When Your Kind to Others, You Help Yourself
“When you’re kind to others, you help yourself;
when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself.” (Proverbs 11:17, The Message)
Though often mistaken for politeness or good manners, kindness is is far more critical. Kindness is compassion, empathy, gratitude, inner strength, wisdom and humility rolled into one heart. It enables love and justice to grow in the world.
The English word "kind" comes from the same etymological root as "kin." We are "akin" to one another. Even when we do not realize it, our lives are deeply intertwined with people across the globe. When I see cruel comments on social media, I wonder, "who talks this way?" Do these same people call others "moron, satan," and far worse when they are at work or the grocery store? Lord, I hope not.
Years ago, the bumper sticker, "Mean People Suck" was popular. If we let them, mean people will suck our life energy right out of us. The practice of kindness can save us from getting sucked into a downward spiral of anxiety, frustration and self-doubt.
For the sake of humanity, let's rally to protect kindness the way a conservation group might try to save an endangered animal. It is a rare, precious creature that must be saved. The children’s website, “One Kind Planet,” lists the following suggestions are to help protect endangered species. They can also help us save kindness.
- Protect habitats. Habitat loss is one of the biggest causes of extinction.
Protect the habitat of kindness. Is there room for kindness in your life? It’s hard to be kind when you are frantically busy and exhausted. It’s hard to be kind when there is no time in your life for laughter or fun. It’s hard to be kind when you take yourself too seriously. Create a habitat where kindness can thrive.
- Volunteer to maintain a local nature reserve, campaign against deforestation or create a space for nature in your garden.
Create a garden of a kindness in your life. If you love gardening then you can take this literally. If not, create a symbolic inner garden. Breathe in peace. Exhale frustration. Block out the noise around you. Focus on radical acceptance, compassion and love. Meditate on love.
- Educate others. People are more likely to want to save animals if they know about them. Spend time doing some research and spread the word.
Educate Others. People will be more likely to save kindness if they know and experience it. We need to spend sometime researching ways to be kind and true to our selves. Kindness does not make us a doormat for mean people to trample over. It just refuses to perpetuate ill will.
- Stay away from pesticides and herbicides. Animals are venerable to pollutants that can build up in the environment and can die if they consume high levels.
Avoid pesticides. Humans are venerable to pollutants that build up over time. Some common pollutants that kill kindness are negativity, insecurity, jealousy, anger, and fear. Nourish your body, mind and soul with positive thoughts.
- Shop ethically. Avoid buying products made from endangered animals,
Shop Ethically. Avoid buying into the idea that you need to prove your worth by buying things you do not need. Also, don't buy into the notion that you can build yourself up by tearing others people down. You build yourself up be encouraging and helping others be their best.
- Be an ethical tourist. The rise of animal experiences endangers their lives. Often they are treated cruelly and kept in unsatisfactory conditions.
Travel wisely. Pick your experiences wisely. We need to pick our life experiences carefully and consider the unintended consequences our presence has on other people.
Being kind takes effort. We have to learn new ways to respond to stressful situations. Each day gives us an opportunity to practice. What will you do to be kind today?
