Kindness Quote by Haley Kilpatrick
““Here's one way that we try to actively and immediately bring in kindness in our meetings and camps: we ask our girls to stop before they speak and reevaluate what they're going to say based on this acronym: True Honest Important Necessary Kind Is what they're out to say True? Is it Honest? Is it Important? Necessary Kind? We ask the to T.H.I.N.K. before they speak text, or type, and try to incorporate it into their daily lives -- especially within their interactions with their friends and classmates -- as much as possible. It's a choice girls can make: Do they want to encourage others with their words, or bring others down? You might think this won't resonate with your middle school girl, but I promise that it works. It's not about self-editing or asking her not to speak her truth, of course; it's about thinking of others too.””
About This Quote
Encouraging thoughtful speech by evaluating words through a kindness framework promotes respectful communication.
In simple terms: Use T.H.I.N.K. to check if words are true, honest, important, necessary, kind.
Pause and assess before speaking or typing.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- classroom discussions
- online messaging
- friendship conflicts
- team meetings
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Will this reduce authentic dialogue?
- How to balance honesty with kindness?
May feel restrictive for spontaneous expression.