Kindness Is Not Weakness
Do you feel weak for being kind?
Do you feel inferior when you’re being kind? Do you think people see you to be less capable of taking care of yourself when facing the horrors of life? But if you have to drown out this confusing noise, if you let go of what people may or may not think, can you deny feeling good after being kind to those who don’t deserve unkindness? Probably not.
But you also can’t deny that there are times where it is necessary for you to be unkind
Life holds many horrors and many unpredictable moments — each with the ability to pull you away from your composure. You may find yourself among ruthless people or terrible situations, which force you to be unkind and follow an unwelcomed path. But even so, you need not forsake yourself to be unkind — choose how much unkindness is needed to face the Obstacle standing in your way.
So kindness and unkindness are both quite necessary — you just need to know when to be which
Don’t shun kindness because you think it to be a sign of weakness — in fact, this perspective holds you back from seeing the very part of humanity that is most appealing. You should neither fully succumb to unkindness — it is a means to be strong, but it is not strength. True strength lies in being able to balance both and use enough of them to face whatever life may bring you.
Theodore Roosevelt was quite right when he said, “the poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer”
It is necessary for you to be your own person, to develop traits in you that will help you succeed in life. But it is also necessary that you don’t forget the greater good of all. Yes, sometimes you may find yourself among people and situations that make life seem unbearable but don’t be so easily convinced by them because you have an influence over others as much as they do over you.
As we go on, keep with you the words of Vincent van Gogh:
“So what do you want? Does what happens inside show on the outside? There is such a great fire in one’s soul, and yet nobody ever comes to warm themselves there, and passersby see nothing but a little smoke coming from the top of the chimney, and go on their way.”
Don’t forget these:
Being Kind Is Not Weak
I think this is misunderstood as being too nice. These are quite similar, but they are not the same. Being kind is respect you have for another. It’s you never using your own sufferings as an excuse to be unkind towards innocent people whose lives you know very little of. You are able to be kind to the outside world because you are kind enough to yourself to never succumb to your sufferings.
Know that everything starts within
It takes mental, physical, emotional and spiritual strength to look to another who knows little of your sufferings and share with them a piece of kindness that could change their life, be it a smile, a short conversation, or a piece of bread. Weakness lies in succumbing to your sufferings and strength lies in overcoming them for you and those around you. Be sure you always choose the latter.
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” — Amelia Earhart
Know When To Be Unkind
It is a sad part of reality to see those who have succumbed to their darker side so often that they have taught themselves to believe this to be the only way to live. These few who have chosen this path often do not realize that they do, but their misunderstandings have found them comfort in manipulating the kindness of those who leave themselves defenseless against such darkness.
Whilst this is not easily welcomed, it is necessary for you to know when to be unkind
You need to learn how to protect yourself against such people — recognize when a person goes too far and feed them small incremental doses of unkindness to humble them. This does not ask you to forsake yourself, it just asks you to be strong as you express your unkindness in a constructive way. You may think they deserve worse, and they probably do, but you will be stronger for bringing hope to the hopeless.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” ― Plato
Be Your Own Good Person
Life is unique for each person experiencing it and we each have our own fair share of it to experience. In truth, many people do not act better because they do not know better. Such knowledge is not always taught as we grow up and most never end up finding it in their lives because they look for answers in the wrong places — they never look within.
You, who are of the few, need to be the change in your fair share of the world
This is the duty of anyone who thinks, even for a moment, that life should be better than it currently is, but you have to look within. Read the works of the greatest in history who did wonderful things whilst facing greater odds — let this inspire you to develop this forgotten good in you, the one you feel deep within. And be sure to pass this onto those around you so that they can do the same for those who will come after you.
“Concentrate on what you have to do. Fix your eyes on it. Remind yourself that your task is to be a good human being; remind yourself what nature demands of people. Then do it, without hesitation, and speak the truth as you see it. But with kindness. With humility. Without hypocrisy.” — Marcus Aurelius
What would be the best way to motivate the significance of being kind?
To be honest, I don’t know how else to motivate a powerful and fundamental characteristic other than by saying, it just makes sense — it makes sense to respect what you don’t know and have a good enough grip on your sufferings to never impose them on anyone out there trying to find their own way through life.
It makes sense to pass on hope instead of suffering
Don’t be an Obstacle holding people back from actually living their lives. Choose to be the light, the light you see within, the light you follow when your own sufferings trap you in the darkness of your mind. Sure, you may need to be a little unkind to people at times, but that should never change the fact that you can look at someone and bring hope to them especially when they lose it in themselves.
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Invest In Your Existence, Kind Reader.
