The Price of Being Nice

I don't really care for commercials. I normally fast forward through them if I'm watching on TIVO. But there is one set of commercials I will watch.

Ever see the ads for Liberty Mutual where one person does a good deed, and is seen by someone else? Who then does something nice for someone else, which is witnessed by a different person? This cycle is repeated until someone does something nice to the original good-doer, completing a circle of good deeds.

Now, most commercials insult my intelligence, but this one is actually teaching us a lesson with value. I tell my son (who is a bit of a grouch), "it doesn't cost anything to be nice to someone".

It's true. Most of the time you will not even have to go out of your way to be nice to someone. If you pay attention, you will notice numerous times in the course of a day, where you can. However, most people are too wrapped up in themselves to notice other people. Everyone today is either talking on a cell phone, or listening to their i-pods; off in their own little worlds. But even these space cadets notice when you do something nice for them.

You should see the looks I get from some people, by just holding a door for them, and saying, "good morning"! They are shocked, but they like it. Let's face it, everyone likes to be treated with respect, like a person, not just another face. And it doesn't cost a thing to lift someone's day.

Let's all try to create a circle of good deeds everyday.

And Good Will To All

I have talked about the need to love more than we ever have before. Its true, we do, but, how do we accomplish this? After all its difficult enough to love those close to us at times, let alone total strangers, and our enemies. We need to realize that it is impossible for anyone to love everyone with deep affection. Deep love, should be given only to those closest to us. God, your immediate family, and closest friends. The rest of the world we should love through good will.

What is good will, and how do we give it to others? There are many ways to do this, the first way, is to allow everyone to be themselves. In other words, try not to judge others. This is not as easy as it sounds. We all have been raised with certain prejudices, and opinions. It is very easy to slot people by their appearance. Long hair on a guy, means he's a hippie, lots of tattoos, and he's a punker. Then there are a whole slew of racial slants that we are all familiar with. When you see someone different from you, and you automatically slot him or her, as this or that, catch yourself, realize that you are judging that person, and decide not to. Send some silent love to that person instead. That is good will.

Another way to practice good will, is through acts of kindness. God said, "whatever you should do for someone else, even the most wretched, you also do for me". In my post "The Awakening" I talked about how each and everyone of us is a manifestation of The Holy Spirit, in a different state of consciousness. Each and everyone of us, including our enemies, are divine, and should be treated with respect; no matter how ignorant they are of their divinity. When we are disrespected, or hurt, be like Jesus and bless them "for they know not what they do".

There are other ways to show good will. Be creative, and see how many other ways you can think to give love. Soon it will become second nature, and you will do them without even thinking about it. Every time you demonstrate love, you are making a contribution to our collective unconscious, like putting money in a bank. When we have enough people contributing, we will push our collective consciousness into the next level taking everyone else with us. How about that for a gift of love?

Mr. Nice Guy

I have one motto, "Nice guys finish first (except in football)". It is not much of a motto, but I do try to live it. I have taught my son, "It doesn't cost you anything to be nice to someone", and it is true. How can it be that something so easy to do, and so cheap to execute, be so positive?

That is easy to answer if you happen to be the recipient of someone being nice to you. Having someone do you a good deed or a kind gesture can make your whole day if you are on the receiving end. If a total stranger can make your day by being nice, think how many people's lives you could positively affect just by being nice to them. The thought literally boggles the mind.

If each and every one of us performed just one good deed per day, like the Boy Scouts try to do, it would change the world. Tensions between people would be slashed, blood pressures would drop. People would relax and enjoy life for the blessing it truly is.

Is it really all that easy? Well, yes, and no. The concept of it is easy to grasp, but the practice is not so easy. In order to be nice to someone, you actually have to be able to think outside your personal bubble. You have to come out of your shell, and be aware of the other people around you.

Lately this is getting harder and harder to do, everyone has a cell phone, i-pod, or P.D.A., etc. occupying their attention. It is very easy to get wrapped up in yourself, and not notice other people.

It really is easy to be a nice guy. In the course of a normal day there are many times when you can be nice to someone if you are on the look out. Just try not to get too wrapped up in yourself, your worries, and problems.

All it takes to make some one's day is to hold a door, smile and say good morning when you pass someone, offer the use of your cell phone for someone stranded on the side of the road; the possibilities are endless. All it takes is for you to be aware of other people, and to do something nice when the situation allows it.

There is something strange about being nice to people, it spreads.

And Good Will to All

I have talked about the need to love more than we ever have before. It's true, we do, but how do we accomplish this? After all, it's difficult enough to love those close to us at times, let alone total strangers and our enemies. We need to realize that it is impossible for anyone to love everyone with deep affection. Deep love should be given only to those closest to us: God, your immediate family, and closest friends. The rest of the world we should love through good will.

What is good will, and how do we give it to others?

There are many ways to do this. The first way is to allow everyone to be themselves. In other words, try not to judge others. This is not as easy as it sounds. We all have been raised with certain prejudices and opinions. It is very easy to slot people by their appearance. Long hair on a guy means he's a hippie; lots of tattoos and he's a punker. Then there are a whole slew of racial slants that we are all familiar with. When you see someone different from you, and you automatically slot him or her as this or that, catch yourself, realize that you are judging that person, then decide not to. Send some silent love to that person instead. That is good will.

Another way to practice good will is through acts of kindness. God said, "Whatever you should do for someone else, even the most wretched, you also do for me." In the past I talked about how each and everyone of us is a manifestation of The Holy Spirit in a different state of consciousness. Each and everyone of us, including our enemies, are divine, and should be treated with respect, no matter how ignorant they are of their divinity. When we are disrespected or hurt, be like Jesus and bless them, "for they know not what they do."

There are other ways to show good will; be creative and see how many other ways you can think to give love. Soon it will become second nature, and you will do them without even thinking about it. Every time you demonstrate love you are making a contribution to our collective unconscious, like putting money in a bank. When we have enough people contributing, we will push our collective consciousness into the next level, taking everyone else with us.

How about that for a gift of love?

And Good Will To All

Last post I talked about the need to love more than we ever have before. It's true, we do, but how do we accomplish this? After all, it's difficult enough to love those close to us at times, let alone total strangers and our enemies. We need to realize that it is impossible for anyone to love everyone with deep affection. Deep love should be given only to those closest to us: God, your immediate family, and closest friends. The rest of the world we should love through good will.

What is good will, and how do we give it to others?

There are many ways to do this. The first way is to allow everyone to be themselves. In other words, try not to judge others. This is not as easy as it sounds. We all have been raised with certain prejudices and opinions. It is very easy to slot people by their appearance. Long hair on a guy means he's a hippie; lots of tattoos and he's a punker. Then there are a whole slew of racial slants that we are all familiar with. When you see someone different from you, and you automatically slot him or her as this or that, catch yourself, realize that you are judging that person, and decide not to. Send some silent love to that person instead. That is good will.

Another way to practice good will is through acts of kindness. God said, "Whatever you should do for someone else, even the most wretched, you also do for me." In my post, "The Awakening", I talked about how each and everyone of us is a manifestation of The Holy Spirit, in a different state of consciousness. Each and everyone of us, including our enemies, are divine, and should be treated with respect, no matter how ignorant they are of their divinity. When we are disrespected or hurt, be like Jesus and bless them, "for they know not what they do."

There are other ways to show good will; be creative and see how many other ways you can think to give love. Soon it will become second nature, and you will do them without even thinking about it. Every time you demonstrate love you are making a contribution to our collective unconscious, like putting money in a bank. When we have enough people contributing, we will push our collective consciousness into the next level, taking everyone else with us.

How about that for a gift of love?
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