October 19, 2024

Quote of the Week

"Forgiveness will not be possible until compassion is born in your heart." --Thich Nhat Hanh

What Makes People Kinder To Outsiders?

A new study finds that young people who are more forgiving tend to extend their kindness more broadly. Humans tend to show an in-group bias toward groups we identify with or see ourselves belonging to (“us”), while sometimes exhibiting prejudice and discrimination toward out-groups or people we view as fundamentally different (“them”). This can happen across lines of race, nationality, age, and more.

What can we do to mitigate these tendencies, especially in the next generation of young people who are growing up in today’s political environment? A new study sheds light on two skills that may help: gratitude and forgiveness.  Read more in this week's  featured article from Greater Good magazine.

Reading Corner

Title: How To Be A Lion
By: Ed Vere
Ages: 3-7

"Leonard is not your typical lion — he much prefers hanging out on his thinking hill to hunting for prey. He’s a gentle and caring guy who loves spending time with his best friend Marianne, a duck. When other lions try to pressure Leonard into being more ferocious and “lion-like,” the two friends write a poem to counter this single-minded way of thinking: “Let nobody say / just one way is true. / There are so many ways / that you can be you.”  How to Be a Lion is an empowering example of an ever-compassionate friendship and acceptance."

Be the Change

Try a ten-minute loving-kindness meditation with your kids and see how it impacts your feelings towards others.  As a bonus, check out this week's amazing karmatube video titled "I See You".