My guest today is Houston Kraft. He is a professional speaker, author, curriculum developer, and kindness advocate who has a passion for sustainable impact, positive culture change, and student success. His aim is to create a more loving, kind, and compassionate world. He is the co-founder of CharacterStrong, an organization that provides curricula and training for schools all around the United States and Canada. He is the author of the book “Deep Kindness: A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness” which takes an honest look at the gap between our belief in kindness and our ability to perform it well, and shows us how to put intention into action.We explore the importance of kindness and empathy in our world. We delve into why empathy has decreased in recent times and the barriers that prevent us from being kind. We also discuss how we can develop our empathy muscle through specificity, sacrifice, and awareness. Houston also discusses the difference between confetti kindness and deep kindness, and we learn about the importance of paying attention to shame and understanding the needs of others without expecting anything in return. Join us as we explore the power of kindness and how we can cultivate it in our society.[05.10] Kindness isn’t normal – We start the conversation by diving into the question of why kindness isn’t normal in our world. [14.21] Deep kindness – Deep kindness is how you understand a person’s needs and the willingness to offer them without expectations. [25.11] The Power of words  – We talk about how specific vocabulary can make a difference in complimenting someone. [34.45] Increasing empathy – We talk about how self-awareness and perspective-taking help increase empathy inside people. [42.21] Holding space - To hold space is to give the gift of attention.[52.39] Mental health – All of us experience mental health at some point in our lives. Houston talks about the importance of normalizing mental health in our lives. [01.00.34] Understanding shame – We talk about how to give our love to others by loving ourselves first.[01.05.00] Authentic kindness – Authentic kindness comes with the ability to say no and make your yes’s genuine. Connect with Houston:Website - houstonkraft.com/                 characterstrong.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/houstonkraft/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/houstonkraftTwitter - twitter.com/houstonkraft Resources:Book by Houston KraftDeep Kindness: A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in KindnessBook by Marc BrackettPermission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions to Help Our Kids, Ourselves, and Our Society ThriveBook by Jamil ZakiThe War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured WorldBook by James C. HunterThe Servant: A Simple Story About the True Essence of LeadershipBook by The School of Life LibraryOn Being NiceBooks by Robert Jordan and Brandon SandersonThe Wheel of Time SeriesBook by RA SalvatoreRelentless: A Drizzt Novel