I'm sure, like most people, the general idea of kindness
brings on the thought of doing something nice for someone
else. While that is partially true, this week I'd like for you
to think of it a little differently. I want you to get down to
one of the core foundations of kindness that, when practiced
regularly, will help you not only enrich the lives of others
but also create a new outlook on life for yourself.
Most of us today are so busy trying to balance work,
family, and the struggles of responsibility that we tend to go
through the motions of life while neglecting the consideration
of others. This may sound a little harsh but think about it.
The "now" society that we live in has helped condition us to
think of "me" before thinking of "we."
How many times have you stopped in the grocery store, while
in a hurry, and happen to jump into the "slow" lane where it
seems the cashier is trying to set a world record for the
least number of checkouts per hour? You think to yourself "Why
do I always get stuck in the slow lane?" You get up to
register and instead of making conversation with the cashier,
you are so frustrated at the time it took to get through that
you don't say a word and look away as to not make eye contact
with him/her. He or she says nothing either and seems a little
distracted, just proceeding to check you out at a snails pace.
You think "Come on, I am in a hurry here." You walk out and
think to yourself how amazingly slow and impolite that cashier
was, how much time they cost you. What you didn't know was
that the cashier had been pulling double shifts all week,
working two jobs to pay for her son's mounting medical bills
as a result of an illness and no health insurance.
No wonder she's a little slow and possibly not in the best
mindset possible.
This is where compassion comes in. Compassion, as defined
by Dictionary.com is as follows: "Deep awareness of the
suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it."
The purpose of the illustration above is to point out that
often we tend to be in such a hurry for our own needs that we
sometimes neglect to consider the circumstances of someone
else. What if, instead of getting upset at the cashier because
she cost you a few extra minutes, you used the time in line to
strike up a conversation with someone in line with you? You
might meet someone interesting. What if, instead of getting
upset, you actually made eye contact with the cashier and
tried to ask her about her day or perhaps even pay her a
compliment (even if you have to make something up) .
Something as simple as taking the time to be compassionate
to others, thinking of their possible circumstances above your
own and wanting to help them, is where I believe kindness
originates. Being compassionate to others creates a chain
reaction that can change someone's day, their life, and quite
possibly their circumstances but at the very least... I can
guarantee you that it will at least change your day.
So today, as you encounter situations with people that may
cause you to initially become upset, I encourage you to
consider the possibilities. Consider what they may be going
through in their lives. For one second, pretend you are them.
If you were experiencing the same situation, how would you
like to be treated?
