Denisa Cerna
When I say “kindness”, what do you imagine?
Generosity? Warmth? Laughter?
Kindness is all of that – and more.
Not everyone’s naturally kind, though. Some of us have to develop that skill as we increase our empathy and learn more about the world around us, and people to whom kindness comes naturally are the best examples we can learn from.
So, if someone displays these 7 behaviors, they’re a naturally kind person.
1) They love to share
I’ve always been quite selfish when it comes to sharing – especially where food is concerned.
The moment you want to grab a slice of my pizza, my instinct is to pull the box closer to me and act like Joey from Friends: “Joey doesn’t share food!”
My best friend, though? Not so much. She absolutely loves to share, be it food, self-improvement tips, beauty tricks, or her favorite recipes.
And that’s because she’s just naturally kind. It’s not that she doesn’t *mind* sharing – it’s that it actually makes her happy to help you out.
This is why kind people are often volunteers. For them, helping isn’t something they do out of a sense of duty. It’s something they enjoy. Something that brings them a sense of fulfillment.
In fact, research supports this. When you’re a happy and kind person, your well-being increases as a result of helping others.
Kind of amazing, right?
2) They care about you as a person, not as a means to an end
Another amazing thing about kindness is that it always comes from a genuine place.
That’s where kindness and niceness differ. Niceness can be faked. It can be a front you put on in order to get in someone’s good books, avoid conflict, or get what you want.
There’s an underlying motive. An intention that’s much more complex than a simple “I want to help because it makes me happy”.
Kindness, however, comes from the heart. You can only ever be kind if you truly mean it.
And one of the best ways to recognize that is to see how people connect with you.
Someone who’s naturally kind will want to be your friend because they find you fascinating, because they care about you as a person, and because they feel great when they’re around you.
They won’t use you as a means to an end. They will see the connection you two have as an end in and of itself.
3) They don’t judge – even if they don’t understand
Just as there’s a difference between kindness and niceness, we can quite easily distinguish between judgment and misunderstanding.
You won’t always understand everything. And that’s okay. You’re just one person with one life, and you can never comprehend the vast multitude of experiences that occur in the world.
(Although reading fiction is a good way to increase that potential. Just saying.)
But while a kind person will try their best to remain open and find that understanding within themselves, others might just close themselves off and perceive everything they don’t understand with judgment and contempt.
But judgment doesn’t help anybody, least of all you. It narrows your ability to experience the universe in its fullness.
Openness is kind, both to others and to yourself.
4) They are trustworthy
So, what happens once you do open up to someone kind and explain your own experiences to them?
They’ll try their best to understand you on both a rational and emotional level. And then…they’ll keep the contents of that conversation to themselves.
In other words, kind people don’t go around spilling everybody’s secrets. They don’t revel in gossip. You can trust them to keep your secrets safe.
This is because they are naturally empathetic and respectful, which means they know how important confidentiality and trust are.
Oh, and speaking of respect…
5) They always respect your boundaries
Here’s how you feel when you’re with a kind person: safe.
That’s the most basic way to put it, but it’s true. You may have just met them an hour ago, but they simply have such warmth about them that you know you’ll be okay.
And I’m not talking about charm here. I’m talking about the natural respect they display – they’ll suggest rather than give orders, they’ll always ask for your opinion or consent first, and they’ll know not to push your boundaries.
If you say something’s a no-go, they will respect it.
If you appear uncomfortable, they will try to make the situation as nice as possible for you.
When you’re around someone who’s naturally kind, things are never forced. Everything’s easy because they *make* it easy.
6) They put in the effort to make you feel loved
Kindness is like sitting by the fireplace on a winter morning. It keeps you warm and cozy.
Everyone’s got different requirements for how that looks, though. Some people might prefer to hear compliments while others just want a big hug.
Whatever your love language, a kind person will go out of their way to learn it and express it.
They’ll want to show you that you matter to them. They’ll want to make you feel loved and cherished, even if it means a little bit more effort from their side.
When you’re around someone kind, it’s clear that the interaction isn’t just about them. It’s about the connection you two have together. And they’ll strive to cultivate it time and again.
7) They display patience
Lastly, kind people are patient.
Struggling with your maths homework? They’ll sit by your side for an hour and help you get through it.
Holding up the queue? They’ll smile and say it’s no big deal because they understand life just happens, and what’s more, they don’t mind waiting anyway.
Arrived a little bit late to the date because of the traffic? They’ll wave their hand and move on because they know you can’t influence external circumstances, and at least they got to have a fun chat with the waiter.
Patience is among the biggest signs of kindness because it shows an acceptance of life, as well as one’s willingness to give you the benefit of the doubt.
Plus, the reason kind people don’t mind waiting is that they are in touch with their inner peace, which leads us to the final point of the article:
Most naturally kind people are that way because they love who they are and the world they live in. They are at peace with themselves, and they can draw from this energy and spread it all around.
The most beautiful thing about kindness is that it never goes out when shared. It only multiplies.
