June 4 - PEO power

Day 155 of a year of Kindness

I got invited to speak at a PEO chapter meeting tonight about kindness. It’s a very special sisterhood where kindness is a critical part of their mission to help women access education.I shared with them my experience with preK students this week and how quickly the 4-year-olds responded when asked what they liked about themselves. So, at one point, I asked this group the same question. What do you like about yourself - one word?

Some needed extra time as they struggled to find one word. But once they did, it was remarkable. Those words included: friendly, thoughtful, good listener, patient, adventurous, and creative. One woman shared that she wrote a card and baked cookies for every employee at her school so they would feel appreciated.

One of the beautiful things about tonight was that if someone struggled to find the right word - the others happily told them what they liked about them. It was kindness in action. I was so happy to be in their circle.

Science of kindness: Research reveals that self-criticism activates the sympathetic nervous system and elevates stress hormones in the bloodstream. Self-compassion, on the other hand, reduces the stress hormone cortisol. The more positive thoughts you have about yourself, the more dopamine floods your body with feel-good hormones. These hormones contribute to less stress and depression, lower heart rate, stronger immune system, and more overall resilience and longevity. #bekind #kindnessiscontagious #kindnessisfree #kindness #selfcompassion