As marriage coaches, one of the things that we see missing from so many significant relationships is kindness. It may seem like a simple thing, but the truth is, the more comfortable we get in a relationship, the more we forget to offer kindness to one another.

That needs to change, but making that shift isn’t always easy. Joining me to help us understand this is bestselling author, speaker, and pastor, Greg Atkinson. In his new book, The Secret Power of Kindness, Greg challenges us to be the change we want to see in the world.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• How it takes intentionality to be kind to others
• The role forgiveness plays in offering kindness
• The importance of choosing to heal
• And much more!

Listen in as we explore how to unlock kindness for yourself and others!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• [BOOK] The Secret Power of Kindness: 10 Keys to Unlocking Your Capacity to Change the World
• [BOOK] Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
• [BOOK] Necessary Endings
• [BOOK] Boundaries
• Connect with Greg on his Instagram, Facebook, or website
• As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.

My Key Takeaways:

1) Kindness takes planning. Did you know it takes intentionality to be able to offer kindness to others? Our ability to be kind is directly connected to our self-care. If we stay up too late, we are more likely to be tired, irritated, and snap at our spouse or others the next day. When we take the time to get adequate rest, spend time with the Lord, and fill our own tank, then we are able to offer kindness to others more readily.

2) See others and ourselves as children of God. When was the last time you considered your identity in Christ? Every human being is an image bearer of God, and that means that we should treat ourselves and others in light of that identity. For ourselves, this means avoiding negative self-talk that puts us down. In other words, we need to be kind to ourselves. For others, this means that everyone, regardless of how they may be behaving, has value and is worthy of kindness.

3) Take the time to heal your wounds. We all have wounds. Whether from childhood, life experiences, or poor relationships, our wounds can make it difficult to reach for kindness. Before we can make a practice of putting forth kindness, we have to do the hard work to heal our wounds. There’s a saying that “hurt people, hurt people” and until we deal with our hurts, we are not going to be able to make a habit of kindness.

About Greg Atkinson:

Greg Atkinson is a bestselling author, speaker, pastor, and consultant. In his new book, The Secret Power of Kindness, Greg challenges us to be the change we want to see in the world. He serves as a consultant for churches and organizations all across the United States.

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