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HELP OTHERS
If you find an act of kindness helps you, then perhaps offer this to others. But don’t impose your will! Only do this if they are willing to accept! Consider whether you are ‘helping others’ out of vanity, superiority or people-pleasing?
DON'T CONTROL
Kind and caring behaviour is NOT about controlling others. It’s not our right to force ‘our way’ or ‘our help’ on anyone! That‘s just us manipulating them. That’s our arrogance and Ego! It’s our need to control everything or our need to ‘people please’!
MAKE IT A GIFT
Our help must be offered purely as a gift with no strings attached. Remember, it is THEIR GIFT TO US if they choose to accept our kindness. They are sovereign beings and not obliged to accept our help, whatever their situation.
PRACTISE THIS
Practise being a little MORE KIND & CARING to yourself first. Then very slowly expand or extend this, if it feels right. Be a little more kind to others too! Try giving anonymously to avoid acting out of pride or people-pleasing.
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ASSESS YOUR MOTIVE
Become more aware of the TRUE REASON or MOTIVATION for all your actions. Observe and assess your behaviour, as if from a HIGHER PERSPECTIVE. From this new perspective, ask yourself what your real motive is?
DON'T PEOPLE PLEASE
Being KIND & CARING should NOT just be ‘people pleasing’. Are you helping others just to be liked or become more popular? Do you feel this is a social obligation? People pleasing should be carefully watched for and avoided!
AVOID EGO & CONTROL
Being KIND & CARING should NOT be done out of VANITY or SUPERIORITY. Are you nice to others just to be thanked? Is it out of pride or a need to control others? These are unhealthy motivations! Helping or giving anonymously may help reduce this.
TRY THIS
Become more aware of your thoughts and feelings. Explore your motivations in a detached and unbiased way. Observe how your act of kindness makes you feel. Was the motivation PURE?
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MAKE IT A HABIT
The more you practise kindness, the more it will become a natural habit. Continue doing caring things that promote lasting or AUTHENTIC happiness. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself!
CHECK YOUR MOTIVATIONS
Remember to be aware of HOW & WHY you make your decisions. Consider the true intentions or reasons! OBSERVE yourself objectively, as if from a higher perspective.
DEPTH OF PRACTICE
Your PRACTICE can be as simple or deep as you wish.
AVOID EXTREMES
Proceed at your own pace, slowly and cautiously. Start by making small changes. Extreme measures are not usually beneficial in the short or long term! Do what feels authentic. Do what feels right and natural, deep within. Check with your inner guidance.
SUMMARY OF CHALLENGE 1
Contemplate what BEING KIND & CARING really means. Be a little more kind to yourself first and then to others. Become more aware of how you choose to be kind. Practise tuning in to your intuitive guidance.
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DON’T BURN OUT
Can you SUSTAIN your caring behaviour, long into the future? How will you ensure you don’t burn yourself out? Avoiding radical or extreme behaviour will help!
IS IT UPLIFTING?
Your acts of kindness should also be UPLIFTING to yourself. Do what brings you joy in the process! If it gives you lasting joy, it is more likely to be authentic and sustainable.
START WITH YOURSELF
It’s important to be kind and caring to yourself FIRST, before extending this to others. For some this may take many months. Be patient and don’t beat yourself up.
EXPAND YOUR PRACTICE
When ready, let the range of your KIND & CARING behaviour slowly EXPAND. Be authentic and natural.
SUMMARY OF CHALLENGE 1
Contemplate what BEING KIND & CARING really means. Be a little more kind to yourself first and then to others. Become more aware of how you choose to be kind. Practise tuning in to your intuitive guidance.
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CHECK OUTCOMES
It’s important that your acts of kindness have positive outcomes. Having a pure motivation will help. But you should regularly check your impact! Sometimes what we perceive as acts of kindness can result in unexpected consequences.
USE INNER GUIDANCE
To assess whether your actions are having a positive impact, you must listen to your inner guidance. This involves letting go of Ego. Unattach yourself from the situation and outcome.
BE FLEXIBLE
Sometimes you might need to change direction completely! Be KIND & CARING to yourself in this regard too. Stay positive and keep exploring new ways you can express kindness.
LEARN FROM MISTAKES
If something feels very wrong, just STOP! Success can also come from learning ‘what does not work’. We can learn and grow from all our attempts, no matter how they turn out.
GRATITUDE & FORGIVENESS
Forgive yourself and learn from all your experiences. Can you also forgive others and become grateful for what they have taught you?
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REVIEW YOUR PROGRESS
Briefly ‘check in’ with yourself every day. How are you going with your practice of kindness? Check your motivations. Assess your progress and your impact on others.
ASK YOURSELF THIS
Are you now more mindful of your thoughts and actions? Keep yourself accountable. Stay unbiased and be objective.
CHECK THIS
If your impact is not positive, then check your motivation again. Motivations that are truly pure will lead to positive outcomes.
YOUR ASSESSMENT
Remember to BE KIND & CARING in your own assessment of yourself. It can take many attempts to succeed. You are learning along the way! Be an IMPARTIAL but caring OBSERVER! Keep all this in mind as you continue to practise Challenge 1.
SUMMARY OF CHALLENGE 1
Contemplate what BEING KIND & CARING really means. Be a little more kind to yourself first and then to others. Become more aware of how you choose to be kind. Practise tuning in to your intuitive guidance.
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GO WIDER
We previously ‘guided’ our kindness practice using our Inner Connection and Heartfelt Knowing. Let’s EXPAND these same intuitive skills to also assess our LIFE direction in general.
CHECK YOUR DIRECTION
Quieten your mind and ask yourself... ‘Is my life ON TRACK? Am I really on the RIGHT PATH?’
A LIFE REVIEW
Review your life path every week. Consider any new insights acquired. Do you need to FINE TUNE your direction a little?
ARE YOU ON PURPOSE?
Was your week meaningful and fulfilling? Were you true to your intent? Is there enough joy and contentment in your life? Celebrate any progress you have made. Try to appreciate your challenges and even your mistakes!
PRACTISE TUNING IN
In addition to your weekly review, also allow some quiet time to reflect every day. Tune in to that INNER VOICE! Remember how that feels. Allow any insights to arise. Consider any COURSE CORRECTIONS with an open mind. Check whether any change in direction ‘feels right’. Learn to trust your Inner Guidance.
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USE INNER GUIDANCE
Earlier on we introduced the concept of tuning in to our Higher Self! This is a DEEP INTUITION and INNER KNOWING. It’s a HEARTFELT sense! It’s a pure AWARENESS of what’s right for us and others, in this moment. It’s a sense of profound clarity.
DON’T OVER INTELLECTUALISE
Don’t overly concern yourself with all these fancy technical terms. Remember that personal and spiritual growth is NOT about intellectually understanding a topic.
ENGAGE & EXPERIMENT
Instead, fully engage with ‘the experience’ at an ENERGETIC LEVEL. It’s vital to actually ‘do the work’ and fully experience the process. This includes acknowledging our mistakes and being open to changes in direction. It can feel challenging, but we grow in courage and wisdom through this experience.
CONTINUE PRACTISING
Keep practising your kindness, caring and compassion, even after you have finished this course. Continue regularly reviewing your life, from an unbiased higher perspective. Practise using your Inner Guidance to help navigate your choices.
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TEST your Self Awareness and Inner Guidance with this exercise...
CONTEMPLATE THIS QUESTION
“What is holding me back?” RELAX and quietly ponder this powerful question. Gently ‘hold’ this question in your intuitive mind for as long as you can...
USE YOUR INNER GUIDANCE
The aim is NOT to find a logical answer! AVOID using the problem-solving part of your mind. Instead, only use your IMAGINATION to visualise your response. Allow the INSIGHT to gently and gradually unfold in your mind.
BE OPEN & PATIENT
Sometimes the answer will come in a flash! Other times, you won’t seem to find a solution. But that is fine, because just ‘sitting with’ the issue can be transformational!
REPEAT THIS REGULARLY
Further explore the question “What is holding me back?” regularly in the future. See if anything new arises. You might surprise yourself with new insights and ideas, as you progress.
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REVIEW YOUR PROGRESS
Let’s REVIEW what you have achieved so far. First, you were encouraged to be more KIND & CARING. That’s another term for ‘PRACTISING COMPASSION’. This started with yourself, and then extended to others. Even if you do nothing more, try to maintain this key practice of KINDNESS & CARING.
PRACTISE MINDFULNESS
Next, you practised being more MINDFUL of your thoughts and behaviours. You became more AWARE of your effect on others! You tapped into your Inner Wisdom & Knowing. You then objectively monitored and reviewed your progress and life direction.
BE NATURAL & JOYFUL
These are all very powerful skills. When mastered, they will occur naturally and without effort! If you do this correctly, it will also uplift and empower you! The pure joy of the process will sustain your practice.
BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION
These skills will provide a foundation for Challenge 2 and beyond. It’s important to MAINTAIN your PRACTICE of kindness and caring through the rest of the course, and your life
Congratulations! You have completed the 'Kindness & Compassion' challenge by UltimateQuest.org.
The next series is about 'Emotional Intelligence'.