Honesty. No matter what the situation is, if you are honest with me, I am far more likely to feel compasionate and kind towards your hardships than if I have been lied to or misled.
It takes me continually being mindful that I share this space with everything else and my right to be here is no more and no less special then anything else’s right to be here.
When I thought about this, I realized that it is really second nature to be kind. When I am UNkind, it is because something exceptional happened which pushed my buttons, and I always take notice.
TWMark – Excellent point. We must recognize the opportunity first before we can act. Gosh, I’ve missed so many.
Perpstu – I think that’s an interesting boundary. Does everyone deserve our kindness? In some situations, maybe not. Then how do we reset to kindness when we’re in the other mode?
La Shae – That’s a very good point – remembering that other’s exist. I’m surprised sometimes how few people consider this. ME is so much more important than US
Heart in SF – I wonder if kindness is always our native state. I think sometimes we are trained to be unkind, cruel as a way of proving how ‘smart’ we are.
I found myself a bit confused by the question at first. Probably because I was thinking of it as a cause/effect situation. I think it only takes an awareness that, despite superficial details, we are all the same; with the same hopes, dreams, struggles, etc.
I saw a plaque once (that I really wish now I had bought) which read, “Treat everyone as though their heart is broken, because it probably is.” I think that only kindness can ensue from that.
What does it take for you to be kind?
An opportunity to present itself that I can recognize for what it is.
Honesty. No matter what the situation is, if you are honest with me, I am far more likely to feel compasionate and kind towards your hardships than if I have been lied to or misled.
I’ve had far too much of that this year.
It takes me continually being mindful that I share this space with everything else and my right to be here is no more and no less special then anything else’s right to be here.
When I thought about this, I realized that it is really second nature to be kind. When I am UNkind, it is because something exceptional happened which pushed my buttons, and I always take notice.
TWMark – Excellent point. We must recognize the opportunity first before we can act. Gosh, I’ve missed so many.
Perpstu – I think that’s an interesting boundary. Does everyone deserve our kindness? In some situations, maybe not. Then how do we reset to kindness when we’re in the other mode?
La Shae – That’s a very good point – remembering that other’s exist. I’m surprised sometimes how few people consider this. ME is so much more important than US
Heart in SF – I wonder if kindness is always our native state. I think sometimes we are trained to be unkind, cruel as a way of proving how ‘smart’ we are.
My first thought was “to be treated fairly,” but then I thought that’s not what the question is asking.
What does it take for me to be kind? It’s a mindset.
I found myself a bit confused by the question at first. Probably because I was thinking of it as a cause/effect situation. I think it only takes an awareness that, despite superficial details, we are all the same; with the same hopes, dreams, struggles, etc.
I saw a plaque once (that I really wish now I had bought) which read, “Treat everyone as though their heart is broken, because it probably is.” I think that only kindness can ensue from that.
All I have to do is stop being self-centered.
Compassion is easy (because I don’t have to be selfless to be compassionate). Real kindness? That can be hard.