6 AMAZING HEALTH BENEFITS TO BEING KINDER

Kindness starts with being kind to yourself.

WHY IS BEING KIND GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH?

There are more than six amazing health benefits to being kinder but we’ll discuss the top six. Kindness is one of those things that make us happy as we make others feel happy. It’s a warm fuzzy feeling that is contagious. Ofttimes even the onlookers are affected. 

Once we begin to realize that we are all interwoven as one unit, we become hopeful. We find our confidence within our self. We become compassionate to the living people and things around us. And we realize that we are in control of our thoughts and emotions. 

As we interact positively with others, we become a different person. Each act of kindness changes the way we see ourselves, the way we see others, and the way others see us. Using kind words, a natural smile, an honest gesture, or offer a donation will improve your relationships. 

Here are six health benefits to being kinder.

1. When we implement random acts of kindness, we switch on areas of pleasure, social connection, and trust in our brains. 
2. It creates a positive loop in our minds. Service makes you happier, and happiness makes you kinder. Being kinder makes you more likely to be giving and considerate towards others.
3. Kindness can create social connections and bonding. We are programmed to be social and in a group. The social relationship of some type enhances our physical performance and boosts mental clarity. 
4. Kindness helps with the healing process. Kindness or compassion in healthcare hastens the healing process, thereby shortening hospital stays. The range of outcomes includes reduced pain, lower blood pressure, and less anxiety for the patient and caregivers.
5. Self-compassion can lessen or help prevent diseases such as depression. Kindness lowers our stress levels and reduces pain because of the endorphins and feel-good hormones released at the time of the act. Positive and favorable emotions help the body by preventing or lowering the suffering of diabetes, strokes, depression, and heart disease.
6. Selflessness stimulates the reward area of our intellect. Studies suggest that we get intoxicated on being kind.

Every inconsequential act of generosity is morally and healthy for you. Loneliness, anger, desolation, disease, and stress can be prevented or eliminated with an increased feeling of self-worth.

WHAT ACT OF KINDNESS CAN YOU PERFORM?

But wait, let’s examine self-kindness before we push out kindness to others. Self-compassion or self-kindness is the practice of treating oneself with compassion, care, and concern rather than harsh criticism or judgment. 

Recognize or understand that all humans make mistakes, are imperfect, and certainly fail. Mindfulness is an awareness of the present moment without thought of the disliked aspects of one’s behavior or oneself. Mindfulness is the no-judgment-zone.

So, when taken together, individuals can be compassionate toward others, that in turn, will reflect onto oneself. Then acts of kindness become a cyclical event that gets repeated; hence, the terminology of ‘pay-it-forward.’ 

Therefore, small actions lead to giant ripples. When we carry out one small act of kindness, the effect on others will be inspirational, rewarding to many, and be significant to your mental health. 

An act of goodwill can be as easy and straightforward as smiling to a passerby or as complex as paying the expense for the person behind you in the drive-thru lane of your favorite burger place.  

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HOW TINY ACTS OF KINDNESS MAKE HUGE IMPACTS

“Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams

Tiny actions are the incentive for others to start doing small generosities that have a contagious effect on others. When other people witness your little act of kindness, it will inspire them to perform acts of kindness. 

Once you spread kindness through small deeds, you are more likely to act in more significant ways, as well. 

Besides, you can never know what

…a smile can do for someone sad or depressed.

…holding a door for someone can teach a child watching you.

…finding and returning lost items will do for the sufferer. 

Most importantly, these tiny actions may seem simple, but these are acts of kindness that will help you grow confident and take action in extraordinary ways. Listed are a few things you can do to incorporate big-heartedness into your life.

1. Cook a hot meal for a neighbor.
2. Donate – Toys for Tots, clothing or makeup for Women in Crisis
3. Community clean up – help clean up a local park or neighborhood.
4. Leave encouraging post-it notes in random places. 
5. Volunteer at your local animal shelter.
6. Read to a third-grade class.
7. Drop off snacks or baked goods to your fire station.
8. Be complimentary.
9. Use Amazon Smile to donate to your favorite charity.
10. Cut out an article from the paper and send it to someone with a handwritten note. 
11. Donate blood. 
12. Sponsor or pick up the tab for a child so that they can join a little league sport. 

Smile, or hold the door, or offer assistance are tiny acts of kindness that can lead to a healthier, happier, and honorable you. – Anonymous

WHAT IF YOU ARE THE RECIPIENT OF KINDNESS?

In reality, the purest form of kindness has no audience and no indebtedness. But what if you’re the recipient of good grace? We don’t have control over other people’s actions, but we can control our reaction. 

When you are the receiver of kindness, be sure to voice your appreciation, even if the giver is long gone. Thank the cosmos, the universe, or God for putting someone in your path to do a courtesy to you. 

Then take that kindness and spread it out to nourish that person’s grace and good deeds as it was done unto you. By doing so, you will have multiplied that act of kindness by two-fold (at the very least). 

Kindness produces kindness. You are the kindness example that prompts others to act. And if you are the recipient of a generous deed, then be sure to increase the giver’s generosity by granting goodwill to others. 

Please tell us your acts of kindness as the receiver or benefactor in the comment section. We would love to hear your story. If you enjoyed this post, please share it with your favorite social media.