I firmly believe that kindness matters! It can seem all too often, especially when we engage with Social Media that kindness seems to be missing in today’s society. People are more connected to their devices than to what is happening around them.
They seem self-absorbed and also willing to say things to others online that they would probably never consider, or be allowed, to say to them face to face. Kindness is often the last thing they think about.
If there was no kindness our world would simply be filled with strife, discontent and anger. We would see relationships falling apart or never even starting, countries disintegrate into constant state of unrest and our world completely changed. That is why so much of the anger that has become prevalent online needs to be tackled and replaced with a willingness to be kind to others.
According to the Gottman Institute, which studies relationships, every successful relationship is, in the end, supported by kindness. What’s more, they claim the most important time you should be kind is during some type of conflict, such as when you are arguing with a partner and yet, this is the hardest time for most people to be kind.
“Kindness is about showing empathy, acceptance and tolerance,” explains Lawrence Stoyanowski, a Vancouver-based therapist. “It’s about being able to scan your partner for things to appreciate rather than criticise.”
Why Kindness Matters
As children and even as adults, we look for kindness from our family and friends. We give and receive kindness every day in some form.
Kindness matters because it moves us. We remember past kindnesses done to and by us. Kindness nourishes, heals, strengthens and uplifts us.
Many studies have shown that kindness though, is not only a good moral value but it is good for you. It benefits your brain, your body and your emotions in many ways. It is a foundation for a meaningful life.
Here are just five reasons why kindness matters and is so important.
- Kindness makes us happier. When we perform random acts of kindness, we activate areas of pleasure, social connection and trust in our brains.
- It creates a positive loop in our mind. Kindness makes you happier and happiness makes you kinder. When you are happy, you are more likely to feel giving and kind towards others.
- Kindness can create social connections and bonding. As humans, we’re preprogrammed to be a part of a group. Being a part of a group, a social connection of some type, enhances our physical performance and boosts mental clarity. Being kind allows us to be a part of a group.
- Kindness helps with the healing process. When healthcare is delivered with kindness it can hasten the healing process, thereby shortening hospital stays. Kinder care leads to a range of outcomes including reduced pain, lowered blood pressure and less anxiety for the patient and caregivers.
- Kindness can decrease or help prevent diseases. Kindness lowers our stress and anxiety levels and decreases pain because of the endorphins and feel-good hormones released at the time of the act.
In Conclusion…
No matter how inconsequential an act of kindness might be, it is good for you. Without kindness life would be lonely, filled with anger and desolation, disease and stress. But when kindness is both given and received with no expectations in return, our lives are calmer, happier and we build meaningful connections to others.
Let me leave you with a final thought and quote:
“Constant kindness can accomplish as much as the sun making ice melt. Kindness causes misunderstandings, mistrust and hostility to evaporate.” Albert Schweitzer