As we journey through life, our values, moral standards, and what we respect and admire in others tend to change. Growing up, intelligence was always something that I held in high regard – it meant strong problem-solving skills, academics, and general knowledge about the world around us. With age, however, has come a transformation in my appreciation for intelligence and replaced by admiration for those who are kind.
When I was young, I was one of those who placed intelligence at a premium. I enjoyed attempting puzzles and challenging myself academically as an attempt to discover a certain level of intellectual superiority. I kept myself informed about current events and surrounded myself with books, believing that the more I was aware of my environment, the smarter I would become. I glorified intelligence and struggled to understand how anyone couldn’t appreciate it. It was easy for me to feel superior to others based my intelligence level alone, which often led to toxic thoughts of ill-will towards those I deemed less “smart.”
But wisdom and maturity comes with time and growing older has brought with it a new level of emotional understanding. As I learnt more about life and those around me, it became clear to me that intelligence can only get one so far and that kindness is far more valuable and prevalent than most realise. Over time I understood that intelligence alone cannot make a person successful; no matter how “smart” someone may be, a lack of compassion, empathy, and humility will only weaken their character.
The importance of being kind to oneself and others is one of the most significant lessons I have learnt over the years. A little kindness goes a long way to making people’s lives easier and honouring their human worth. In many respects, kindness should outweigh intelligence as an attribute because its effects are far-reaching and universal. Kindness ensures respect and dignity are afforded to everyone, whether they are “smart” or not.
Unfortunately, many people remain isolated as a result of their own levels of intelligence or perceived intelligence, often causing feelings of exclusion, desertion, and abandonment. Teasing and taunting usually follows in cases such as these, making life difficult for the non-intelligent individual. However, the power of kindness can eliminate these negative emotions, replacing them with gratitude and communal acceptance.
In the pursuit of a better world, intelligence should not be the sole determining factor of success; it should be equal parts respect and understanding, which comes hand in hand with being kind. Learning to love and forgive despite disagreements allows people to live without judgment and criticism, developing a bond of mutual respect. Although it may take longer to achieve through kindness rather than through intelligence, it will be much more rewarding and gratifying.
It is important that we strive to develop and practice both intelligence and kindness in our lives. It is only when we realize that the two go hand in hand that we can truly reach the heights of success. Intelligence will bring us independence, whereas kindness will bring us companionship. Together, they will lead us to a state of stability, comfort, and contentment.
I believe that each and every one of us possesses the capacity to be kind to all those around us. To spread harmony and the joy of companionship is to love ourselves and those around us. Kindness eventually becomes so ingrained in our systems that we can begin to recognize the luxury of its presence and the burden of its absence even in the most challenging times.
So although as I grow older I no longer entirely admire intelligence in the same way I did when I was younger, I do recognize its importance in this world. More importantly, however, I now admire kindness more than ever before, knowing it is the virtue that brings us the serenity we all strive for.
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