Kindness might feel like or look like a choice, but it truly comes from understanding. Lord Buddha came across some children fishing, and asked them how they would react to a hook piercing their cheek, for example.

The concept of 'me' as exclusive from other living beings is what allows for harmful distinctions to be made, where 'me' can exploit others for profit. In reality, 'me' is just one of many living beings, and we are all born, feel pain, and die.