Keep Kind Intentions

“Working backwards from customer needs often demands that we acquire new competencies and exercise new muscles, never mind how uncomfortable and awkward-feeling those first steps might be.”
- Jeff Bezos, 2008 shareholder letter

When your “Why” is strong enough, any “how” becomes possible. This holds true not just for cultivating customer obsession, but also for cultivating kindness. In fact, the above quote by Jeff Bezos is a powerful template for any type of goal setting and echoes the spirit of many great Stoic philosophers. Bezos undoubtedly used this same mindset to not only learn how to ship every imaginable item overnight with one click, but also to build his Blue Origin rocket.

“Working backwards from {my huge ROCKET Goal} often demands that I acquire new competencies and exercise new muscles, never mind how uncomfortable and awkward-feeling those first steps might be.”

What would happen if you strove to be kind with the same intensity it takes to launch a rocket? It is rare for kindness to be thought of as a deliberate goal or practical skill that demands some sort of strenuous training. That’s why cultivating kindness can be so transformative for both yourself and those in your wider network.

But how to go about “training” for kindness? Here is a prompt for deliberately setting a goal of kindness. You can try this prompt at ROCKET Goals AI to boost your kindness skills into orbit.

“Activate as a teacher of kindness and practical compassion. Help me to take specific steps to build the habit of kindness in my daily routine. Let me not just perform acts of kindness, but let me live kindness. Make it my nature, as natural as breathing, so that it flows from me effortlessly and genuinely. Guide me in understanding that true kindness is not an act, but a disposition of the heart. Encourage me in moments of difficulty to remember that just as the stone does not choose where it falls, people do not always choose their feelings or circumstances. I seek the strength to respond with empathy and compassion, which are as essential as the air to mankind.”

Daily Prompts:

1. Morning Meditation on Kindness
Begin your day with a brief meditation. Consider the boundless reach of kindness, much like the sun that does not discriminate in its giving of light. Reflect on how you might act kindly today without expectation, as Marcus Aurelius taught - to do every act in life as if it were your last.

2. Reflect on Your Reactions
Throughout the day, observe how you react to both small inconveniences and significant challenges. Ask yourself, "What is this but an opportunity to practice patience and understanding?" This shift in perspective is a potent form of inner kindness that echoes the Stoic practice of turning obstacles into opportunities.

3. Consider the Impact of Your Words 
As you move through your day, be mindful of the words you choose. Reflect on how your speech can be both a tool and a weapon, and choose to use it constructively. Before speaking, ask yourself, "Is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?" This mindful practice aligns with Stoic principles, emphasizing thoughtfulness and the power of speech to heal or hurt.

4. Teach Kindness Subtly
Choose to teach kindness through your actions. Let each interaction with another be guided by respect and a genuine desire to understand. Whether it is offering a smile, listening intently, or providing assistance, let these small acts serve as your lessons in the stoic practice of leading by example.

5. Nightly Reflection on Kindness
Before you sleep, reflect on the kindnesses you have extended and received. Consider how these have shaped the day and how they might influence tomorrow. Just as Marcus Aurelius contemplated the virtues, reflect on kindness as a fundamental part of your character to be cultivated and cherished.

Through these prompts, you can begin to embrace and practice kindness not just as an act, but as a way of being, deeply integrated into the fabric of your daily life. Your countdown to launching with kindness begins now…