Warm-heartedness is the key factor that allows me to smile and be happy, even in the company of strangers.

Warm-heartedness is the key factor that allows me to smile and be happy, even in the company of strangers. – Dalai Lama

We all start this way, smiling and happy. Somehow, things change. It’s time to change it back.

What does that mean?
If you are feeling all mean and spiteful, how happy are you going to be? And it won’t matter if you are with strangers or not, because you simply won’t like anyone.

Most of us are less at ease when in the company of strangers, when compared to being with friends. This quote talks about being able to smile and to be happy, even when not in a comfortable or familiar place.

The key, the quote says, is warm-heartedness. Warm-heartedness is a state of being which includes kindness, sympathy and generosity for, or towards, others. In short, you’re a nice person.

By being nice towards others, it is far easier for them to be kind in return. And if you can smile and appear to be happy, it is easier still. All you have to do is do it. Being warm-hearted is a good first step.

Why is being warm-hearted important?  
Think of the people you know who you would consider warm-hearted. Are there really any strangers around them? Or does their warm-heartedness make them friends where ever they go? Or at least to they seem to have an easier time making new friends, even in the strangest places?

Being warm-hearted not only helps you with other people, it also helps you on the inside. Think about times when you have been warm-hearted towards others, friends or strangers. How did you feel compared to how you usually feel? I know I generally feel much better when I am warm-hearted.

Being warm-hearted helps you with others, and helps you feel better inside. But it also helps others feel better as well. How do you feel when you’re around cold or prickly people (think of hugging a cactus)? The people who aren’t warm-hearted aren’t as much fun to be around, are they?

With that, I believe that we have established that being warm-hearted is important to you, and to the people around you. Do you need a better reason to work on becoming more warm-hearted than that? I know that I don’t!

Where can I apply this in my life?
I believe we have established that being warm-hearted is a worthy goal, and that we should all be working on improving. Yes, there are days when we get up on the wrong side of the bed, and feel more like a cactus than a cuddly creature, but we can still try, right?

And if we do start the day a little cranky, that just means that there is more room for improvement. That changes how you think of it just a little, doesn’t it? You can look at it as harder than before, or as being easier. Which attitude do you think will make it easier for you?

Warm-heartedness starts with a decision. If we decide to be warm-hearted, it is much easier than if we decide we’re just going to ‘try’ to do it, right? Once you have the right attitude, the rest becomes quite a bit easier. If you don’t have the right attitude, it’s going to be tougher, right?

But what do we do to become warm-hearted, or more-so if we already are (at least a little bit)? That goes back to the definition of warm-hearted. Kindness. Sympathy. Generosity. Do these things, and the things like them, and you should be set. It sounds easy, and I have found that it actually is.

Let’s start with kindness. How can you be kind to others, even to strangers? We can start with whatever the societal and cultural norms are for where you live. I like to hold open doors or let people in ahead of me. There are also compliments and kindness in words. What else can you do to be kind to others?

Next comes sympathy. Sympathy is based on compassion, so doing either or both would be a good way to show your warm-heartedness. Try to understand where they are coming from, and what their motivations are. Try to understand what they want, and how they are trying to get it. Then try to assist them as best you can.

Finally, there is generosity. While it is often used in terms of cash one can spare, one can also be generous with thing which cost little. Be generous with praise, help, time, knowledge, and so many other things. What could you do to help them attain what they desire? What will it cost you? If the reward is worth the cost, do not hesitate.

And what about kindness, sympathy, or generosity towards yourself? Remember that warm-heartedness isn’t just for the benefit of others. Be warm-hearted towards yourself as well.

From: Twitter, @DalaiLama
confirmed at : it’s his own feed…
Photo by Donnie Ray Jones

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