“A single drop
of water falling into the sea will create a ripple
that will be felt all over
the world.”
This very interesting, creative, and truthful observation by an UnknownAuthor serves to effectively remind us of the wonderful and
uniquely powerful effect that an act of kindness can have on others, even far away
from its original location. Like the single drop of water falling into the sea,
a kind thought, word or deed, well placed, can deliver a response far beyond
its intended focus, and leave an impact that will continue well beyond the
original source.
A
true act of Kindness, quite unlike many
of the other human emotions, must be given unconditionally, without any underlying
motive attached, and with no expectation of reward. Charles Darwin, the great English anthropologist and author of the
definitive, Origin of the Species, insisted
that kindness is an instinctual behavior in
man that is always accompanied by genuine concern and consideration for
others, and associated with feelings of well-being and satisfaction. It is,
without doubt, the single most important key to ensuring a life of fulfillment,
sustained genuine and meaningful relationships, and a future filled with
optimism. It is however, effective only in the presence of love, the main
driving force, which always guarantees truthful implementation, and it will
certainly die in any milieu dominated by greed, selfishness and anger.
The
language of kindness is universal, readily understood and appreciated by all
living beings. When executed on a regular basis, such behavior induces lasting
effects on the person’s well-being, his emotions and his inter-personal
commitments. Such responses are so deeply embedded in the psyche that even a
single act of kindness can induce lasting positive effects on the person, and result
in stimulating a desire for continued kindness in all the aspects of living. Kindness
can be exhibited using every form of sensory expression, and is readily
identified and appreciated by others by the satisfying effects it produces. It
is, without doubt, the most reliable image of love, and with trust, it forms a
solid underpinning for any good relationship. Its value to human existence has
long been understood, and it is a most important requisite of all known
religions, irrespective of underlying doctrine or beliefs, where all members
are taught and encouraged to express kindness to all others.
The popular
connotation that kindness is associated only with the weak and the naïve and
therefore it should be discouraged, is a myth and blatantly false. In fact, an
act of true kindness is a skill that requires courage and strength to implement
successfully against the prevailing environment of greed, selfishness and
individual gain that presently dominate modern societies. It is not a virtue
that can be adopted or showcased only in specific situations or under selected
conditions, but rather, to be truly effective, it must function as an integral
component of the individual’s belief and behavior make-up, and must be
expressed in everything they do. Anything
else is merely a sham!
Unfortunately, by their very
nature, acts of kindness can be, and are very often exploited by others for
their own gain. In fact, people generally, have lost the ability to treat each other
with the kindness and respect due to them, and this is clearly evident in all
the daily interactions. The once routine
attitudes of respect and care for people and for the environment are being
replaced by fear, suspicion and the questioning of everything. So that an act
of kindness even when freely offered, is often viewed with skepticism and
suspicion as an ulterior motive, rather than accepted in good faith. The rising
incidences of social unrests, racial and religious conflicts, and open hate
crimes point clearly and definitively to the loss of this virtue of kindness
among the peoples of the world. It should come as no surprise therefore that
the whole world is in turmoil, with no solution in sight.
There is urgent need for the
world to recognize that this loss of a sense of kindness that seems to be so
prevalent will only confuse and compound the raging distrust and conflicts that
presently engulf the societies. This has made it difficult, almost impossible,
for people to feel, far less offer, goodwill and help to others in need, and
has served only to underline and reinforce fear and distrust. This indeed has
become a major human failing where we are conditioned to be quick to judge that
we are victimized or hurt, and react with antagonism and revenge. It is
precisely because of this progressive deterioration in our attitudes that we
find it hard to feel goodwill to others, to understand their needs, and to
offer help. We are even choosing our leaders who are determined to champion
this attitude.
The answer lies not in prolonging
the situation by judging right from wrong, or to take sides for, or against
anything, but rather to find and hold on to that fundamental thread of kindness
that binds us together as human beings, and bridges the many divides of sex,
race, religion, politics and nationality. This demands a concerted effort by
all, and it must begin with the fundamental commitment to first, do no harm to others, followed by the expression
to all the people of genuine kindness.
In this respect, we seem to have completely forgotten those immortal words of
wisdom by Mahatma Gandhi, the great
Indian statesman, which spoke directly to the real power of kindness:
“The simplest
acts of kindness are far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”
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