Episode 57: Make Kindness Our Default

Welcome to The PhD Journey Unplugged. In this solo episode, Dr. Sarah Gordon explores a powerful and often-overlooked idea: what if kindness were not random but something we practiced with the same discipline and consistency we apply to performance, training, and personal growth? Drawing from the world of human performance, this episode reframes kindness as more than a fleeting gesture. It becomes a habit. A mindset. A way of being. With permission, Dr. Gordon shares a heartfelt reflection by International ultraendurance runner Jerry Dunn, known as “America’s Marathon Man,” titled “Make Kindness Our Default.” In this reading, Jerry challenges the idea of “random acts of kindness,” inviting us instead to cultivate kindness as a consistent, intentional practice—one rooted in discipline rather than mood. Inspired by the philosophy of Aristotle—“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”—this conversation extends that principle beyond performance and into how we show up in our daily lives. In this episode, you’ll reflect on:Where kindness in your life may still be reactive rather than intentionalHow to apply discipline and consistency to the way you treat othersThe role of micro-decisions in shaping identity and characterWhat it truly means to “practice” kindness every day At its core, this episode asks a simple but profound question:Who are we becoming through what we repeatedly do? In sport, we understand that performance is built over time—through effort, recovery, and adaptation. Perhaps the same is true for kindness. Not through grand gestures—but through small, consistent choices that quietly define who we are. Let’s move beyond random acts. Let’s make kindness our default. Disclaimer:All content shared on The PhD Journey Unplugged is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.