The beautiful complexity of a complicated world. We dynamically dance through life, bumping into experience, exchanging fleeting moments with others, and, hopefully, progressing along the way. Each collision with life demands a choice—an action. Emotions arise propelling us towards one stimulus and away from others. Sometimes we react perfectly, achieving the desired goal, other times our response fails. We zigged when should have zagged. We timidly withdrew when we should have embraced. Accordingly, we veer from a desired goal, drawn away by emotions, habits and tempting pleasures. Error is inherent when living in a convoluted world, compelled to act by unseen emotional forces. With patience and guidance, we hone our abilities to aptly respond to life—not flawlessly, but effectively. And above all, we see ourselves with kindsight.
“Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.”
~Karyn Hall Ph.D.
Perfectionism and Kindsight
All too common, we expect a better performance from ourselves. Somehow, we believe this unscripted life is supposed to be perfectly navigated. However, only with post evaluations do we exposes the error, we grumble over our stupidity. We must stop this nasty habit. Self-denigration gets you nowhere; embrace your inner child with self-compassion. Personal imperfection is okay. We are imperfect (perfectly imperfect). We never will eliminate all the mistakes, missteps and even occasional moments of evilness. Weaknesses impose on our lives, occasionally reminding of our human heritage. Mistakes are here to stay.
Kindsight gently accepts imperfection as part of our individual character and human existence.
“Kindness is a chain reaction. It’s a wave that keeps rolling, and all it needs is one person to start it. One small kind act can cause a ripple effect that impacts an entire community.”
~Inspire Kindness
Kindsight and Compassionately Judging Mistakes
A single choice doesn’t define the entirety of our character—as poor as that choice may be. A skilled approach evaluates the self by examining the entirety of choices—and our adjustments to faulty choices. It’s okay to make mistakes.
We live effectively by recognizing mistakes and consciously addressing them. Patience and self-compassion must accompany this process of becoming. Expecting perfection frustrates the process. Through introspective thinking and compassionate understanding (kindsight), we gain wisdom from errors. And with the wisdom, we improve at the skill of living.
Seeing the World with Kindness
Kindness is nice. It is more than kind acts but a way of seeing the world. We must practice re-interpreting our habitual jarring and biter judgements and seeing the world through kindsight lenses.
We slip into thinking habits. Negative mindsets may begin as biological sensitivities, but we enhance their notable impact through thoughts, words, and routine assessments of surrounding internal and external stimuli.
Spend a significant amount time around people that negatively bash everything and soon we find the “doom and gloom” attitude infiltrates our own perceptions. Our bright world of opportunity morphs into a dark sphere of frightening horrors.
We can challenge dismal unkindness by practicing kindsight in a number of ways:
- A gratitude journal
- Challenging judgements with kind alternative possibilities
- Mindful meditation
- Uplifting friends
- Positive media groups and television programs
Others?
What is this article about, anyways? Kindness to others or kindness to ourselves? Compassion can, and should encompass both. We tame critical judgements with compassionate views (kindsight), understanding there is always more to the story. Our criticism doesn’t change the world, force others into better behaviors, or encourage personal change.
When we talk about kindness to others, we need to consider extending the same kindness to ourselves. When we talk about kindness to ourselves, we need to also practice extending kindness to others. We need kindsight when looking outward and looking inward.
The Impact of Unkindness On Self-Image
When we harshly judge the normal slips and stumbles, we undermine personal value. By lowering self-image, and invite discouragement. This mindset weighs down the mind and drains precious energy, focusing on the self instead of the actions. We inevitably will make more mistakes. The same rule is true when influencing others. We don’t need manipulative barbs, judging flaws, and citing flaws. Conversely, what we need is need kindness, patience and understanding.
We must lift our heads, widen our perspectives and view life with more kindness. The softness of kindsight creates an internal support system to lift us and those around us through the difficult challenges of this dynamic and unpredictable universe.
Give yourself and others a little more kindness and flourish.
