In our daily lives, we strive to be as kind as possible to those around us. At the very least, we believe that doing so is the right thing to do. While this is certainly a perfectly decent thing, it is precisely in these moments that we must remain mindful of the movements of our “ego.” In our eagerness to be kind, we often end up imposing our own rules on others. If they don’t act according to our expectations, we start to harbor small frustrations, thinking, “After everything I did for them.” Two important issues are hidden here.
The first is seeking something in return for an act of kindness. The second is being desperate to make others acknowledge that we are “right.” At the root of both is the fact that the ego has inflated a bit too much. Values always differ between oneself and others in the finer details. Therefore, we must not push too hard. While it is a stroke of luck to be understood, holding onto that expectation too strongly can lead us into a dead end. Recently, the ideas of consideration for others and respect for individuality have spread through society, and not imposing one’s opinions has become a form of social etiquette. I believe this is a very positive trend.
However, on the other hand, I sometimes feel that everyone might be “pulling back” a little too much. To be honest, it should be perfectly fine to be a bit too caring person. It is much more human to engage with others moderately than to build invisible walls by overthinking whether you might be bothering them. After all, you can never truly know if someone needs help just by watching them from a distance.