As a Psychotherapist, I Wish That...
Everyone in the world would agree to do
three kind, loving, and helpful acts for someone else, an
animal, a bird, plant or the environment each week. These acts
would be above and beyond anything each one of us does in the
normal course of a day. Such acts of help do not need to involve
money, so that everyone could participate in some way. Every
religion, and culture knows what an act of kindness is.
Therefore, we donít need to disagree.
What would happen if the radio and television
reported peopleís kind actions and what needs to be done instead
of the murders and acts of violence that get on the news each
day? Letís calculate. There would be trillions of acts of
kindness each week. Would that number be enough to overwhelm the
acts of violence so much that aggressive acts would reduce in
number because they would lose their appeal? We might begin to
look at war as useless, inappropriate and even stupid. The
environment would be protected, along with the animals and
There would not be so much stress, sorrow, physical
illness, mental disorder, death, destruction, and post-traumatic
stress. Instead, we might begin to see joy, hope, and gratitude
in a much expanded way, not only from the people who receive the
acts of kindness, but from the persons who give the acts of
kindness. There really is no better way to feel joy and build
self-esteem. We would feel more creative and encouraged to come
up with new good acts of compassion.
We are all so stymied by the multiple problems in the
world each one of us feels that there is little we, as
individuals, can do about it. So we trudge onward, taking what
we can for ourselves, donating our own small part, often wishing
we could make a larger mark on the troubles of the world.
This is such a simple idea, but with such large
positive ramifications in so many areas of life.
Would we ever be able to coordinate with each other around the
world enough to give it a try? Just for one whole year? Could we
use the United Nations and the internet to spread the idea from
one country to another? We could do the necessary research to
look at the results. The outcome might just be staggering. Is
there any viable reason not to give it a try?
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