Kindfulness Poem

By Sue Ellson

How full is
My kindfulness cup
Is it half empty
Or do I feel washed up

What would it take
To look at life differently
To be friendly and forgiving
And to think more gently

Could I be more aware
Accepting and loving
And cease the madness
Of constantly judging

Is it possible
To reduce the hustle
To truly be present
To myself and others

To default to kindness
To look for the positives
To be curious and courteous
Even to relatives

Everyone’s journey
Has highs and lows
But with kind companionship
We can counter the blows

When we choose to care
Despite our conditioning
Our cup will be filled
With many a blessing

I have recently attended a three session course on Mindfulness, Heartfulness and Philosophy (it finished on Monday) and on Tuesday I was working with a client on her upcoming journal style book.

We started talking about being kind to ourself and then discovered that there is a ‘term’ called ‘Kindfulness‘ created by Ajahn Brahm, a British-born Buddhist monk with the meaning of ‘mindfulness combined with wisdom and compassion.’

I like to look at this term a little more personally.

To practice going out in the world in a kind way towards others but also in a kind way towards myself whilst I am being as present as possible in each moment.

All of us are probably living life on a spectrum of kindfulness.

Some of us may be kindful to others and yet unkindful to ourselves (I suspect this is quite common).

Some of us may be kindful towards certain people, but after some disappointing experiences, unkindful towards other people.

What does it take for us to be operating with kindfulness all of the time regardless of who we are with or even if we are on our own?

How do we acknowledge that everyone is living with the memory of past disappointments and that their current behaviour could be a part of their coping strategy?

It may not be easy to look beyond past or current behaviour with kindfulness, but it certainly will not help if the default response is a negative one.

Since learning about kindfulness, I can honestly report that I am more willing to listen rather than react and I am seeking to understand rather than respond.

It has definitely taken the heat out of some difficult conversations I have had recently.

When I combine this kindfulness strategy with thoughtful and encouraging words, I have been truly humbled and surprised at how a negative situation can be turned into a positive one.

As we are approaching the end of the year and the likelihood of more in-person gatherings, I trust that this poem will be a gentle reminder to approach each interaction with yourself and others with kindfulness. With love, Sue Ellson 🙂

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Photo is of the brass elephant at the front of the Perth Zoo in Western Australia on 20 November 2025.