You’ve probably witnessed some shockingly poor behavior from others that illustrated they weren’t the kind of people you’d want to spend much time with. In contrast, you’ve likely also come across behaviors that have shown the person in question is kind, noble, and an all-around wonderful human being. Keep an eye out for the behaviors on this list, as they generally let you know that someone is a really good person, without them saying a single word.
1. They’re kind to animals.
The philosopher Emmanuel Kant once said: “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals”. This doesn’t just apply to one gender, of course, but applies to all human beings. How a person behaves towards animals — whether wild or domestic — says a great deal about their compassion, empathy, and overall kindness.
According to Psychology Today, if a person is unkind or even uncompassionate towards animals (especially if they’re suffering), that’s a mark of a cold heart and a lack of character. In contrast, someone who feeds wild birds and squirrels, helps strays, uses humane mouse traps, and then sets the little ones free outside is a sincerely good person. Additionally, if animals naturally gravitate towards this person, you know they’re a good egg.
2. They’re quick to help others in need.
When I was living in downtown Toronto, I once saw a cyclist get hit by a car and thrown several feet onto a nearby sidewalk. This was in the middle of the day, and just about everyone around expressed annoyance at being inconvenienced by this lump on the sidewalk, and either stepped over him or walked around him, frowning. My partner at the time leapt into action and provided first aid to the man while I called an ambulance. This type of behavior says more about a person than words ever could.
This article in Psych Central touches upon the phenomenon known as the bystander effect, in which a group of people will refrain from helping others in an emergency or crisis, even though they’re witnessing the event firsthand. Basically, when in a group situation, everyone expects somebody else to offer help, and thus nobody does. It’s the good, beautiful soul in the group who will step forward and take action while the others wait around for someone better to do it instead.
3. They treat service workers with respect and courtesy.
When they eat at a restaurant or cafe, they’ll take their used dishware to the counter instead of leaving it for the server to clean up. When people take their orders, they’re courteous and respectful, and if there’s something wrong with the food, they’ll broach the subject gently instead of being belligerent.
Similarly, when they stay at a hotel, they’ll often strip off the bedding and leave it in the tub to make housekeeping tasks easier for the cleaning staff. These behaviors, small acts of courtesy though they are, may not seem terribly significant, but in reality, they show respect for others and great strength of character that indicates this individual is a sincerely good person.
4. They’re inclusive and respectful towards those who are different.
These folks will address everyone with the same degree of courtesy and respect, regardless of age, social status, work position, or disability. They’ll be patient and kind towards those with additional needs, offer help without being condescending, and are eager to listen to and learn from others in order to broaden their own perspectives. It’s just one of many behaviors that make them instantly likeable.
They’re also the first to welcome others in various situations and interact with them without judgment. Furthermore, if they feel that someone is being left, they’ll go out of their way to call them over and include them. You may observe that they have friends of all different cultures, religions, and social standing, and are recognized with a smile and a wave everywhere they go.
5. They support causes that they believe in, without advertising their philanthropy.
When it comes to behaviors you probably won’t ever see, those who do good deeds without fanfare, not looking for recognition from others, are some of the best and most genuine people around. They won’t broadcast which charities they donated their tax returns to, nor will they take selfies with the homeless people they just fed.
Instead, they’ll do quiet, often anonymous acts of charity and kindness and never breathe a word about them. These are the people who will tuck 50-dollar bills into collection boxes when buying poppies from veterans every November, who will anonymously pay off strangers’ medical debts via online fundraising campaigns, or drop off enormous donations at food banks with a simple smile and a nod. They care about meaningfully adding value to other people’s lives, not being recognized for it.
6. They behave with integrity when they think nobody is watching them.
How a person behaves when they believe they’re alone and unobserved speaks volumes about them. If left alone in a room full of money and jewelry, some people will try to sneak a bill or a gemstone since they’re sure those things won’t be missed. These are the same people who will take advantage of crisis situations, such as looting a store during a riot because everyone else is doing so.
In contrast, sincerely good people do the right thing even though nobody else is around to witness their acts of integrity. They’ll pay their fare at an open subway turnstile, will put sincere effort into their work even if they’re the only person at the office, and will respect other people’s property and personal boundaries.
7. They’re respectful towards the environment.
You’ll likely notice that they carry reusable bottles, bags, and even utensils with them instead of using disposables. If they do happen to purchase anything that has disposable packaging, they’ll throw it out responsibly in a garbage or recycling bin instead, and may even pick up litter when they’re out for a walk.
When you visit their homes, you’ll notice non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products, recycled paper items, water filters, and a compost bin. They don’t need to announce to others that they’re doing their part to keep the planet clean and change the world for the better: they’re simply doing what needs to be done.
8. They’re protective of those who are vulnerable.
How a person behaves towards someone who’s in a vulnerable state speaks volumes about their character. Case in point: one of the best things I’ve ever seen someone do was when I was at a party back in high school. Everyone had been drinking heavily, and one young woman went into a bedroom alone to get some rest. One of the boys there — a heavyset young football player — followed her there.
When I checked in on them shortly thereafter, I saw that he had placed a bottle of Aspirin and a glass of water on the table beside her, and was sitting in a chair by the door with a baseball bat across his knees in case anyone had designs on her. They hadn’t known each other beforehand, but he was willing to protect her against anyone who might wish to take advantage of her in that intoxicated state.
Those who protect and defend the vulnerable instead of looking away, even if they have nothing to gain by doing so, are worth their weight in gold.
Final thoughts…
Actions always speak much more loudly than words ever could. Some people broadcast their good deeds in an attempt to gain recognition and respect, while others simply go about their days without the need for external acknowledgment or validation. The latter’s behaviors embody goodness because that’s who they are at their core, and they want to do their part to make this world a brighter place. If we’re very lucky, they’ll influence others to do the same along the way.
