Kindness Builds Strength

Kindness is being friendly to someone with the motivation of helping while expecting nothing in return. Key characteristics of a kind person are patience, faithfulness, generosity, and charity. American politician Bob Kerrey said, "Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change." As a leadership initiative, it should be viewed as a core value to foster inclusion, embrace diversity, and value different perspectives.

Playwright and novelist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe described kindness as "the golden chain by which society is bound." This golden chain builds connection and trust while creating tribes of like-minded people who collectively serve others. Kindness and strength are not mutually exclusive. With every generous act, people build emotional capital that encourages people to pay it forward.

What if we looked at each suffering person as our people? What if we felt the same responsibility towards them as we do our children? Would we act differently, reach out more, and show more compassion?

If the people in our communities are not seen or appreciated, then we are all weakened. Building relationships bridges the gap between fear and feeling safe, in control, and loved. We can't start solving the big problems until we face the issues within our backyard. Former first lady Michelle Obama said, "Our greatness has always come from people who expect nothing and take nothing for granted - folks who work hard for what they have, then reach back and help others after them." It takes neighbors helping neighbors to create the symbiotic relationship we need to strengthen our communities.

What’s your motivation for your act of kindness?