46 april 2018 spiritanddestiny.co.uk
The inner you Serving the Higher good A simple act of kindness not only has a positive impact on the world but can further your spiritual development too Spare a moment to reflect on your day. Did you go out of your way to help someone? Did you offer a kind word to a friend, colleague or even a stranger? Or perhaps you smiled and said hello to your neighbour? When you look back, do you feel positive about the impact you made on the world around you today? Did you answer ‘no’ to any of these questions, but wish you were doing more to spread positivity? Our lives are so demanding it’s easy to become so wrapped up in them that sparing a moment for anyone else falls to the bottom of your list of priorities. However, there is a spiritual revolution happening right now, a ‘kindness movement’, where people are focusing their energy on reaching out to others to make the world a better place. In spiritual circles this is known as serving the higher good and is believed to not only benefit others but feed your soul too – and it’s easy for you to become a part of it. You don’t have to make big changes to your life – like moving to another country to do voluntary work – to make a difference. Instead, simple, small, daily gestures are all it can take to light up someone’s life, make a significant impact on them and the world, and further your spiritual development. Spreading the joy One of the people involved in the kindness movement is Bernadette Russell. After the 2011 London riots, she vowed to do small acts of kindness every day to help others, which inspired her book, The Little Book of Kindness (Orion Spring, £7.99). Expert tip Need inspiration when it comes to acts of kindness? Download the Be Happy (Kindness and Karma) app, available for free from Google Play or iTunes. ‘After the riots, I began to question the point of everything,’ says Bernadette, who has also written two books on kindness for children. ‘There were so many problems in the world, but what could be done about them? ‘One day I was in the post office and bought a stamp for a boy who had run out of cash. He was really grateful and I was so happy to have helped him in a small way. I thought to myself, perhaps if I could do one little thing for a stranger every day I’d make a difference to the world. ‘I helped strangers in the street, made presents for my neighbours and gave spare change to anyone who asked. I also made 100 Valentine’s cards and sent them to strangers and fed runners at the London Marathon. ‘My life completely changed as a result. I started seeing the world through the window of kindness and it confirmed to me that human beings are capable of amazing things. I also realised that by promoting kindness you are also promoting hope.’ Progressing spiritually But being kind doesn’t just help others feel good, it can also aid your spiritual development. In fact, the idea of being of service to others by offering help, kindness and compassion is a theme that runs through many religions and spiritual practices. ‘There has always been a drive for spiritual development through kindness and compassion,’ says angel expert and author of Seven Steps into Angel Light (Watkins, £7.99), Chrissie Astell. ➳ Turn the page for more spiritanddestiny.co.uk april 2018 47