Once You Possess This Essential Soft Skill in Life, Never Let It Go
“If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. But do good anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. But do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. But succeed anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. But keep building anyway.
People with the greatest minds and the most generous hearts may be struck down by people with the smallest minds. But think big anyway.
People really need help, but they may attack you if you do help them. But help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and you may get kicked in the teeth. But give the world the best you have anyway.”
The above words are often attributed to Mother Teresa. They reflect a Catholic perspective on good deeds and benevolent intentions.
I once came across another thought-provoking passage:
“Just because you cannot bear to see others doing well does not mean they are doing poorly. But it certainly means that something is lacking within you, because your heart is devoid of goodness. When you sincerely wish others well, they may not necessarily prosper. But you are certainly a good person, because your heart is filled with kindness.”
I find these words particularly meaningful. The way you treat others often influences how they treat you in return. Therefore, when you strive to be a kindhearted person, you become more capable of recognizing and appreciating the kindness of others.
A person’s kindness is one of the most important soft skills for surviving, striving, and succeeding in society—and indeed, throughout life. Once you possess this invaluable quality, never let it go. Instead, hold on to it and persevere to the very end.
An ancient saying expresses this principle simply and clearly: “Those who give love receive love in return; those who bring blessings to others receive blessings in return.” In essence, goodness given will be returned with goodness, and kindness extended will be reciprocated with kindness.
Every act of kindness we extend to others may eventually return to us in another form, at a particular time and place. This is what we call gratitude and the repayment of kindness.
Sometimes, performing good deeds is like calling out into an empty valley. The echo may not return immediately. Instead, the sound travels farther, reaching other places and allowing more people to hear and carry it forward. By the time that kindness eventually finds its way back to you, it may have taken on a different form, but it will have gathered even more goodwill along the way.
Kind thoughts and good deeds are also like dandelion seeds. Carried by the wind, they scatter far and wide, take root, sprout, grow, and blossom, eventually spreading goodness across the land.
Namo H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, the Buddha residing in this world, also teaches us in Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matters:
“What makes the sun the greatest thing man has ever known? It is admired for providing light and warmth for all the beings under it. A truly great person is one who is willing to sacrifice his own benefit for the well-being of others.”
Why is the nature of the sun considered so great? It is because the sun burns itself to bring light, warmth, and energy to the world. It enables plants to grow and allows humans and animals to survive. In other words, the sun provides the essential conditions that sustain life on Earth and bestows countless benefits upon all living things. That is why everyone praises its greatness.
The same principle applies to us as human beings. If we can act without selfishness or self-interest, dedicate ourselves quietly to serving others, and even be willing to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of the public, bringing happiness, welfare, and tangible benefits to others, then people will naturally respect us and praise our contributions. In doing so, we ourselves become truly great.
Therefore, we should always remember to treat others with kindness, sincerity, and a generous, forgiving heart.
As long as we maintain kind intentions, accumulate virtuous merit, and perform good deeds, we need not concern ourselves with whether others notice or acknowledge our efforts. We should simply continue doing good, without regret, resentment, or complaint.
Kindness is a choice. It is one of the gentlest yet most powerful qualities inherent in human nature, and one of the most important soft skills we can possess in life.
No matter how difficult the circumstances may be, we should remain steadfast in our kindness. For when a person practices goodness, even if blessings have not yet arrived, misfortune has already begun to move away.
Written by: On the Road
Edited by: Rainbow in the West
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