When was the last time you went out of your way to be kind to someone or were on the receiving end of a selfless, thoughtful act? Often we overlook the importance of being kind to others or are unaware of what even constitutes kindness. Kindess is more than a behaviour, however, and can lead to not only a greater sense of well-being in others, but a host of benefits for you the individual giver of kindess too. Acts as simple as giving an affectionate hug to your loved one or buying a colleague a cup of coffee can brighten up their day and boost your own well-being in the process.
The benefits of kindness
A study delving deeper into the power of kindess carried out in 2023 and involving people with anxiety, stress or mild depression brought back some very interesting results. They were randomly divided into three groups, each of which had to perform a different activity to see what effect it had on their mood.
Two of the groups were given tasks commonly used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression: organizing social events or changing cognitive perspectives.The social activities group was given the task of arranging social activities twice a week. Another group was taught one of the fundamental aspects of CBT: cognitive reappraisal. These individuals maintained logs for a minimum of two days weekly which aided in recognizing harmful thought patterns and adjusting their thoughts to alleviate depression and anxiety.
The third group members were told to do three kind acts a day for two days out of the week. Participants mentioned performing acts of kindness such as baking cookies for friends, giving friends a lift, and leaving sticky notes with positive messages for roommates.
While results indicated that all three groups experienced a boost in life satisfaction and a decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety following the 10-week study, engaging in acts of kindness outperformed social activities and cognitive reappraisal in enhancing people’s sense of connection with others. Additionally, the group practicing acts of kindness exhibited greater enhancements in life satisfaction, as well as reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety, compared to the cognitive reappraisal group. It would appear that acts of kindess are more mutally beneficial than we think.
Good for the mind, body, and soul
According to Mayo Clinic, showing kindness can enhance self-worth, understanding and care for others, and boost one’s overall mood. It has the ability to lower blood pressure and cortisol, a hormone linked to stress levels. Individuals who are able to give in a moderate manner also typically experience better health and longer lifespans. Acts of kindness can enhance feelings of connectedness with others, reduce feelings of loneliness, alleviate low mood, and enhance relationships. It can also spread to others, inspiring them to participate in their own acts of generosity, further spreading the benefits of kindness. The possibilty to create this type of positive chain reaction is something quite powerful, don’t you think?
Start your day with this question: “How am I going to practice kindness today?” Leave a comment below and share your acts of kindness. I look forward to reading them.