Kindness is perhaps one of the ethical values that we most appreciate in others and that we would most like to be surrounded by. Who wouldn’t love to be surrounded by people who are kind, friendly, caring, happy, considerate, respectful, and generous?
Like all human virtues, kindness is expressed through actions. We can all recognize a good person even if we can’t define the concept of kindness. It is expressed in countless ways.
Kindness is a part of our everyday life far more than we consciously acknowledge, although it may sometimes seem otherwise. It is the foundation of all the good things we share; it enables coexistence, civilizational achievements and culture, generosity, and dedication in the pursuit of the common good that makes us human. It is the absence of kindness, or extreme selfishness, that destroys the bonds that connect and unite us in life.
Kindness is an internal drive that seeks good in others, in our environment, and even within ourselves. This constant inclination towards goodness and care for the needs of others is evident. Through thoughts, feelings, and actions, it transforms a person into a “lighthouse” that radiates joy, security, and trust. Their presence illuminates, rather than shadows. Those who spread kindness do not act with the dilemma of “you or me,” but rather with “we.” Therefore, kindness can be equated with love.
It is difficult to imagine true kindness without recognizing in it modesty, simplicity, and respect for the dignity of others. Kindness is not arrogance or tutelage that pretends to know and do what is good out of arrogance. On the contrary, kindness has a lot to do with patience (often putting it to the test). A good person is, generally speaking, patient in their expectations and grants others freedom and the opportunity for mistakes, which we all need in life. From the deep sense of life, a person’s inner security and self-confidence are born.
This deep-rooted kindness goes hand in hand with a gentle smile, courtesy, and tenderness. It seeks to spread joy out of empathy and generosity.
This Experiencing joy and tranquility is the result of not falling into the trap of superficiality and respecting people and everything that makes us human, regardless of the demands and needs of life. Therefore, kindness, attentiveness, consideration, and pleasant character exhibited by such a person make living with them so effortless.
We could argue against this by claiming that blind kindness sometimes causes chaos, especially when we insist on helping without knowing the consequences or taking into account the reality or freedom of others. How much evil has been done with the words, “It’s for your own good, I’m doing this because I love you!” That is why kindness is complemented by discernment, and the two together give birth to wisdom. In this process, kindness does not lose its qualities, but rather gains new ones by bringing light into its natural warmth.
Sometimes we are faced with the dilemma of choosing between being kind or being just. Although we will address the question of justice on another occasion (it should give each person what suits them according to their nature and actions), why would we choose between these two? is there any idea of separating justice by the absence of goodness and vice versa? p>
Love makes the will gentler and gives it beautiful and pleasant forms, while directing it towards a good goal. Kindness humanizes justice by reminding us that we are all humans and that, ultimately, Goodness is the purpose of justice. It seems that kindness and justice not only can coexist but must. I have always been inspired by the idea of development, such as the development of a just, good, and wise human being. And I wonder if these attributes can truly develop fully if they exist separately. p>
And finally, we can ask ourselves: are we born good or do we become good? p>
Modern neuroscience research tells us more and more about the obvious tendency of humans to care for the well-being of others as something innate, even rooted in our biology. The truth is that there are many other tendencies within us (towards animal survival) that could negate them, as impulses of all kinds coexist in our nature. The complexity of life is natural. It is a fact that requires direction and coordination to channel it. But kindness makes us more humane.
Like everything else, we can nurture kindness, whose root exists in all beings, or we can let it fade under the weight of selfishness; feed that which makes us more humane or that which makes us more animalistic (with due respect to animals).
Personally, I believe that, as we strengthen the seeds of kindness within ourselves through our actions and attitudes, life will open up to us with more flowers and bring us even more joy and happiness. As Plato said, “In seeking the good of others, we find our own.”