by Anastasia Fermin, Sunshima blog writer
It doesn’t matter where in the world you’re from, there is a universal lesson that we have all encountered which is to be kind to others. Across every culture, language, and society, kindness is a trait that is encouraged from a young age and being kind can be accomplished in a variety of ways. As long as you seek to help others instead of hurting them, every little act of kindness benefits your wellbeing without you even realising! Here are some ways that being kind can help you.
Kindness makes you happy
When you are kind to someone or lend a helping hand, not only does it make them happy but you feel pretty good too. This happens because your body releases hormones such as endorphins, oxytocin, and serotonin. These are often classed as ‘feel-good’ chemicals and they help to boost your mood, increase confidence, reduce stress and make you feel content.
Being kind promotes empathy
When you help someone or just do something nice for a friend or relative, you become more empathetic. This leads to developing closer bonds with people and understanding them on a deeper level. Empathy is often a common trait of kind people and it’s what makes them so relatable and caring. You will also experience improved and positive relationships when you act from empathy.
You reduce your stress levels by being kind
Our lives can get stressful, and sometimes you just need a break. People who volunteer and perform acts of kindness reduce stress by giving back to the community. You can also overcome and become better equipped to face stressful situations in your life by engaging in such activities. You meet a lot of new people, hear many stories, realise how much you can contribute and often encounter people whose experiences can teach you a thing or two about life and how to deal with hardship.
Kindness keeps you healthy
As mentioned earlier, being kind boosts the production of feel-good hormones in your body. But some of these hormones have special benefits for your health. Oxytocin, for example, triggers the production of nitric oxide which lowers blood pressure and protects your heart. It also reduces inflammation which can reduce the risk of health problems like diabetes or chronic pain for example. Being kind to others and being kind to yourself can contribute to good health and well-being as a result.
Be kind to yourself too
It’s admirable to be kind and go out of your way to make the world a better place, but you also have to remember to be kind to yourself. You may not be able to help everyone, but every little bit counts. If you can’t find anyone to help, then focus on your well-being. You can start by speaking kind words to yourself with positive affirmations. Or treat yourself to something special. You can’t help others if you are burnt out. Even the smallest gesture of kindness is enough to spark these amazing benefits and it so happens that everyone experiences joy and fellowship in the process!