Why Kindness is Good for the Soul
Did you know that kindness has many benefits, both emotional and physical? And another thing … its ultimately good for a person’s soul. Being kind boosts your spirits and gives you a sense of peace that brings the mind, body and spirit together in a remarkable way.
What is Kindness?
Kindness is being considerate of others. It involves merely being friendly and patient with other people, even during stressful situations. Smiling at a stranger, listening to a friend, and giving others the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming the worst are all ways to practice kindness.
Because we don’t know what stress another person is experiencing, being kind towards them gives them space to express themselves without creating a negative situation for everyone.
Kindness also includes doing something nice for someone, especially when they least expect it. A common phrase is “random acts of kindness” or using opportunities to show consideration for others.
There are many examples of random acts of kindness. Reaching out to check on a senior, paying for someone else’s coffee, and sending a short, positive note to a friend are all random acts of kindness.
Personal Benefits of Kindness
I hear that that are even studies which have shown that people who practiced kindness for more than seven days experienced greater or increased:
- Compassion
- Trust
- Positive Feelings Toward Humanity
- Social Connections
- Life Satisfaction
Practicing kindness releases oxytocin and serotonin, chemicals in the brain that make us feel calm and happy. An increase in these chemicals flood the receptors in our brains that control emotions. These physical changes produce feelings that are good for the soul.
Kindness Begins with You
Here’s a no-brainer … start by being kind to yourself. Being able to forgive yourself for minor mistakes, understanding your motivations, and treating yourself and your choices with respect, all lead to being able to share kindness with others.
When we are kind to ourselves, we begin to recognize the human connection we all share. We take control of ourselves and our reactions to other people and situations. We understand that being kind makes us feel better and we want to share that feeling with others. Practicing kindness gives us opportunities to build on that.
Being kind becomes proactive. We look for ways to show kindness instead of rushing to judgment or dismissing others’ concerns and needs. Interactions of kindness are remembered by both the giver and receiver. Even when we want to dwell on negative comments or actions that other people have displayed toward us, we can train our brains to remember kind comments and gestures instead.
The more we practice kindness, the better we feel, and the better we know we make others feel. Kindness becomes a habit and permanent part of our being.
