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To bring more joy and lessen the stress in our lives, we can turn to the practice of kindfulness. Mindfulness, the conscious awareness of our thoughts and intentions, tuned into ways to be kind to others is \u2018kindfulness.\u2019 First coined by the monk Ajahn Brahm, kindfulness is a gentle way to more align our life with the law of karma. According to the law of karma, every act of kindness creates the cause for our own future happiness. Being kind usually makes us feel pretty good in the moment too!\xa0

Research also indicates that kindness has many good effects on our heath and even slows the aging process! Dr David Hamilton, author of The Five Side-Effects Of Kindness, says, \u201cBeing kind generates the \u201ckindness\u201d hormone oxytocin, which also happens to be a major cardiovascular hormone. It keeps the arteries clear and lowers blood pressure by reducing levels of harmful free radicals and inflammation, which cause disease. These are also the main culprits for causing ageing to our cells, so you could also say that kindness slows the ageing process.\u201d

Tasting the flavor\xa0

Of solitude and peace,

One becomes free of distress and evil,

Drinking the flavor of Dharma joy. (Verse 205)

\u2014Buddha, The Dhammapada

References

Buddha. The Dhammapada, translated by Gil Fronsdale. (2011). Shambala, pp. 54.

Carlyle, R. (2018, May 20). Kindfulness: It\u2019s the new twist on mindfulness \u2014 being consciously kind to others. The best thing? It\u2019s good for you, too. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5750811/Kindfulness-new-twist-mindfulness-consciously-kind-others.html