Kindness
Imagine if we all start treating others the way we want to be treated, think, feel & speak to others the way we want to be spoken to. So, how do we want people to treat us? With respect, empathy, understanding and kindness. Right?
The terms like “random acts of kindness” and “pay it forward” are popular terms these days and are among the popular hashtags in social media. So, what exactly do you mean by these terms? How do you relate to these terms? What is kindness? Different people relate kindness with compassion, empathy, alleviating suffering, etc. It's difficult to define kindness in a few words. Kindness can be as simple as giving someone support in times of need with an “I’m there for you” feeling. It can be those comforting words of “ I understand you” to a sad person or a smile that says “I see you”. However small an act of kindness is, its impact on others is deep. The ripples of kindness can radiate with no end of sight for a better world. It can brighten someone’s day more than you imagine. When you show a random act of kindness it is not only impacting or touching others’ life but also improving your mental and emotional wellbeing. It also helps us to connect with others in a better way and enhance our relationships within our family, society, school, college and workspaces. It can increase your level of happiness and even slow down your ageing.
As Charlie Chaplin said in his famous speech from the great dictator “ more than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost”
Experts have reported that human brains are wired for empathy and it is one of the abilities that distinguishes us from other creatures. But when people don’t exercise the ability to get in touch with their emotions & close of their hearts, they can’t feel their own feelings and certainly can’t relate & feel other people’s feelings. So parents, caregivers and teachers should advantage of these natural instincts during the formative years of a kid and encourage kids to practice kindness in their everyday lives.
Barack Obama in one of his speeches has said that the world would be a better place if we could learn to put ourselves in other’s shoes. Yes, if we learn to put ourselves in other shoes, we will not be too quick to judge others and label them. You will be kind enough to make an effort to know the bigger picture before passing that “insensitive” comment. We live in a social media age where people have the liberty to comment on even a stranger’s post, photos, videos etc. There is a whole new term for this unkindness that is spreading via digital platforms and it is called cyberbullying. The bullies who found their prey in schools, colleges, or offices have a bigger platform & reach now. Judging others without even trying to understand the whole story has become so common even in adults. The digital platforms have increased the speed & ease at which people can pass judgments and criticisms onto others & even to the extent of defaming for no reason. Nowadays, children are ardent technology users and frequently exposed to the behavioral patterns in social media. They are observing and getting influenced by what they are seeing around them. They also tend to react without even thinking that there is always a bigger picture than the snippets that you see on social media. They often fail to realize the impact their certain actions like negative comments, defaming, stalking, or cyberbullying can have on other people. So, it is more imperative to teach kids kindness than ever. It is also a part of teaching them to use their social media platforms responsibly.
However, kindness should never be taken as a sign of weakness. Having kindness doesn’t mean you don’t have your own boundaries and standing up for yourself. It is about being kind to others when they are in need and those situations.
Let us help our kids to understand this so very impactful virtue that can improve their lives and lives around them by reading some short stories and start creating the ripples of kindness that radiate from person to person with no end in sight.