Kindness is the New Social Currency

Last night I had a dinner with a group of friends. Each person had a diverse background, a different professional status and level of income. But none of that mattered. Because at that dinner table, we didn’t assign human value based on superficial elements. Our commonalities were comprised of our shared values, our curiosity for life, our desire to evolve, and our generosity of spirit.

We discussed ideas – from projects, to ideologies to life theories. We shared our personal wins and together celebrated the small but significant victories that so often go unrecognized in the never ending hustle of life. We cheered each other on with genuine enthusiasm and pride for each other’s goals – whether those dreams were to build a business, create a family or embark on a new travel adventure.

That dinner filled my soul and I left feeling energized and inspired. There was no race to outsmart, there were no performances of the ego in an attempt to mask insecurity, there was no energy spent on gossip or judging others. Our phones remained off the table, and nobody felt the anxiety to immediately post a photo on social media – because it was more important to be present in the moment and in the company right in front of us than it was to validate our self-esteem through likes.

This is the company I choose to keep and the kind of community I want to continue manifesting. My intention is to show up in all of my interactions to have the same positive affect, as those wonderful humans I had the honor of breaking bread with had on me.

As you consider who is in your tribe, I encourage you to ask yourself this:

How does the company you keep feed your soul? And more importantly, how do you feed the souls and touch the hearts of others?

What conversations are you having, and does the majority of that content enlighten you and the people you are engaged with? Are you letting your guard down, and willing to push past the superficial, the gossip and the small talk? Are you truly connecting?

Are you embracing and soaking in the experience/person/moment right in front of you? Giving someone focus and your undivided attention is one of the most kind things you can give.

Are you actively being a force of love and generosity? The more love you give, the more it surrounds you and the more you attract abundance. There are some people who are constantly showered with love, abundance and opportunity. This is no accident or a stroke of luck. Love is a verb, it is an action –  one that requires intention first and foremost. Practice kindness, generosity and sharing love until it becomes habit, until it becomes a way of life.

Kindness is the new social currency.