I often hear the words, or see posts encouraging people to "be kind." It's well intentioned, but I've always wondered whether it misses something deeper?

"Be kind" can sound like an instruction - as though kindness is something we need to work on and consiously remember to practice. But what if empathy, respect, and compassion aren't things we should only aspire to occaisionally?

Empathy is not an exceptional quality. It's fundamental to being human. It helps us understand perspectives different from our own, shapes how we respond under pressure, and strengthens the relationships that help people and organisations thrive. What if these traits should simply be part of how we show up on a daily basis?

Perhaps we've not normalised empathy enough, so that we've replaced "act like a decent human being" with "make an effort to be kind."

Have we been setting the bar too low?