In today's world it is normal to see people engrossed in competing and beating their peers. Egoism is rewarded and encouraged, and moral values are set aside. We are surrounded by hatred, violence, and fear, all from having given up or forgotten the practice of kindness. Keep reading.
There is a widespread idea that competitiveness is the seed of progress. This opinion, sold by some economists and businessmen, has exalted selfishness and promoted as “normal” or legitimate strategies to harm others in the name of “healthy competition”. At the end of the day, we find ourselves trapped in a violent, malicious, paranoid society that scares us and in which we are, in many ways, complicit.
It is no coincidence that for more than 5000 years all religions and spiritual disciplines have promoted the practice of goodness. For Hinduism: "The supreme duty is not to do to others what causes you pain when they do it to you." Buddha insisted on this topic, warned about the evils of selfishness and the need to practice sincere kindness to improve life. He recommended to his followers to be upright, gentle, humble, peaceful and calm, to radiate friendship and get rid of hatred and ill will, to achieve, as he said, that all beings, without exception, live happily and in peace.
The wise Confucius sentenced: "The maximum benevolence consists in not doing to others what you do not want them to do to you." Judaism teaches: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Law; everything else is a comment. For Islam: "None of you is a believer if he does not love his brother as himself."
And Christianity incites goodness in the parable of the Good Samaritan and in many other passages in the Bible. In Corinthians: "We should not seek only our own good, but also the good of others." In Colossians: "Put on, then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, with tender mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience."
We will clarify that I am referring here to a sincere practice of kindness and not to a simulation for utilitarian purposes. It is about understanding the value of kindness as an antidote to rescuing families that disintegrate and societies that are corrupted. Cicero said it well: "If we do good out of interest, we will be cunning, but never good."
I define goodness as an inner urge or need to do good, in terms of executing and promoting morally desirable behaviors. I understand the relativity of the subject given the multicultural differences, but I trust that many will find it easy to support loving tolerance to the weakest, such as the sick, abandoned, children and the elderly, and will disapprove of physical and mental torture, as well as the barbarism that it represents, for example, the genital cutting that is practiced today on millions of defenseless girls in many populations of the world, especially on the African continent.
I hold that there is a spiritual capacity in each person that allows them to discern what is acceptable and what is not for life and human dignity.
People with a kind-minded tendency tend to show a sincere disposition to create well-being for others, either because that is their innate condition or they learned it in a formal educational training process or not, in moral or spiritual values such as: tolerance, empathy, compassion or solidarity.
Why be kind? We can be kind out of fear of punishment, out of desire for reward, out of guilt, or out of the pleasure of giving. Loving people tend to have better health, better relationships, and stronger social influence.
It is important to note that acting kindly does not imply being a fool or accepting abuse. No. Even characters like Gandhi or Mandela, with messages about tolerance, love and equality, showed that you can be loving and firm at the same time. As Antonio Machado said: "Benevolence does not mean tolerance of the mean, or conformity with the inept, but a will for good."
You can be part of the group of men and women who have not been intoxicated by political hatred, social competitiveness or the fear of not being seen as special. Ask yourself whether or not your relationship, your job, and your life in general would be much better, with a little love, generosity, kindness. If so, there is a lot you can start to do.
- Do not be poisoned. Make the decision not to be intoxicated by selfishness and hatred. Ask yourself how I can help. You will discover that there are groups, foundations, and projects that you can volunteer for. Take the initiative. Don't expect to see fruit where you haven't placed seeds. Take a first step, call, go, make yourself available, take care of your ego. Everything that you do good, the ego will want to take it to make you feel superior, special or better. When faced with this symptom, remember that these are acts of giving, not receiving. Take action, and share these ideas, without forcing others, without believing yourself indispensable or superior - one step at a time. Don't get excited about changing the world. All you have to do is collaborate on a small change in your area of influence. The sum of millions of good works is what will make the difference. Persevere.It is easy to get discouraged when obstacles are encountered in our intentions to help, when people greatly affected by their sorrows block our best intentions. It is there when we must show will and remember the words of the English poet Robert Browning: The fault lies only with time. All men get good, but so slowly! "
Finally, you will soon discover that the emotional rewards of doing good are extraordinary. And while some may not value your contributions, the results will speak for you.
There will always be, although it is not essential for noble people, those who think like the great Beethoven, who said one fine day: The only symbol of superiority I know is goodness ”. Thanks for reading me. www.laexcelencia.com
