• 3 months ago
Experience the power of kindness with Douglas Vandergraph as he explores how compassionate actions can replace harsh criticism. In this video, Douglas shares his insights on fostering positive relationships through kindness and how it can lead to a more fulfilling life. Learn how to manage your critical tendencies and embrace a more empathetic approach in your daily interactions. Like, comment, and subscribe for more valuable insights on creating a better world through kindness.

#criticism #feedback #constructivefeedback #kindness #empathy #DouglasVandergraph #selfbetterment #mentalwellbeing #relationshipgrowth #positivehabits #encouragingcontent

https://youtu.be/9p1lF46YS-k
Transcript
00:00Hey friends, welcome to today's video. Today is going to be the greatest day of your life,
00:06and today I invite you to reflect on a powerful yet often overlooked choice we face every single
00:12day. The choice between being kind and being right. You know, imagine a world where every
00:19interaction we have is an opportunity to uplift, to encourage, and to foster mutual respect.
00:28How different would our relationships and experiences be? You know, let's explore how
00:34this simple yet profound shift in perspective can transform not only our lives, but also the lives
00:41of those around us. Now think about this. You are given many opportunities to choose between being
00:49kind and being right. We all have chances to point out to someone their mistakes, things they could
00:57or should have done differently, ways that they can improve. You know, and you also have chances
01:03to correct people privately as well as in front of others. And what all these opportunities amount to
01:10are chances to make someone else feel bad, and yourself feel bad in the process. Now without
01:17getting too psychoanalytical about it, the reason we are tempted to put others down, to correct them,
01:24or show them how we're right and they're wrong, is that our ego mistakenly believes that if we
01:30point out how someone else is wrong, we must be right. And therefore, we will feel better.
01:39Now here's the truth. In all actuality, if you pay attention to the way you feel after you put
01:44someone else down, you'll notice that you feel worse than before the put down. Your heart, the
01:51compassionate part of you, knows that it is impossible to feel better at the expense of
01:58someone else. Now here's some good news. Luckily, the opposite is true. When your goal is to build
02:05people up to make them feel better, to share in their joy, you too reap the rewards of their
02:14positive feelings. The next time you have a chance to correct someone, even if their facts are a
02:20little off, my advice, resist the temptation. Instead, ask yourself, what do I really want
02:29out of this interaction? Chances are, what you want is a peaceful interaction where all parties
02:35leave feeling good. And each time you resist being right, and instead choose kindness, you'll notice
02:44a peaceful feeling from within. I'm going to give you an example. My wife and I were recently
02:49discussing a business idea that had turned out exceptionally well for us. I was talking about
02:56my idea, clearly taking credit for our success. My wife, Kristen, in her usual loving manner,
03:04allowed me to have the glory. Later that day, I remembered that the idea was actually her idea,
03:10not mine. Whoops! So when I called her to apologize, it was obvious to me that she
03:17cared more for my joy than she did for her own need to take credit. She said that she enjoys
03:24seeing me happy, and that it doesn't matter whose idea it was. Now do you see why she's so easy for
03:30me to love? You see, I also want you to not confuse this strategy with being a wimp, or not standing
03:38up for what you believe in. I'm not suggesting that it's not okay for you to be right, only that if
03:46you insist on being right, there is often a price to pay, and that price is your inner peace. Now in
03:54order to be a person filled with equanimity, you must choose kindness over being right most of the
04:01time, and the best place to start is with the next person you speak to. Now as we go about our day,
04:11I want to challenge you to experiment with this choice. Start with the next conversation you have.
04:19Observe the impact of choosing kindness over the need to be right. Notice how it transforms the
04:26interaction and leaves the both of you feeling uplifted. Now imagine the ripple effect of such
04:33choices, how they can build bridges, mend relationships, and create a more compassionate
04:40world. Remember, every small act of kindness contributes to a larger tapestry of peace and
04:48harmony. Now let's be catalysts for this change. You know, one kind word at a time. I want to thank
04:56you for being a part of this journey with me today, towards a kinder and more understanding
05:01world. And you know what? If anybody can do it, you can. And if anybody deserves kindness, peace, and
05:09harmony in their life, you do. You're amazing. There are incredible things within you. I care
05:16about you, and I firmly believe in you and your abilities. I hope you have a beautiful day today.
05:24I'll be back tomorrow with some more good words and some more things to discuss as we continue
05:29to walk down this path together towards building the lives that we truly deserve to live.
05:34Have a great day, my friends. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

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