There are three simple words I like to live by: "be kind anyway". These words are taken from one of Saint Mother Teresa's writings, which talks about how no matter what people assume about you or do to you, you should do good, be kind, honest and sincere anyway. Because in the end, it won't matter what others did to you or what people said; what will matter will be how you reacted, responded, adapted, and continued.

If you are kind, your genuine heart will touch other lives. Being a kind, authentic person seems so rare these days. "If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway." If you are kind with no selfish ulterior motives, you have more power than you can imagine. People who deny that you are strong or kind simply saw your light and covered their eyes- you shine too brightly for them. Those who work relentlessly to bring you down are threatened by your power and ability to handle so much at once. Do not let this world make you cold. The world needs warm, kind, gentle souls to even out the negatives.

No matter what happens to you or those around you, be kind anyway. You will always come out ahead if you are kind in your ways. No problems are solved when you fight fire with fire. People will be in awe of your ability to exist so authentically and your bright light that they will be drawn to you to learn your ways.

Do not let yourself fall so victim to criticism and doubts that you fight back in a violent manner. Use your gift of kindness to understand the other point of view, assume the best intentions, and use your best judgement so as not to be naive. Even when things don't go your way, or it feels like life has delivered more than your fair share of punches- don't turn dark. Remain kind but be strong enough to know when to walk away from a situation- that is sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself and others. You will be a better person for it.

Your light elicits trust, welcomes others in. Continue to be genuine, positive, honest and pure. Even when others assume you have selfish motives, even when others try to bring you down, undercut your progress, or decide things about you without knowing you.

Even when you feel down, know that this world is a better place for having you in it. Let your kind heart be a light in the world, and be kind anyway.