Daily Stoic Entry #132: What Would Happen If I Responded with Kindness, No Matter What?

May 12th, 2022

Follow along with my personal daily stoic journal, unfiltered, unedited (except for some spelling mistakes).

Morning Reflection:

Kindness shown to a stranger sometimes makes a world of difference. I believe that one person with a small act of kindness can make an enormous difference to someone even if it doesn't mean much to the one giving that kindness. I know that I've been positively influenced by other's kindness, but also when there was no kindness shown to me. I especially feel those moments when I deserved more kindness. So, the choice is mine, will I be bitter because of it? No, the only way to start making an immediate impact to those around you is kindness.

Evening Reflection:

One thing that worries me about always showing kindness, is being used and walked over. If you're too kind and not able to set appropriate boundaries, then you'll end up as the quint essential nice guy. Which is not conducive to what I should be doing. I am for kindness always, but it needs to come from a strength of character and not adjusting your needs to those around you. That's not what kindness is or is meant in this case. Besides, you're not showing yourself kindness in these cases.

Title prompts are taken from The Daily Stoic Journal by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.