Kindness Is My Jam 12 Steps to a Kinder Life & Tribe Necklace Sale!

Kindness begins with me…. This week my kids started at school. I am so excited for them to have another year of learning and growing. My 6 year old is a whiz at math and we are encouraging that in every way. So many studies show that girls start off on par with their male peers on science and math subjects but by the time they are in high school they have really dropped. As a science major myself we are constantly trying to figure out more ways to make math fun! And then there is the reading list- what great works are on the list this year? What ways can we encourage a love of learning? What musical instrument or extracurricular are they going to excel at? All of these are things we want our children to excel at, but of all the lessons I hope my children learn in school and in life, being kind is the greatest of them.

My “Kindness Is My Jam” necklace was a fitting piece to wear as they venture out on their first day of school. A reminder to me that I am the greatest example and teacher they will ever have and as such, Kindness must ALWAYS be my jam. In word and thought and deed. On good days and bad.

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Kindness is one thing we all have the ability to share. It’s free, it feels great, and it’s within our control. So, why is it so difficult to be kind at times? How can we become less judgmental of others and ourselves? We tend to only see what we want to see, hear what we want to hear, and surround ourselves with people who share our own experiences and tastes. Countless scientific studies, newspaper articles, religious texts, and self-help books have tried to help us become kinder people, but how often do we really put that advice into practice?

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We’ve all heard popular sayings like, “Treat others the way you would like to be treated” and “Don’t judge another until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” A couple in New York wanted to create a step by step program that would help them develop apathy. Based on 12-step programs designed to change behaviors, they created a 12-step experiment as a way to confront their own apathy and selfishness. For 12 months, Tim and Jessie attempted to open their hearts, eyes and minds to become kinder, more empathetic people.

Step 1. Can I Help You?

Can we gain any empathy or perspective by talking to strangers with different situations? We asked New Yorkers one very simple question: “How can we help you?”

Step 2. Open Your Eyes

Bystander apathy is a phenomenon. We hung missing people signs all over NYC and sat next to them for an entire day. Did anyone notice? What if we did the same thing with a dog?

Step 3. Switch It Up

There are always people who bother us and situations we try to avoid due to our selfishness. What if we had to do their job? Could we be kinder to them in the future?

Step 4. Don’t Beat Yourself Up

We all beat ourselves up for the way we’ve handled things in the past. Try to forgive ourselves for these experiences by opening up about them.

Step 5. Forgive & Forget

Face someone who hurt you in the past. Find compassion for them by moving past it.

Step 6. Face Yourself

Everyone has their own kinds of fears and insecurities, and we often hide behind them by judging others. Take a major personal insecurity of your own and face it head on.

Step 7. Kill Them With Kindness

They say the ultimate act of compassion is to learn to love your enemies. Try to better understand someone you don’t get along with by doing something nice for them.

Step 8. Walk a Mile In Their Shoes

It’s easy to judge lifestyle decisions that we don’t like or that we don’t understand. Participate in the lifestyles of others as a way to learn more about them and their decisions.

Step 9. Go Big or Go Home

Why do we always seem to neglect the people who we are closest to? Pick one special person in your life who you might constantly neglect and do something nice for them.

Step 10. Pay It Forward

Find a way to give to others.

Step 11. Wear a Smile

Easy enough… right?

Step 12. Dive Deep

What are the triggers or situations that cause you to act unkind? An honest and deep self assessment will help you find a way through these situations.

While kindness is the word that speaks to me and inspires me as a daily reminder, Cents of Style has many different pieces in their Tribe collection. Take a peek and find the one(s) that speak to you!

Right now they are on SALE for $11.99 + FREE SHIPPING w/code TRIBE4!!! Get them this weekend in several styles and finishes! We hope you love them as much as we do!

NEW Tribe Necklaces for $11.99 + FREE SHIPPING w/code TRIBE4

Actually I can… NEW Tribe Necklaces for $11.99 + FREE SHIPPING w/code TRIBE4

Are you a lover of inspiring jewelry? Which one speaks to you the most?!?

XO~ M&D

Comments (1)

Mallie August 19, 2016

Really great post, ladies!! I love STEM programs so much- girls are so smart, and body issues make them feel all weird and awkward in class and it breaks my heart. And I’m going to look with my eyes and smile through them as much as I can. Beautiful!