I recently read a quote from Gary Vee, explaining kindness in a way that I have failed to understand in the past. To summarize Gary’s words, we tend to view kindness in a manipulative way. If you are kind to me, I will be kind to you. The problem with this is-it isn’t true kindness. True kindness is acting kind without a reciprocation in mind. Being kind no matter what you will receive in return. Being kind, to just be kind. Wow. This perspective from Gary Vee really made me think.
I don’t think we realize how freeing it feels to be kind. Acting with kindness is light, while acting with meanness is heavy to carry around. Although I’ve never considered myself a mean person, (who would want to consider themselves a mean person honestly) I’ve of course had my mean moments. And I deeply regret these moments in my life where I’ve been mean to anyone-regardless of the situation. We never regret being kind though, do we? I’ve really been focusing on acting with kindness no matter what. I dove into kindness more in 2021, but see this being a recurring theme in my life in 2022 and beyond. Kindness, gratitude, and empathy-all traits I’ve learned the most about from Gary Vee himself. I think it’s important to keep in perspective that we never known someone’s full story. Choosing to judge by the surface level that we see, is entirely unfair. Give others grace-and just be kind.
I’ve talked about this before, but thinking how I want others to feel as a direct result of being around me is also a way to act with more kindness. We never know what one small act of kindness can do for someone. Although it may seem easier at first to react with judgment, and not treat someone who is unkind with kindness instead-I’ve honestly found it to be stupidly easy as in “why have I not been living this way my entire life”.
We are all human, and therefore we aren’t perfect-so acting with kindness is really a daily choice we must make or even a moment to moment choice we must make. I want to challenge you, as I have challenged myself-to act with more kindness. To see the rippling effects of kindness before my eyes, there’s no turning back for me. I know we need more kindness in the world-and I am going to do my part in sharing it.
Remember to LIVE your ADVENTURE.
See you later Going Further Fam! ✌️
Demie