Can We Teach Kindness Like We Teach Chemistry?
Midweek recommendation
In our previous post, we explored something subtle but important- when kindness shifts from a habit to a carefully calibrated decision.
We learned of titrated kindness- the idea that kindness shouldn’t disappear, but it should be adjusted with awareness, based on how it’s received.
Based on Adam Grant's research, that distinction is the heartbeat of this week’s video recommendation.
For those unfamiliar with Adam Grant, he’s an organisational psychologist and best-selling author who has spent years studying what makes generosity succeed or backfire in real life.
The short video opens with a question we’ve all asked ourselves, especially when we watch our child give and give and give:
“Does generosity actually pay off?”
And it offers a layered answer. Yes, givers can win- but not all of them. Some givers burn out because they give too much, too fast, to people who never give back.
But then there’s also someone who is, well, a smart giver. The smart giver is the one who stays generous but also learns to watch, listen, and notice patterns.
It’s almost like the titration experiments we did in senior school Chemistry. Carefully release the chemical, drop by drop- waiting for the feedback colour change- and continue with measured, intentional doses.
Smart givers are not calculating, but they’re not naïve either. And it turns out, they’re the ones who build the strongest relationships- in school, at work, and in life.
The more our kids learn to adjust their kindness with care, the more likely it is that it will come back to them, returned and respected.
Till next time
Gaurav G