Kindful: Definition, Meaning and Origin
Definition
Kindful(adjective) – actively creating the conditions for kindness to flourish, both in yourself and in those around you. More than simply being kind, to be kindful is to take responsibility for the culture of kindness – spotting opportunities to act, and creating spaces that make it easier for others to act too.
The origin of "kindful"
The word "kindful" has been around far longer than most people realise. It traces back to Middle English – kindeful, kyndeful – built from "kind" plus the suffix "-ful", and its original meaning was something close to "of natural disposition; kind." In British dialect it persisted quietly for centuries before largely fading from use.
Some dictionaries still include it. A language forum I came across declared it unnecessary, on the grounds that "kind already means the same thing."
But here's the thing. I don't think it does.
Kindful vs. kind – what's the difference?
A kind person does kind things. That's genuinely wonderful. But kindfulness – the practice of being kindful – asks something more of us.
There's a moment, just before any act of kindness, where you see what I call "the gap." The gap between someone's needs and their current reality. Between what you could do and what's actually happening. A kind person notices the gap and jumps in. A kindful person does that too – but they also look for ways to create those gaps for other people to jump into.
You see, kindful isn't just an adjective describing your character. It's an orientation. A practice. A way of constantly asking: how can I make it easier for kindness to happen here – for me and for everyone around me?
Kindful vs. mindful – what's the difference?
Mindfulness asks us to be present and aware. Kindfulness takes that awareness and points it outward – toward others, toward culture, toward the conditions we're creating around us. You could think of kindfulness as mindfulness with a social conscience. It's not enough to be aware of your own state of mind; kindfulness asks what you're doing with that awareness on behalf of the people around you.
Kindfulness at work
When I wrote about kindfulness in KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work, I described it this way: being kindful means seeing kindness not just as something we personally do, but as a culture we help create – one that has the power to bring whole teams and organisations together.
It's the assumption that there is always a kinder way to work, if we help shape the culture that looks for it. Even in the more challenging moments. Especially in the more challenging moments.
Let me give you an example. Think about how often you tip in a café because someone put a tips jar there. Or donate to a charity because a friend is running a marathon for that cause. We jump enthusiastically into the gap at the slightest suggestion or excuse – kindness thrives when someone just creates that space and makes it easier to do than not.
That person who found the jar and wrote "tips" on it? They were being kindful. That one small act of design – creating the vessel – inspired a thousand more.
Kindfulness as a practice
One of the most freeing things about kindfulness is that it isn't a personality trait you're born with or without. It's a practice – much like running, writing, mindfulness or gratitude are practices. The more we do it, the better we get.
Practice doesn't mean perfect. Sometimes we'll see the gap and hesitate. Sometimes we'll jump and land awkwardly. I cringe when I look back at some of the ways I've handled situations without the kindness they required. But that's the point – you keep showing up, keep noticing, keep getting a little better.
The more you practise, the more you realise the gaps are everywhere. And the more you start to see yourself not just as someone who does kind things, but as someone who helps build a kinder world around them.
That's kindfulness.
Frequently asked questions
Is "kindful" a word?
Yes – and it's older than you might think. Kindful derives from Middle English kindeful or kyndeful, meaning "of natural disposition; kind." It appears in several modern dictionaries, though its usage has evolved. The contemporary meaning – actively creating conditions for kindness in yourself and others – builds on that original root.
What does "kindful" mean?
Kindful describes someone who not only acts with kindness themselves, but actively looks for ways to make kindness easier for those around them. It goes beyond being a kind person to being someone who shapes a kinder culture – at work, at home, in any community they're part of.
What is kindfulness?
Kindfulness is the ongoing practice of being kindful. It's a way of looking at everything you do through the lens of kindness: how can I make this situation kinder? How can I encourage others to be kind? How can I create the conditions where kindness is the natural, easy choice? Kindfulness is explored in depth in KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work.
What is the difference between kindness and kindfulness?
Kindness is an act or a quality. Kindfulness is a practice and a culture. You can be kind in a moment; kindfulness is the commitment to building kindness into how you work and lead over time.
Who coined the term kindfulness?
The concept of kindfulness as described here – kindness as a culture we actively create, not just something we personally do – is something I developed and explored in my book KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work, published in 2024.
Want to go deeper on kindfulness?
KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work sets out the Eight Principles of Kindfulness at Work in full. And if you'd like a weekly nudge to be a little more kindful, my newsletter Rev Up for the Week lands every Sunday.