Houston Kraft Rebelling FOR Deep Kindness

 

Houston is a speaker, author, and kindness advocate who has spoken at over 600 schools or events internationally. In 2016, he co-founded CharacterStrong- curriculum and trainings that help teach social and emotional skills. To date, they have worked with over 2500 schools globally serving over 2 million students. In 2019, his face was featured on Lays BBQ chip bags as someone who helps “spread smiles.” In 2020, his first book, Deep Kindness (Simon & Schuster, Tiller Press) was released. His mom is his hero, and her best life lesson is to “hug like you mean it.”

Houston joins me today to discuss the importance of normalizing deep and vulnerable kindness in our lives. He talks about moments in his life, both significant and minor, that have helped him normalize this in his life, and how this message is spread through his organization CharacterStrong. Houston breaks down how empathy can be lost over time, and how small practices of empathy and deep kindness can have a significant shift in our perspecitve.       

“And perhaps the most meaningful first step we can take towards practical, deep kindness is to listen first in order for us to love better.” – Houston Kraft

This week on Rebel Souls:

What helped Houston focus on compassion early in life and lead him on his path The difference between social and emotional skills How Houston is teaching social and emotional skills in schools The power of changing your perspective Examples of deep kindness from Houston’s new book How kindness can be a precursor to pain, and how this affects us as we get older Distinguishing deep kindness from common kindness The difference between empathy, sympathy, and apathy How well intentioned kindness (not informed by empathy) can be unhelpful How empathy works What gets in the way of practicing empathy How to practice deep kindness Houston’s deep kindness exercises

 

Related Content:

Website CharacterStrong

Connect with Houston Kraft:

Email Houston Houston Kraft Houston on Instagram Houston Kraft on Facebook Houston Kraft on YouTube Houston Kraft on LinkedIn Book: Deep Kindness

 

 

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