I've spent a slightly ridiculous amount of time exploring an idea: What if we practised kindness the way we practise meditation, exercise or learning an instrument? We invest so much in improving ourselves. Getting fitter, more productive, more mindful, more successful. But what about getting better at how we treat other people? There's something fascinating about kindness as a practice. Research suggests that doing things for others can improve our own happiness, wellbeing and sense of connection. And unlike most self-improvement activities, the benefits aren't confined to the person practising. It's also incredibly accessible. You don't need money, equipment or much time. Sometimes it's just noticing someone, having a conversation, reaching out, or doing something thoughtful. Mindfulness helps us become more aware. Kindness gives us something to do with that awareness. And I think this could be particularly important right now. The WHO estimates that one in six people worldwide experiences loneliness. We're more digitally connected than ever, yet genuine human connection seems increasingly difficult to find. What if something as simple as practising kindness could help? Not as a complete solution to loneliness, obviously, but as a practical way to reconnect with people, build relationships, develop empathy and make everyday life a little better. That's what led me to start building Kind Fu — the martial art of kindness. So, what have I actually built? The idea is to make kindness something we deliberately practise and develop, rather than just a personality trait we either have or don't. I've built an early app that combines: Short guided practices and philosophical ideas. Visualisation and reflection. Small, achievable acts of kindness in the real world. A progression system inspired by martial arts, where you develop your practice over time. You can try it here: kindfu.co I've been experimenting with AI, design and different ways to make the experience engaging, meaningful and something people might actually stick with. But here's where I'm at. I've built quite a lot, but I haven't really turned it into a proper product yet. It's a functioning prototype, but it's also a slightly messy collection of ideas and experiments. Some parts are promising, others probably need to be completely rethought. I'm also a bit of a perfectionist. I keep disappearing down rabbit holes, redesigning things, adding features and convincing myself that the next iteration will be the one. And I think I've reached the point where more time working on it alone isn't necessarily going to make it better. I want to turn this into a genuinely great product that real people use, enjoy and benefit from. Something beautifully designed, simple to understand, grounded in good psychology, and actually effective at encouraging meaningful behaviour in the real world. I'm also fascinated by the broader possibility of using AI and technology to improve human relationships rather than replace them. Could AI help us practise empathy, overcome social hesitation, discover opportunities to help others, or build better habits? Could we use technology to make us spend less time looking at screens and more time connecting with the people around us? I'd love to explore those questions. I'm looking for people who might want to help. I'm based in London, with a background in engineering, technology and startups, but I'm building this independently and would really love to find some people who connect with the idea. That could be: Test users: Honestly, even five minutes trying the app and telling me what's confusing, interesting or terrible would be incredibly valuable. Designers and creatives: People who love beautiful, intuitive interfaces, animation, storytelling, sound and creating meaningful experiences. Developers and AI enthusiasts: People interested in exploring how technology can genuinely improve human behaviour and wellbeing. Psychologists and researchers: Anyone interested in kindness, behaviour change, habit formation, loneliness or social connection. Growth, marketing and community people: People who enjoy getting interesting ideas into the world, building audiences and bringing people together. Potential collaborators or cofounders: People who feel strongly about the bigger mission and might want to help shape where this goes. I'm not advertising a paid position at the moment. This is currently self-funded, and I'm not expecting anyone to take on a job for free. I'm simply looking for people interested in trying it, exchanging ideas, offering feedback or exploring small voluntary collaborations. If something more serious developed, we'd work out a proper arrangement. You don't need qualifications or even much time. Curiosity and enthusiasm are more than enough. The bigger ambition I'd love Kind Fu to become something people practise as naturally as exercise or meditation. Not because we're trying to turn everyone into saints, but because I genuinely believe that a little more kindness could make a meaningful difference to our own lives and to the people around us. And perhaps we could build something that helps people feel a little less lonely, more connected, and more capable of making a positive difference. I don't know yet whether we've found the right way to do that. But I'd really like to find out. If any of this resonates, I'd love to hear from you. Try it, criticise it, share an idea, tell me what's missing, or just say hello. https://kindfu.co And thank you for reading!   submitted by   /u/letsdokindfu [link]   [comments]