We often hear that “kindness costs nothing,” yet in today’s fast-paced, digital-first world, it feels like one of the scarcest qualities. Whether it’s leaders in boardrooms, peers at work, or even friends in our social circles — moments of rudeness, indifference, or judgment often overshadow small acts of kindness.

So why is kindness becoming harder to find?

 The Disappearing Act of Kindness

1. Among Leaders

• In politics and business, strength is too often mistaken for harshness.
• Many leaders believe empathy and kindness are signs of weakness, opting instead for authority, dominance, and command-and-control leadership.
• Example: Public figures or CEOs who dismiss employees’ concerns, cut jobs without transparency, or glorify “hustle culture” over well-being.

When leaders choose rudeness, it trickles down and normalizes unkind behavior across entire organizations.

2. Among Peers & Colleagues

• The workplace has become competitive, fast-paced, and high-pressure.
• Colleagues sometimes withhold help, cut each other off in meetings, or claim credit instead of showing generosity.
• Peer pressure often values being “tough” over being supportive.

A simple “How are you doing today?” could build bridges — but too often, silence or indifference takes its place.

3. Among Friends

• Friendships today are often maintained through digital platforms rather than face-to-face care.
• It’s easier to “like” a post than to check in on a struggling friend.
• Misunderstandings grow quickly over texts without tone or empathy, leading to ghosting or conflict rather than dialogue.

The art of listening deeply — without checking a phone — is becoming rare.

4. In Society at Large

• Online platforms reward outrage, sarcasm, and “clapbacks” more than patience and kindness.
• Rude comments spread faster than kind ones, creating an illusion that unkindness is the norm.
• Public spaces too reflect impatience: rushing through queues, honking in traffic, ignoring strangers in need.

 Why People Default to Rudeness

• Stress & Burnout: People under pressure often lack the bandwidth for empathy.
• Insecurity: Rudeness can be a shield against feeling vulnerable.
• Cultural Conditioning: Many grow up equating toughness with strength, kindness with weakness.
• Digital Disconnect: Without eye contact and body language, it’s easier to forget the human behind the screen.

 The Ripple Effect of Kindness

Here’s the hopeful truth: kindness is not gone — it’s just overshadowed. When practiced, kindness:
• Creates safer classrooms for kids.
• Builds stronger peer networks for teens.
• Fosters collaboration and trust in workplaces.
• Inspires leadership that puts humanity above profit.

One kind act has a ripple effect. A leader who listens, a peer who shares credit, or a friend who checks in can shift the culture of entire groups.

 Conclusion: Choosing Kindness Again

Kindness may feel rare today, but it is far from extinct. It’s a choice — one that can be modeled in leadership, practiced at work, and nurtured in friendships.

In a digital world that often amplifies rudeness, kindness is rebellion. It’s also the most powerful tool we have to reconnect as humans.

If we want a future filled with empathy and compassion, we need to start by choosing kindness — every day, in small but consistent ways.

 10 Everyday Acts of Kindness

1. Smile at a stranger.
2. Hold the door open for someone.
3. Check in on a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
4. Share credit with a colleague at work.
5. Give a genuine compliment.
6. Offer to help without being asked.
7. Listen actively — without distractions.
8. Be patient in queues or traffic.
9. Support local workers with a kind word or tip.
10. Practice self-kindness — it starts with you.