Two Different Paths, One Shared Message
The worlds they inhabited were the two poles apart. One was a comedian who made television a medium of happiness in the daytime. The other was a politician who made history as the first black president of the United States. However, both Ellen Degeneres and Barack Obama added something close to the general conversation: a steady emphasis on kindness and sympathy.
They were able to impact millions of people at a time when society appeared to be becoming more divided. They demonstrated that kindness was not weak and passive. It would be a powerful force for change.
Ellen’s Approach: Laughter and Generosity
Ellen made her career by making people laugh. Her performance was not all about comedy. It became famous with the surprises it made with life changing gifts. Checks were given to teachers who used their pocket money in buying classroom supplies. Families with difficulties in paying bills were provided with economic assistance. Ordinary citizens who performed miraculous acts were featured on national television.
It was the same thing she said at the end of each episode: “Be Kind to each other”. It was her 19-season run, 2003-2022. The message itself was not complicated but it remained in the minds of people.
In her comedy show, she showed that one doesn’t have to put others down in order to raise oneself. You can make people laugh and at the same time make them feel good about themselves. It was a combination that was uncommon, particularly on television.
Obama’s Message: Empathy as Leadership
Barack Obama did the same thing with a different approach, however. As a Senator, in 2006, he delivered a commencement speech at Northwestern University which presented a strong concept. He said there’s “an empathy deficit – the ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes; to see the world through those who are different from us”.
This wasn’t just talk. Empathy is a central aspect that Obama included in his leadership practice. In the eulogy he delivered in 2015 over the funeral of Reverend Clementa Pinckney in Charleston, South Carolina, he praised the pastor for being “full of empathy and fellow feeling, able to walk in somebody else’s shoes and see through their eyes.”
Obama took advantage of the times of national crises to call for understanding rather than division. During stressful situations, he talked in a cool and composed manner. He urged individuals to think beyond themselves.
The Power of Their Combined Influence
Ellen DeGeneres and Barack Obama each helped bring kindness into the public conversation in a way that felt accessible and intentional, even though they came from very different worlds. Ellen DeGeneres did it through humor, storytelling, and everyday moments that highlighted empathy and generosity, while Barack Obama modeled kindness through calm leadership, respect for others, and thoughtful dialogue during moments of tension. Together, they showed that kindness isn’t passive or naive—it can be influential, steady, and powerful. By consistently leading with empathy in highly visible roles, they inspired people to see kindness not just as a personal trait, but as a value that can shape culture, conversation, and how society moves forward.
Their timing mattered. The 2000s-10s were marked by a rising political division. Social media was enraging people and making them more judgmental. The discourse in the streets was becoming rougher.
A different model was provided by Ellen and Obama. They demonstrated that you can be powerful, rich and nice all at once.
Why Their Message Still Matters
The world is not a simpler place since Ellen stopped her show or Obama stopped being in office. On the contrary, people appear to be more divided than ever. On social media, arguments erupt constantly. Political tensions run deep. Numerous societies are fractured.
That is precisely why their message will remain relevant. Goodwill provides a solution when all other things seem like they have their own way. It allows one to have meaningful discussions, rather than verbal fights.
When Obama talked about empathy, what he meant is, people should not give up on their beliefs. He was requesting them to put themselves in the shoes of other people by understanding their situation.
Small Acts, Big Impact
To show kindness, you do not have to have a television show or a political office. It is equally important or even more so the everyday version.
Accept the slowness of the customer care agent who is getting angry customers throughout the day. Hear the person who has to speak, but does not rush to correct their issues. Assist a neighbor without seeking any reward. Report when you witness someone mistreated.
These moments add up. They transform the moods in families, workplaces, and communities. They make people remember that there is still basic human decency.
Learning from Both Approaches
Ellen demonstrated to us that doing kind things can be entertaining and positive. It need not be grave or moralizing. You can make people smile, as well as improve their lives.
Obama proved that kindness is effective even in serious situations. You can show empathy and respect even when addressing such challenging issues as racism, violence, or political disagreement.
Both approaches work. Kindness sometimes is presented like a surprise gift on a talk show or it can be selecting wise words to say in the case of a country’s crisis. The form changes, but the foundation stays the same.
The Choice We All Face
More than just catchphrases and speeches, Ellen DeGeneres and Barack Obama provided us with examples of what can be done, when the celebrities are more concerned with kindness and empathy.
The question arises now, what shall we do with that example. Will we reject it as a simpleton in a mean world? Or shall we recognise that kindness is of the few that can make a difference in the way people treat one another?
Be kind to one another. Why? Just for a minute, put yourself in the shoes of another person. Experience the world as they see it. These aren’t just nice ideas. They are applicable examples in the creation of a greater society.
