Loving-kindness Practice
Ever seen that bumper-sticker that reads, “Practice random acts of kindness and beauty”? That’s a Loving-Kindness practice. So is the idea of “paying it forward,” where you do something nice for somebody else when somebody does something nice for you; you send the nice act to another person, then they send it to another, and so on.
If “an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind” (–Gandhi), Imagine what paying Loving-Kindness forward does . . . especially if you do it on a daily basis.
It’s scientifically proven!
No kidding! Neuroscience has shown repeatedly that the pleasure center of the person doing the kind act lights up as much, if not MORE than the person receiving the kind act! Pat yourself on top of your head . . . that’s the parietal lobe of your brain. That’s where the pleasure center is located. Practicing random acts of kindness and beauty lights that lobe up like a Christmas tree, which stimulates neurogenesis, or the birth of new neurons, in that region of the brain. So now you have more kindness power, and an increased ability to enjoy it! What a great little evolutionary development!
Go enjoy your kindness!
Learn more about Counseling in Austin.
Jonathan F. Anderson, LPC-s has worked in the helping profession since he started college in 1990. After completing his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas, Austin in 1994, he attended the highly-regarded University of Minnesota to earn his Master’s degree in 1997. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is recognized as a Board Approved Supervisor by the State of Texas Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Jonathan is a Gottman-trained Couples Counselor, and in 1998 received training by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation in Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management & Debriefing. To learn more about Jonathan’s practice, click here: Jonathan F. Anderson, LPC-s.
