The definition of kindness is "the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate." In a perfect world, this is a quality we would wish to bestow upon ourselves and hope others also possess. But why does it seem so hard?
I know what you are probably thinking, "Speak for yourself. It's not hard for me. I'm a kind person; it's everyone else who isn't kind."
Herein lies the greatest obstacle to creating a world where kindness is the unwritten law of the land, the habit of humanity, the definition of our existence. The barrier to this is that humankind has relinquished control to our primitive nature, controlled and orchestrated by (what I call) our automatic brain.
Let me digress briefly to shed light on this brain. Our automatic brain is the same as our cave-dwelling ancestors and the primary driving force in animals (including us Homo sapiens). It does not think (i.e., lacks consciousness) and only reacts. It reacts to anything it picks up as potentially dangerous, threatening, or causing us to feel vulnerable. When any of these are detected, it automatically reacts, causing us to fight or flee. How does it know what is dangerous? Through a lifetime of storing information. When I say, this brain doesn't think, that is different from the idea of generating thoughts. It can cause us to have all kinds of thoughts if they help us fight or flee danger. For example, you grew up in a home where you were taught that rich people were evil. Growing and becoming more educated led you to a career where you began to enjoy financial success. All of a sudden, you begin to develop negative thoughts about yourself and feel anxiety. Why? Your automatic brain detects this success as something dangerous because of the stored data from childhood, and it is doing whatever it takes, by all necessary means, to get you to fight or flee this "danger." Such is an example of a modern-day saber-toothed tiger.
So, let's get back to kindness. I have highlighted the existence of a primitive nature controlled by a fundamental reactive brain, the automatic brain (AB, for short). All humans possess this equally. But there is another part of us humans—a higher mind: reflective and conscious, pure and powerful—a gateway to our Divine nature.
This is where genuine kindness arises.
Some people over the centuries have viewed the AB as ego or even the Devil. But our AB is quite creative in protecting us from so-called danger. It can use kind acts to manipulate and gain power over another. Being kind toward another may trigger danger as this brain may pick up that you are placing yourself in a vulnerable position. Therefore, the AB will cause you to fight or flee being kind; thus, the complexity and difficulty of being kind.
How do we practice kindness with purity and our Divine nature rather than orchestrated by our AB and, hence, our primitive nature?
1. Give with no expectations
In other words, give with no strings attached. When we give with expectations of something in return, that is a sign our AB is taking the lead. When we expect something in return, that indicates our AB is trying to use kindness to gain the upper hand, thus insulating us from others' danger of taking advantage or manipulating us. Giving for display purposes, i.e., for being viewed by others as a good person, may have immediate benefits on those you give, but ultimately, since it comes from the AB, it will not nurture the Divine genuine. In my mind, authentic giving without expectation leads to receiving without limitation.
2. Understand that self-sacrifice often leads to self-sabotage
Indeed, it's good to give of yourself, right? However, some of the greatest givers have allowed their lives and families to fall apart. That is a sign that poverty and lack have somehow been programmed in their memory backs as something they are comfortable with and the opposite as dangerous (as in the example above). To be connected with genuine Divine kindness, you must first keep your own house in order—adequate (preferably abundant) food, clothing, and shelter. When you sacrifice yourself at others' expense, you will block access to genuine kindness, likely leading to resentment, inner anger, and even jealousy. Another way to look at this is a drowning person cannot help someone else who is drowning.
3. Practice the Golden Rule
The most familiar version of the Golden Rule says, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Indeed, we would want others to be friendly, genuine, and considerate toward us, so it would make sense to do the same to others. Naturally, our AB will warn us that such action can make us more vulnerable. Such warnings are typical characteristics of the AB, which is forever scouring the landscape 24/7 for evidence of things that can hurt us. Don't trust those warnings; practice this rule, and realize we are all in this earth-boat together.
4. Radiate Kindness
Have you ever described someone as having a "kind face" or said someone has "kind eyes?" I have. When you go through your days, no matter how stressful, maintain an upright posture, a smile on your face, and widen your eyes (not in a creepy sort of way!). You can check in occasionally by viewing yourself in the mirror of a car, for instance. When you walk down the street, envision your eyes sparkling, your face aglow, and your lips smiling. This will attract kindness to you and make your practice easier—more consistent with the Divine within you.
5. Practice Non-Discriminatory Kindness
We can all agree that giving a homeless person a piece of bread or placing a shirt on their back is an act of kindness. But what if you saw a millionaire in need of help? Or did you see anyone needing help who you perceived to have more than you or who was more powerful than you? Could you be kind to that person? Our AB does have us discriminating as a protective, defensive mechanism. "Why should I help that dude? They don't help me?" (Hey, remember the first item on this list?!). Or you may be thinking, "They don't need me to be kind. They can pay people to be kind to them." You will find that when you follow your Divine instinct for kindness, you will not discriminate. I suspect this practice will draw more kindness in your direction in ways you cannot imagine.
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There is probably no more extraordinary place than the concept of kindness, which highlights the difference between our primitive and Divine natures. Approaching others using the five principles above will help you not believe, trust, or take direction from your primitive nature. It will open the gates to the Divine, unveiling your pure potential, life purpose, and genuine success.
© Dr. Charles F. Glassman, CoachMD