Natasha Combrink
Have you been trying to be more kind and compassionate toward other people? Do people say you come across as a bit rude sometimes?
Kindness comes naturally to some people. But that doesn’t mean everyone was born kinder and more approachable than you.
Truth is, most people work hard to teach themselves these personality traits.
And if you set your mind to it, you can also learn to be kinder and more compassionate.
Want to give it a try?
Well, just remember these special traits of compassionate people:
1) They are generous
Kind people always give everything they can and more. Some will literally give you the shirt off their back.
And not always because others deserve it. It’s just the way they are.
You’ll also notice that these types of people never show off their generosity. Their charity donations are typically made anonymously.
Why?
Because they don’t want anything in return! Not even a little popularity or fame.
Unfortunately, this also makes them easy targets. They’re frequently taken advantage of.
Which brings us to their next trait…
2) They are very forgiving
If you…
- undermine
- offend
- take advantage of
…a nice person, they’ll probably forgive you even before you get the chance to apologize.
This doesn’t always make them naive, though.
In fact, it can be a smart trait to teach yourself. In the end, you’re the one who benefits.
Let me explain –
Kind people forgive easily because they know it’s bad for their mental and physical health to hold grudges.
The sooner you let go of feelings like anger and hatred, the sooner you can go on with your life.
This is why you’ll almost always see that…
3) They radiate positivity and optimism
Kind and compassionate people can light up a room as soon as they walk in. You’ll immediately notice their positivity and optimism, even if you don’t know them personally.
Have you ever tried to have a deep conversation about politics with a kind person?
Chances are you’ll get nowhere! By the end of your attempt, you’ll likely just be frustrated.
You have more luck trying to spark a conversation about how great modern technology can be or something else that’s positive.
Positive people prefer to think encouraging and hopeful thoughts. They’ll always choose to surround themselves with those that share their optimistic outlook on life.
But if you bring up some negative topics, don’t worry.
4) They aren’t judgmental
A truly kind and compassionate person won’t judge you for your interests, views, or any mistakes you make.
You could tell them anything. They won’t put you down or let you feel bad about it.
Seriously.
Kind people are the easiest to talk to. You can be your true self around them.
They certainly don’t spend days thinking about what you said, what you did, or what you were wearing the last time they saw you!
Their open-minded and non-judgmental personality also contributes to the fact that…
5) They are respectful
You’ll rarely catch a kind and compassionate person in an argument. They always treat others with respect, regardless of differences.
They’ll never say something disrespectful about race, gender, age, morals, or religion.
Kind people know exactly where the line is and never cross it.
6) They are honest
Honesty is one of the best characteristics you can have, and all kind people have it!
Think about it:
Is kindness really measured in what you give to or do for someone? Or is how you treat and make them feel more important?
Honesty can make people feel worthy. It also creates trust.
If you ask a kind and compassionate person a question about anything, you can expect an honest answer!
Count on these people because they have your best interests at heart…
They really won’t hide anything from you or do something that will hurt you. Because…
7) They are trustworthy
If you go to a kind person with a secret, they’ll keep it!
You can trust them with your life and anything in your heart. They’ll never stab you in the back.
But don’t expect them to keep a secret if it’s going to hurt someone else because their kindness isn’t exclusive.
In a situation like this, a kind person will always try to figure out how to help someone else while showing that they care about you.
8) They are good listeners
This trait is what makes kind and compassionate people great to talk to!
They’ll listen to everything you have to say, even if you talk for hours.
And they’ll never interrupt you to talk about themselves because they truly care about the things going on in your life.
This is because…
9) They are selfless
This is a stunning trait, and kind people wear it beautifully!
Even if you don’t have any other characteristics to make you kind, if you can teach yourself to be selfless, you’ve already won half the battle!
As best-selling American author Colleen Hoover wrote in her book, Confess:
“Selflessness. It should be the basis of every relationship. If a person truly cares about you, they’ll get more pleasure from the way they make you feel, rather than the way you make them feel.”
Kind people will always think of you. But they may even forget about their own needs at times. So check in on them too.
10) They are grateful
Despite all the good karma coming their way, kind people remain grateful. They’ll always thank you and take everything as a blessing.
Surrounding yourself with kind people will help you see the good in life. You’ll learn to never take anything for granted again.
If you can teach yourself to show more gratitude, you’ll also see more opportunities come your way!
But remember:
Kind people know when it’s not their turn. They have mastered waiting for their blessing.
And it’s not too difficult for them, because…
11) They are patient
Have you heard the expression that a watched clock never ticks? Or maybe you’ve heard that a watched kettle never boils?
Good things take time. Patience is a big part of being kind.
If you don’t have patience, you’re more likely to lose your cool and be rude to others.
Kind people typically don’t:
- Mistreat servers when their food order is taking too long.
- Get agitated when an old lady is crossing the street, and they’re late for a meeting.
- Act frustrated when the queue is too long.
You see, they’ve taught themselves that waiting isn’t always a bad thing.
So, if you’re not very patient, feel free to ask a kind person to teach you their ways. I can guarantee they’ll make time for you.
Why?
Because…
12) They are helpful
A kind person will go out of their way to help you. With anything!
Imagine this:
You’re on your way home when your car breaks down. It feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere, and your phone signal is suddenly gone.
Does everyone who passes you stop to help?
No.
But the person who does usually has good intentions only and a kind heart.
And it’s not because they have nowhere else to be. They just taught themselves that being helpful also helps them be a better person.
13) They are accepting
Some kind people like socializing in large groups, while others keep their circles small.
But do you know what’s typical in these friendships that aren’t in most?
They’re filled with people from all walks of life.
Kind people let you in and accept you for who you are. No matter what.
They believe that everyone deserves to feel like they belong. Which is also why…
14) They lift others up
A kind person will never kick a man when he’s down. Instead, they’ll lend a hand and lift them up.
If you’re feeling down, you can count on the kindest person you know to get you in high spirits again.
Forget feeling ugly or stupid too! Someone kind and compassionate will make you feel like the prettiest or smartest person they know.
Think of them as your personal hype person!
Kind people don’t like to see others in a dark space, and they’ll do their best to help you see the light again.
15) They are authentic
There’s not much to say about this trait. Kind people stay true to themselves, and that’s it!
They’ll never change anything about themselves to fit in with the crowd. If you don’t like them, that’s okay too.
They don’t live for the approval of others anyway.
16) They are humble
Despite having all these beautiful traits, kind and compassionate people tend to stay humble.
You can continuously compliment a kind person, and they’ll never get an inflated ego. Truthfully, they’ll probably blush each time you say something nice about them!
Teaching yourself new traits will not make you kinder overnight, but it’s a step in the right direction. And it definitely takes a lot of work, but it’s not impossible!
If you form new habits and remind yourself to be kind, you and those around you will start noticing a difference in no time.
Remembering to be kind and calm is hard. Being avoided because of a rude personality is hard.
My advice?
Choose your hard.
