Kindness and compassion usually take a backseat in this fast-paced world where cut-throat competition and the race to win have taken over. Sadly, we live in a time when human interactions have been replaced with the glitz and glamor of social media. Often we tend to forget that the selfie which received a million likes will eventually be forgotten, but not a kind word or act even after years and years.
Nowadays, every individual seeks to be famous or rich, deeming it the key to happiness. However, that is far from reality. David W. Orr, Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics, sums it up beautifully: “The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as we have defined it.”
While the statement absolutely holds true, all hope is not lost, as there still are people working hard to promote human values through acceptance, tolerance, and inclusion. One such dynamic personality is Greg Atkinson, who is a business owner, consultant, speaker, bestselling author, and leadership coach with nearly 30 years of experience. Currently, he is working on his fifth book – The Secret Power Of Kindness, which, as the name suggests, will unravel the importance of being kind and how it can be life-changing for a kind person and others who receive that kindness.
Greg values relations, hospitality, and generosity as the core of everything we do in life. Because he feels so passionately about hospitality, he frequently speaks and writes about the subject. Being a church secret shopper, he motivates people to be more welcoming towards the new church members so that they become regulars. It’s all about accepting and including people in your circle and making them feel wanted, so they come back willingly. The same goes for businesses as well. If you treat your clients and customers with compassion and make them feel valued, they become loyal to your product or service.
Most of his books focus on the concepts of hospitality and generosity too. Due to his ideas and the way he puts things in perspective, his books have become best-sellers in no time. He has gone through a process to become a published writer that did not happen overnight. “All authors experience rejection. It’s part of our story. I have published four books but worked on several others that never saw the light of day, but that did not stop me from pursuing my passion and sharing my thoughts and experiences with the masses,” shares Greg.
He considers it his mission to help people and make the world a better and more accepting place for all. He has talked about the power of kindness for years and has helped people turn their lives around the same concept. Kindness is fundamental to human existence. As we are born, we are powerless creatures dependent on our parents or caregivers for all our needs. After years, we become self-reliant, yet we have relationships that we tend to take care of. Therefore, kindness is a part of our DNA. We all want to make the world a better and peaceful place, but sadly we often neglect the power of a small act of kindness that can play its part in the greater good of society.
The best part about kindness is that it does not require much hard work or resources. Even a few compassionate words can uplift someone during their bad days. You gain nothing by judging others or inciting conflict, but you experience peace by helping others out and making their day better. Just think about the last time someone was kind to you or vice versa. Dig into your heart and find your feelings at that moment, and you will get your answer there. Kindness has the power to give you peace and tranquility.
Reading a lot of books has helped Greg Atkinson improve himself as an author too. He reads inspirational writings, and when something grips him or changes his perspective, he gets motivated to do the same for others. “I love books. Not only do I love to read, I love building my library and holding a fresh book in my hand. I wanted to do that for others. I get excited every time I see someone post a picture of one of my books on social media. I get excited walking in a bookstore and seeing my book on the shelf. I am a very driven and ambitious person and don’t think I have even scratched the surface of my writing career,” expresses Greg.
Just like his previous books, The Secret Power Of Kindness will be a treat for readers as well, where they will get the opportunity to clear their perspectives, broaden their horizons and change their lives for the best!
