It might be true that the world needs more kindness and more good people, but in reality, this is not a fairy tale world, not even close to it. Nothing can prepare us for the real world out there. I have to say this with a heavy heart and based on all my personal experience being good in this big, bad world can be a curse. Unfortunately, most of the time, you do not receive the goodness and warmth that you give others. “No good deed goes unpunished.” It has also been said t hat being too good is just as bad as being bad. See, even the wisest people have endorsed it!
First of all, as is widely understood, good should largely end up being used and readily manipulated by the people around them. It may sound awful and heart wrenching, but even the closest kin, and occasionally, your own parents can be exploitative as well. The more you do, the more is expected from you. And then, despite doing everything, you are neither appreciated nor acknowledge for anything. This could be because such people often have the habit of doing things quietly. They hardly speak about their deeds, which leads to them getting sidelined and taken for granted. People repeatedly use them as doormats, or punching bags. On top of that, kindness is generally considered a weakness, and as we all know, the world is never kind to weak people. They are further trampled upon mercilessly.
Also, we usually see how some individuals can neither set firm boundaries nor take a stand for themselves. Here, in this context, I have to mention that assertiveness and confidence in the personality of an individual are perceived more easily than kindness, and hence gentle souls do not get respected in society. One more thing is that good and gentle humans have difficulty saying no and feel guilty when doing so, which attracts unnecessary attention. I know someone who offers donations, but I am absolutely clueless as to how he gets targeted and approached by so many strangers all the time. Ultimately, the so-called ‘good people’ have to give, give, and give, and forgive. And the receivers get, get, and forget.
Moreover, it is hard to believe, but the path of goodness can make you extreme lonely. One will have very few friends and well-wishers in the long run, which could seem rather contrary to their character.
At the end of the day, all of this can be overwhelming. Good people become vulnerable to overthinking, which makes it hard for them to process their own feelings. They can be victims of stress, anxiety, and related disorders.
It is an established fact that the world takes undue advantage of generosity. Loans never get repaid. It is sad to take in all of this, but it is the unconditional truth. And as they say, the truth is always bitter.
Well, having said all the above, the big question is: Should we stop being good? To be honest, of course not. Goodness has positive effects on people and society, which cannot be denied at all. But it should be done within limits. At the same time, one has to be mindful of its potential side effects as well.
