You Good to Us, We Good to You; You Kind, We Kind; (It’s That Simple)
Life is simpler than we think: kindness creates kindness.
Treat people well, and they’ll treat you well. It’s not complicated—it’s human nature.
Excerpt:
The rules are simple: if you’re kind, kindness returns to you.
If you’re good to others, others are good to you. It’s not a complex formula—it’s a basic human truth.
Let’s explore why mutual kindness makes life simpler, stronger, and happier.
Introduction: Why Complicate Life When Kindness is Easy?
Life often feels complicated—people build unnecessary drama, engage in conflicts, or create misunderstanding out of thin air. But what if life could be simpler?
It can be. In fact, it is:
“You kind, we kind. You good to us, we good to you.”
It’s straightforward, isn’t it? Treat others with respect, kindness, and fairness, and you’ll usually get the same in return.
There’s nothing mystical or complicated about this—it’s basic human psychology.
But ironically, humans often forget this simple formula.
Let’s revisit why kindness reciprocity is so powerful, how it works, and why life would be easier if we simply remembered this fundamental rule.
Kindness: The Simplest Form of Reciprocity
Reciprocity means mutual exchange.
Humans are naturally wired to return good deeds—it’s practically coded into our DNA.
- Someone smiles at you; you smile back.
- Someone helps you when you’re in trouble; you’ll feel motivated to help them later.
- Someone treats you with respect; you’ll instinctively respect them back.
It’s not complicated. But when ego, pride, or selfishness steps in, people make things harder than they need to be.
The truth is: mutual kindness simplifies life dramatically.
The more you practice it, the clearer this truth becomes.
Why Kindness Works (It’s Science, Not Magic)
Science confirms what we’ve always known intuitively: kindness creates kindness.
Here’s why:
1. Humans Are Social Creatures
- We naturally desire harmony, cooperation, and social connections.
- Kindness strengthens these bonds, creating trust and cooperation.
2. Kindness is Contagious
- Acts of kindness stimulate the brain’s reward centres, releasing dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin—the “feel-good” chemicals.
- When someone feels good, they’re likely to share kindness with others.
3. Reciprocity is Innate
- Humans evolved to depend on reciprocal relationships for survival.
- If you help others, you build goodwill that can support you later.
No magic here—just human nature.
Be kind, receive kindness. Simple.
The Power of Mutual Kindness in Daily Life
Imagine how much simpler life becomes if everyone practices this simple principle.
Let’s break it down practically:
1. Personal Relationships
- Kindness builds trust and respect.
- When you consistently treat loved ones well, conflicts decrease, understanding grows, and your bonds strengthen.
2. Workplace Dynamics
- Kindness fosters collaboration.
- Treat colleagues with respect and fairness, and you’ll find cooperation comes naturally.
- A kind workplace boosts productivity and morale.
3. Social Interactions
- Kindness reduces stress and misunderstanding.
- Even small gestures—holding doors, saying “thank you“, offering genuine compliments—have ripple effects.
- Kindness can transform an entire community or culture.
Why Do People Struggle with Something so Simple?
Despite its simplicity, kindness isn’t always practiced.
Why?
1. Ego and Pride
- People sometimes mistake kindness for weakness. (Hint: it’s not.)
- Ego-driven behaviour creates unnecessary complications.
2. Fear of Exploitation
- People worry others will abuse their kindness.
- True kindness doesn’t mean allowing yourself to be mistreated; it’s about mutual respect. Boundaries remain necessary.
3. Impatience and Frustration
- In an impatient world, kindness is overlooked in favour of immediate results.
- People choose harshness, hoping for quick outcomes, but create lasting damage instead.
If we understand these barriers, we can consciously overcome them and embrace the simplicity of mutual kindness.
Kindness Does Not Mean Blind Trust
It’s important to note: kindness doesn’t mean you have to trust blindly or be naive.
- Kindness means treating people with dignity and fairness, not tolerating disrespect or exploitation.
- The formula is mutual: “You good to us, we good to you.”
- When someone consistently shows they’re not good to you, kindness means respectfully stepping away—not retaliating, not creating drama, simply protecting your peace.
Kindness has boundaries. And that’s okay.
The Real Strength of Kindness
Some mistakenly believe kindness is weak. But it’s actually a strength:
- Kindness requires self-control.
- Kindness demonstrates emotional intelligence.
- Kindness shows genuine strength of character.
Harshness and cruelty are easy—they require no effort.
But kindness? That demands courage and integrity.
Final Thoughts: Life is Easier Than We Think
We often overcomplicate life, relationships, and interactions, but kindness provides clarity:
- You kind, we kind.
- You good to us, we good to you.
It’s straightforward, intuitive, and incredibly effective.
In a world that values complexity, perhaps it’s time to return to simplicity.
Kindness simplifies life, creates harmony, and strengthens our connections with others.
Why complicate things when it can be so easy?
Just be kind—it’s that simple.
