The Positive Effectives of Kindness

The world is a very different place to the one it was just a month ago.  2020, so far, is not the year that anyone had imagined.

So how can you make things better, more bearable for yourself and for those around you?

Be kind!

Being kind to others boosts your serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of satisfaction and well-being. Kindness leads to many good things like better relationships, improved self-esteem, compassion, happiness and good mental and physical health. And don’t we all want that for our children, our families, our community, and the world?

Kindness provides many benefits:

Kindness Is A Remedy For Anxiety

Being nice to others can be one of the easiest and quickest, most inexpensive ways to keep anxiety at bay. It calms the mood and takes the focus off yourself. There are several ways to assist in reducing anxiety such as a 2 minute break by closing your eyes and practicing some gentle deep breathing, taking a 10-minute walk, meditation, and exercise, but the most natural way is just to be kind.

Kindness Is A Remedy For The Heart

Being kind to others can affect the actual chemical balance of your heart. Kindness sets free the hormone oxytocin.  Oxytocin is known as a cardio-protective hormone as it reduces blood pressure. There is a saying, ‘caring people have really big hearts’ – this is so true as kindness strengthens your heart physically and emotionally!

Kindness Reduces Stress

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, each human being faces some sort of stress factor each day, it might even start with sitting in the traffic on your way to work in the morning. To be able to cope and overcome stressful situations, an act of being kind to others reduces the stress factor by far. This is because it allows you to pay less attention to yourself and your problems. The moment you focus on doing good to others, enables you to get a break from your own problems. The added bonus is the appreciation shown by the person receiving the act of kindness.

It Gives You A Kind Identity

Acts of kindness help us to demonstrate a positive identity and makes us feel proud of ourselves. In a recent study, children in their first year of secondary school recognized how being kind can make you feel “better as a person – more complete”, leading to feelings of joy and happiness.

Kindness Comes Back To You

Someone might remember that you helped them out last time and therefore will be more likely to help you when you need it most. It could also be that one person being kind causes a ripple effect and makes others in the group kinder, which lifts everyone’s spirits.

There are no side-effects to being kind! Only added benefits and you do not need a prescription for it.