Kindness and Joy: Expressing the Gentle Love - Softcover

Koenig, Harold G

Softcover

ISBN 10: 159947106X ISBN 13: 9781599471068

Publisher: Templeton Press, 2006

Synopsis

This book includes guidance as well as information and inspiration. There are practical recommendations on how to perform acts of kindness in personal lives and at work, toward friends, colleagues, and family members—even with one's enemies. Suggestions are also offered on ways to encourage others to be kind so they, too, can experience the joy that results.

About this title

Book Description

In this inspirational book, Dr. Harold G. Koenig demonstrates how kindness leads to life-enriching joy.

The nature of kindness is explored—its relationship to love and generosity, as well as the characteristics that distinguish it from pity. Kindness is defined as an intentional and selfless kind of gentle love that involves concentrating on the needs of another person. It is the opposite of cruelty and neglect, which ignore the needs of others and focus only on the self. Joy is likewise examined, and Koenig notes how it differs from the emotions of happiness and satisfaction. Its roots are shown to be in human experiences and actions.

Stories from everyday life as well as the acts of well-known people illustrate how kindness is expressed. They also show the effects of kindness on the person who is being kind and the recipient of the kindness. While, to date, there is little formal research on kindness, there are studies on the positive impact of values that are related to it, such as forgiveness, altruistic love, and acts of volunteering and compassion. It is likely, Koenig speculates, that kindness will be found to have a positive effect on mental health and even physical health.

This book includes guidance as well as information and inspiration. There are practical recommendations on how to perform acts of kindness in personal lives and at work, toward friends, colleagues, and family members—even with one's enemies. Suggestions are also offered on ways to encourage others to be kind so they, too, can experience the joy that results.

Kindness and Joy shows that kindness is a virtue that carries a double blessing: it transforms both the life of the receiver and of the giver.

 

From the Inside Flap

Too often, as we are burdened with our daily responsibilities, one of the first things we forget about is kindness. Tasks such as rushing from one appointment to the next, paying bills or caring for family rob us of the time to reflect on the impact of our actions. Taking the time to consider the feelings and needs of others is an important step in becoming a truly loving human being.

In simple ways we can influence the lives of others: a sincere compliment, a thoughtful gift, or a phone call to an elderly relative. What it takes to be kind is for us to have the intention to think beyond our legitimate, pressing needs and take others' needs into consideration. A true way we can show our love and concern for others is through kindness in our thoughts, words, and deeds.

Psychiatrist Harold G. Koenig tells us that one reason he wrote this book was to learn how to become a kinder person himself. By explaining what kindness is and what it is not, he outlines steps to help you become more kind and learn how to express it in everyday situations. He shares the research that indicates those who care about others live longer, happier lives and experience improved physical and mental health.

When we act kindly, others are nicer to us. Kindness puts us in touch with a deep sense of joy--the joy of lifting another's burden, the joy of being of service, the joy of transcending our selfish desires to care for another. "Should there be any surprise that acts of kindness that connect us to others and to the Divine are followed by the sacred emotion of joy?" asks the author. Kindness and joy are deeply connected and are as readily accessible as the next small courtesy you pay to another.

About this edition

• Publisher: Templeton Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 159947106X
• ISBN 13: 9781599471068
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144