pour from an empty cup." Dr. Thomas Maples joins us to discuss why loving-kindness is more than just a feeling—it's a powerful tool for spiritual development.Learn how to shift your perspective away from despair using mindfulness and faith. We dive deep into the psychology of self-compassion, the necessity of facing our internal darkness, and how to cultivate a lasting sense of hope. If you're looking to bridge the gap between psychology and spirituality, this episode is your roadmap to authentic joy.

Dr. Thomas Maples

Dr. Thomas Maples