Muse International Core Value: Kindness

Benevolence and generosity will never lead you astray. Give your time and lend an ear. Not just to those of like minds, but to others with whom you may disagree. Do the difficult thing even when others are hesitant. Lead by example.

The Courage of Kindness

In high-pressure environments, kindness is often mistaken for weakness. But at Muse International, we see it differently — as a form of quiet strength, a kind of energetic leadership that rebalances a room, opens hearts, and invites integrity into motion. 

In fact, Forbes ran a piece in 2025 calling kindness a “high-stakes leadership power move” — noting that consistency, honesty, and presence (kindness qualities) enhance credibility and performance. Forbes on Kindness

~ Kindness, in its truest form, is not random. It is intentional benevolence — a daily decision to meet others where they are, without agenda. It is the grace to pause, the humility to listen, and the courage to care when it would be easier not to. ~

Kindness shows up in countless ways, both subtle and profound. It lives in a hand offered without expectation, in a meeting where every voice is heard, in the gentle honesty of feedback that helps another grow. In life, it looks like slowing down enough to truly see the person across from you. In work, it means choosing collaboration over competition, integrity over convenience, and presence over pretense.

It’s also a practice — one that requires us to lead by example even when others hesitate. To speak truth with softness. To act with generosity even when the room feels guarded. And to remember that every small act of decency contributes to a much larger culture of care.

True kindness begins with listening — not just hearing, but receiving.

~ Listening is a radical act of kindness. It’s how we honor the humanity in another person, even when their perspective challenges our own. It says: I am willing to try to understand before I respond. ~

At Muse, we often say: “listen most carefully to those with whom you disagree. Listen to understand, not to reply.” That is where compassion deepens and where true leadership is tested. It’s easy to extend kindness to people who think like you. The real mastery lies in remaining open-hearted when you don’t.

~ As Brené Brown reminds us,

“People are hard to hate close up. Move in.” ~

Kindness is not passive. It demands courage — the kind of courage that asks you to do the right thing even when no one is watching. Before you act, ask yourself:

If my words, choices, actions (or inactions) were printed on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper, would I be proud to read them? Could I look myself in the mirror and say, I acted with integrity and care? This is the quiet moral compass of kindness — Ultimately, kindness is not about being liked. Kindness doesn’t mean letting everything slide. It means delivering truth with softness. Offering correction with care. 

Kindness connects what intellect divides. It softens defenses and restores the sacred thread of belonging. It bridges differences, not by erasing them, but by creating a space where both sides can stand and see and understand one another clearly, even if they disagree. When we lead with kindness — in boardrooms, in homes, in communities — we build something far stronger than consensus. We build trust. We build humanity. And from that foundation, everything else — innovation, inclusion, impact — becomes possible.

~ As the Dalai Lama teaches,

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”  AND

“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”

Kindness, at its highest expression, becomes benevolence — a conscious act of service that asks for nothing in return. It’s not only measured by treasure, but by time, presence, and authenticity. True benevolence is giving without the expectation of reciprocity, a quiet generosity of spirit that nourishes both the receiver and the giver. Psychology and neuroscience affirm what the soul already knows: when we serve others, our brains release oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin — the chemistry of connection, joy, and meaning. Studies from the University of Zurich and UC Berkeley show that acts of giving activate the brain’s reward centers and enhance long-term well-being. This “helper’s high” is more than fleeting; it builds resilience, strengthens emotional health, and reminds us that purpose is born not in what we gain, but in what we give. 

In a world that often glorifies accumulation, benevolence calls us back to contribution — the soul’s truest form of abundance. When was the last time you extended kindness to someone who challenged you? What changed — in them, or in you?

Kindness is a bridge. Cross it often.