It was World Kindness Day a couple of weeks ago. Ah, so you missed it too? Pity really, as being kind is really good for you. Don’t worry, it is still ok to be kind.
Fellow medics (probably) all agree that being kind increases our levels of serotonin, the neurotransmitter in our brains that boosts feelings of wellbeing. Great!
But, according to an article by Narendra Sharma, there’s a heap of other wins too.
You’ll thank me for this one day
- Kindness reduces anxiety – taking your focus off “you” – for a while at least.
- Emotions work by proxy and are catching – smiling at someone or giving them a compliment can make them feel better which can do the same for you.
- Kindness is good for the heart – by affecting its actual chemical balance. Oxytocin, nitric oxide cardio-protection and dilated blood vessels, all good stuff.
- Be a superhero who rights wrongs – a kind act to make a relative, friend or stranger feel better can also make us feel good. We tend to feel the same relief they do because we are putting something right.
- It can open a door to new friends – for example, volunteering to help others means you meet other people to help plus the other lovely folk giving up their time to do likewise.
- It gives you a kind identity – to others and to you.
- Kindness comes back to you – one good turn deserves another.
- Or it ripples out – a beneficiary of a kind deed might equally pass it onto someone else.
Best of all, there are stacks of opportunities out there to show kindness to others. Whether that’s those closest to you, complete strangers, animals or even your local environment.
Find ways to offer (or receive) kindness on world kindness day
Treacle.me includes links to dozens of local and national groups that need willing volunteers or where you can just make new friends, which you may not be aware of. Ranging from befrienders for the elderly to helping the vulnerable with their daily lives. Or even helping the environment.
Our app and website are free to use and never ask for your data or anything about you.
Take care out there.
Helen