Kindness Is Not A Vibe It Is A Discipline

Imagine you’re having a day where everything feels like a total glitch. Your alarm didn't go off, you missed the bus, and your coffee tasted like burnt dirt. It’s easy to be a jerk when the world is being a jerk to you. But here is the thing: kindness is not a personality trait you’re born with or a mood that strikes when things are going great. It is a muscle. And like any muscle, if you only use it when it’s easy, it’s going to atrophy. Real talk? You have to train for the days when you actually want to scream at the world.

National Kindness Week in Canada wasn't just some fluffy idea that popped out of nowhere. It actually became law because people like the late Rabbi Reuven Bulka understood that a society without intentional kindness eventually crumbles. He started this movement in Ottawa nearly two decades ago, and now it’s a national standard. It’s about more than just being nice. It’s about the grit it takes to see someone else’s struggle when you’re already drowning in your own. That’s where the discipline comes in. You choose to act differently than you feel.

When we talk about National Kindness Week 2026, I want you to think about it as a mental training camp. You aren't just doing one nice thing and calling it a day. You are practicing the art of not being a consumer of other people's energy. You are choosing to be a source. This might look like holding the door when you’re in a rush or actually listening when a friend says they’re fine but their eyes say they’re spiraling. It’s not about the clout or the aesthetic; it’s about the culture we are building together.

We live in an era where everyone is trying to optimize their own life, but we forget that humans are biologically wired for connection. If you want to feel better, stop looking in the mirror for a second and start looking around you. Kindness releases oxytocin, reduces cortisol, and actually makes your own nervous system feel safer. It is the ultimate life hack that nobody wants to admit requires actual effort. So, this week, don’t wait for a feeling to be kind. Be kind because it is the standard you set for yourself.