This week I’ll be posting about topics inspired by reading Something Beyond Greatness by Judy Rodgers and Gayatri Naraine. Today, I’d like to focus on how we get inspired to acts of kindness by watching others giving of themselves.
In chapter 9, “The Ripple Effect of Greatness,” the authors discuss how acts of kindness are contagious to those who observe them. It makes sense, of course, when a child grows up with domestic abuse, that child is more likely to grow up to be an abuser or victim.
Witnessing a good deed creates emotions of warmth, positivity, optimism, compassion and a desire to act. In the book, these feelings are called “elevation.”
However, one doesn’t have to see the act first hand to get the effects. You can read an inspirational book or news item, or watch a movie of people going above and beyond to help. Even a TV commercial can inspire us to act.
Some of the most inspirational books and movies I’ve read that got me off my butt and helping were:
- We Are Marshall~ How can you gripe about the little irritations and wanna give up after watching this movie (and Matthew McConaughey is a cutie).
- The Bible ~ Yes, definitely The Bible, lookit… Esther, Jesus, Paul and so many more who put their life on the line, literally DIED to help others. Regardless of your religious beliefs, how can you NOT be inspired by them?
- The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer ~ Bonhoeffer’s life in general, and this book especially, forces me to step up and get real, not to just whine about it. I think he’s one of the under-appreciated heroes of WWII.
What movies or books have you seen or read that inspired you?
Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of Something Beyond Greatness, and comment here for an extra entry 😉
Filed under: Giveaways, Random | Tagged: compassion, Deborah, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, elevation, free book, Gayatri Naraine, giveaway, helping others, infectious kindness, Jesus, Judy Rodgers, kindness, Liberty Mutual commercial, optimism, Paul, Something Beyond Greatness, The Bible, The Cost of Discipleship, The Ripple Effect of Greatness, We Are Marshall, win, WWII |
In the Shadow of Mt. TBR 
I read very few inspirational books (I can count the number on fingures). So for me, really inspirational books don’t so anything. But as you said, a TV commercial or a movie could inspire me, even a song for that matter 🙂
Actually a story too, but it does not have to be inspirational. It could be fiction and has to be done without letting me know, otherwise I’ll be running in the other direction, lol!!!
Did I make any sense? Guess not 🙂
I don’t read a lot of inspirational or self-help but I learned a lot from Dale Carnegie’s How to win Friends and Influence People! 🙂