THE POWER OF SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS
AS I GROW older, rather ungracefully and in my quest to build conscious leadership capacity in a country somewhat bereft of one, I am often asked a barrage of questions by the many young women I mentor.
Their curiosity ranges from burning bras, to what is the essence of a woman and how to negotiate a man’s world without emasculating men. The quality of thinking of many millennials who cross my path provides hope for our future and their thinking is a powerful factor in creating their reality.
This brings me to Oprah Winfrey who rode into town last week for the Global Citizen Festival. She delivered a rousing keynote address on women power. I call it Shakti energy. Shakti, according to ancient Hindu wisdom, is the primordial cosmic energy that represents the divine feminine creative power of strength, ability, beauty and energy, thought to move the entire universe.
“Women will be the ones to save South Africa,” Winfrey declared in her inspirational speech.
I agreed. However on reflection, as long as patriarchy, polygamy and patronage reign supreme in the name of culture – it’s easier said than done. But it is up to us as women to “fuel a movement of individual acts of grace and heroism and humanity”, to quote Winfrey.
Our Shakti energy has multiple facets. We need to first accept the divine feminine aspect of ourselves that is capable of ruling the world.
As influencers, leaders and mothers or destined to become mothers of both boys and girls, it places us in a privileged position as creators of potential presidents, kings, world leaders or just plain decent conscious human beings.
“Every single one of us has the ability to strengthen somebody through small acts of kindness,” Winfrey asserted at the Global Citizen Festival. And she was right.
It starts with simple and random acts of kindness, of being conscious of those around us. We all talk about sisterhood, about women empowerment and women’s rights but they are hollow words if we do not reach out and give of ourselves to each other. We can open our hearts and see that no child goes hungry or cold. We can operate with integrity and become aware of the little things that we can do to make a difference and make this planet a better place. We can become warriors for the underdog, the homeless, hungry and diseased. That’s what being a woman, more especially what being human, is about.
Brenda Kali is the chief executive of Conscious Companies and founder of the Conscious Leadership Academy.