Kindness? What’s That!
This is one belief I keep reiterating to my friends and family members frequently --- ‘For success in life, just follow the Class-I Moral Science book!� Before you, the reader, thwart my belief, let me divulge to you that I have no takers for this assessment of mine. The reason being that we are all conditioned to believe that things we love, success included, are arduous to achieve. You ought to toil incessantly and put in many years of hard work with no guarantee that your dream will come true. What I intend to emphasize is that simple words you learnt as a toddler can transform your life for the better! These words are --- ‘BE KIND�! For success in life, all you have to do and be is to develop into a kinder person. The rest you will receive through blessings you earn from others and your own honesty in living your life according to the Law of the Universe. The rest will be magic!
Hey! Look around carefully and you will be able to locate many ‘unkind� people around you. They are NOT ‘cruel� people but they lack basic kindness --- irrespective of whether they are educated or illiterate individuals.
What is Kindness?
Kindness has several layers of meanings. It has different connotations depending upon a given situation, thought, person or intention. For instance, kindness would mean ‘to be completely aware�. If you are kind, you will really ‘listen� to people when they converse with you, intently following every detail they may be disclosing.
Mr. Raj received a phone call from his mother while he was driving. His first reaction was to ignore the call and call back later, say, after an hour when he was home. However, pestered by his wife, he parked the car on the side of the road and lovingly spoke to his mother. A couple of hours later, the phone rang again, informing him about the demise of his mother who died of severe heart attack! A little kindness and patience on his part saved Mr. Raj a lifetime of repentance.
Here is another example. Mr. Kumar enters a high profile party and just when he came across his colleagues, they began enquiring and discussing about his recent illness in public. The topic made Mr. Kumar uneasy and yet all the jokes and anecdotes were centred around his affliction. These individuals, though well-read and high on the ranks were not behaving kindly.
Who are these Kind People?
Kind individuals believe in the dignity of all living beings --- human beings and animals. They always treat everyone well, avoid telling a lie, are helpful without always focusing on their own profit. They are ‘givers�, compassionate beings --- always radiating positive energy through noble actions, empowering and encouraging words. They never belittle others, are not revengeful and are always careful of their thoughts, words and deeds, readily forgiving others for their misgivings. Kindness is not meekness. Instead, it is a way of respecting the self for leading a more peaceful life. Kind individuals try not to cling to the past or future and live in the present moment. They are nice to the poor and the needy, children and elders alike. They lead a disciplined life avoiding excessive judgement of others� behaviour and focusing on their own personal and professional improvement. They respect their own time as well as that of others. They reside in clean surroundings and are open to new suggestions and opinions from others.
You will seldom find them angry or irritated. Kind individuals do not view others as separate and display genuine concern for the welfare and well being of others. They are learnable and welcome any change more easily. They smile more often as they harbour prayerful and serene thoughts throughout their working hours. They offer their work to the Almighty, surrender the fruits of their labour to Him and just move on securely with faith and confidence. They are unperturbed by success and failure, displaying equanimity even while wading their way through dark waters. This is why they are able to motivate others during trying and turbulent times. They know for sure, ‘This, too, shall pass away.�
Kind people show selflessness, let go easily and are devoid of ego. With practice and self-control, they have conquered vices such as jealousy, arrogance and anger, see the good in others and always tend to uplift other individuals around them. They harp upon what they can do for others and how they can be of use, without any expectations of receiving anything in return. They have risen above material accumulations and passion for their work or love for their family and friends is their real legacy.
Are YOU Kind?
If you are a happy individual, chances are that you are also a kind individual. If you can share a portion from your own time, money and material, you must be a kind person. If you can be happy for someone else’s achievements and display compassion for someone who is ‘down and out� due to failed health or loss in business etc., you must be a nice person. If you look at someone and greet him/her with a happy twinkle in your eyes, not because he may be of help to you someday and is a big name but because you recognize him and just felt glad to meet him, you are a kind and nice person. If you adjust some rules so that someone may be more comfortable, you must be a kind person. If you can leave others happy and better after they have spoken to you, you qualify as a kind angel on this Earth.
The world needs more of such people today to assure and uplift others and to bolster the belief that goodness and kindness prevail even today in the world so choked with strife. Kindness, honesty and integrity from one person can actually kick start a chain reaction of goodness --- enough to diffuse hatred and warfare in any corner on Earth. Now, isn’t kindness a powerful word?Â
Hey! Look around carefully and you will be able to locate many ‘unkind� people around you. They are NOT ‘cruel� people but they lack basic kindness --- irrespective of whether they are educated or illiterate individuals.
What is Kindness?
Kindness has several layers of meanings. It has different connotations depending upon a given situation, thought, person or intention. For instance, kindness would mean ‘to be completely aware�. If you are kind, you will really ‘listen� to people when they converse with you, intently following every detail they may be disclosing.
Mr. Raj received a phone call from his mother while he was driving. His first reaction was to ignore the call and call back later, say, after an hour when he was home. However, pestered by his wife, he parked the car on the side of the road and lovingly spoke to his mother. A couple of hours later, the phone rang again, informing him about the demise of his mother who died of severe heart attack! A little kindness and patience on his part saved Mr. Raj a lifetime of repentance.
Here is another example. Mr. Kumar enters a high profile party and just when he came across his colleagues, they began enquiring and discussing about his recent illness in public. The topic made Mr. Kumar uneasy and yet all the jokes and anecdotes were centred around his affliction. These individuals, though well-read and high on the ranks were not behaving kindly.
Who are these Kind People?
Kind individuals believe in the dignity of all living beings --- human beings and animals. They always treat everyone well, avoid telling a lie, are helpful without always focusing on their own profit. They are ‘givers�, compassionate beings --- always radiating positive energy through noble actions, empowering and encouraging words. They never belittle others, are not revengeful and are always careful of their thoughts, words and deeds, readily forgiving others for their misgivings. Kindness is not meekness. Instead, it is a way of respecting the self for leading a more peaceful life. Kind individuals try not to cling to the past or future and live in the present moment. They are nice to the poor and the needy, children and elders alike. They lead a disciplined life avoiding excessive judgement of others� behaviour and focusing on their own personal and professional improvement. They respect their own time as well as that of others. They reside in clean surroundings and are open to new suggestions and opinions from others.
You will seldom find them angry or irritated. Kind individuals do not view others as separate and display genuine concern for the welfare and well being of others. They are learnable and welcome any change more easily. They smile more often as they harbour prayerful and serene thoughts throughout their working hours. They offer their work to the Almighty, surrender the fruits of their labour to Him and just move on securely with faith and confidence. They are unperturbed by success and failure, displaying equanimity even while wading their way through dark waters. This is why they are able to motivate others during trying and turbulent times. They know for sure, ‘This, too, shall pass away.�
Kind people show selflessness, let go easily and are devoid of ego. With practice and self-control, they have conquered vices such as jealousy, arrogance and anger, see the good in others and always tend to uplift other individuals around them. They harp upon what they can do for others and how they can be of use, without any expectations of receiving anything in return. They have risen above material accumulations and passion for their work or love for their family and friends is their real legacy.
Are YOU Kind?
If you are a happy individual, chances are that you are also a kind individual. If you can share a portion from your own time, money and material, you must be a kind person. If you can be happy for someone else’s achievements and display compassion for someone who is ‘down and out� due to failed health or loss in business etc., you must be a nice person. If you look at someone and greet him/her with a happy twinkle in your eyes, not because he may be of help to you someday and is a big name but because you recognize him and just felt glad to meet him, you are a kind and nice person. If you adjust some rules so that someone may be more comfortable, you must be a kind person. If you can leave others happy and better after they have spoken to you, you qualify as a kind angel on this Earth.
The world needs more of such people today to assure and uplift others and to bolster the belief that goodness and kindness prevail even today in the world so choked with strife. Kindness, honesty and integrity from one person can actually kick start a chain reaction of goodness --- enough to diffuse hatred and warfare in any corner on Earth. Now, isn’t kindness a powerful word?Â
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