top of page
Search

Be Kind: Kindness WILL Change the World

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” ~John Holmes

The word Kindness gets thrown around so much, slogans on t-shirts, posted all over social media, however, as you scroll down, there is someone trolling another or someone mocking another, taking away the meaning of being kind, in one hit. It begs the question, do we really understand what being kind really is, or are we standing behind posts about being kind because they look good? Posting a ‘Be Kind’ picture doesn’t actually constitute being kind.

So again, what is kindness? The dictionary definition for Kind (from the Oxford Pocket School Dictionary) is friendly, helpful and considerate. To be kind means you are able to adapt your behaviour and responses to be compassionate and selfless. To have a mindset and focus, that puts the needs and compassions of others before your own. Previously, being kind has sometimes constituted being labelled as naïve, how wrong that assumption is. Being kind takes courage and strength. To be kind, when your world is crumbling, to be kind in the face of adversity, to be kind when others are not, to be kind when it’s easier not to be, takes more than we realise, and it takes a lot more than posting a BE KIND picture, it takes action and empathy.


However, it is true that the ‘kind’ person, can sometimes be seen as weak, people believe they do not speak up, or they have no backbone. But, to be kind does not mean you do not speak up for what you believe in, it means you do it in ways that are kind, gentle and appropriate, and do you know what…..it usually works too!



What it means to be Kind to others:

Be conscious of the suffering that happens to those around you, do not turn a blind eye. How often do you hurry past the homeless person, avoiding eye contact. Why? They are human just like you. You are not better, it’s just that your life hasn’t led you in the same direction, you have taken different paths. A warm, caring smile, an acknowledgment of their existence costs absolutely NOTHIING.

Be truly happy for others. Saying congratulations, I am happy for you and meaning it, are two, very different things. You will find, that truly celebrating the success of others, will in turn help your own personal well being. Envy destroys inner peace, joy does not.

Be gentle with your words. This does not mean you will never encounter hard conversations, however it means you can tackle them with compassion and honesty.

What it means to be Kind to yourself:

Be your greatest supporter. Feed yourself positive thoughts, don’t put yourself down, don’t doubt yourself. When you start to say negative things, question yourself, “Would I say this to a friend?” The answer is usually no, so why say it to yourself?

Being kind to yourself is actually not as easy as people assume. We are usually our biggest critic and doubter. The majority of people are extremely hard on themselves, regarding work, relationships and self worth. First thing to do, become self aware. Notice when your inner voice starts to criticise, self doubt. Then stop it. Challenge it.

Kindness is Inextricably linked to Happiness:

Yes, kindness is linked to both contentment and happiness. When you are kind to others and yourself, serotonin gets released into your body and you automatically feel more positive. Kindness also leads to gratitude. Noticing and helping someone less fortunate than yourself, can in turn allow you to realise your own position in life and have gratitude for where you are.

Kindness helps connect us as human beings. The friendly smile to the stranger, letting someone out into the traffic as they gesture thank-you, all these acts of kindness allow you to connect with people. Connection is an innate human need. Kindness allows us to do this, therefore helps us to be happier. Connection starts to break down barriers and the isolation that our modern day society can lead us to feel. Furthermore, when we do something kind for someone else, it makes us feel good about ourselves, and by raising our self esteem, our self belief begins to flourish and helps us live a more optimistic life.

How ‘Being Kind’ is good for our Soul:

Being kind to others helps release a positive energy into the world. Yes, the world. Your act of kindness will make you feel a sense of worth, and the person who you showed kindness too will be more likely to be kinder to others too.

Being kind can strengthen relationships and between you and others, and you and yourself. You will be empowered by your compassion for others. You will feel like you can really make a difference, which will in turn give you a new found confidence.

Kindness and compassion ultimately reduce stress! When we do an act of kindness, it can cause us to have a natural high, and there is nothing better than that feeling you get in your stomach when you are feeling genuinely content and worthy.

Now, more than ever in our lifetimes, we need to prioritise our mental wellbeing. We seem to live in a time where paying attention to our mental wellbeing is an after thought. We believe to be successful we need to be busy and on the go all the time, never stopping. However, how wrong we are. Actually taking time to stop, recharge, and reflect, allow you to realise how you’re doing, make rational decisions and choices and start to live in the now, rather than in the rush of the future or regret of the past. It is important to realise that a break down in your mental health will have a huge impact on your overall health, it can affect everything in your life from relationships, jobs, financial strains and more.

Try and make healthy choices with your food and exercise routines. Avoid external things to make you escape reality and give you a false sense of happiness, such as alcohol or substance abuse. If you need help, seek it, its not a weakness to need someone help you. Below are some ideas to get your kinder life started.

- Reach out to someone you have either lost touch with or not spoken to in a long while.

- Put your phone down and play a game with your family and/or friends.

- Compliment someone and mean it

- Smile at a stranger.

- Go for a walk and really notice what is around you. Keep your phone off and be in the moment.

- Think about a way in which you could help someone, for example could you help someone apply for a job, perhaps help an elderly neighbour with their gardening etc

- Have a clear out and give unwanted items to a charity or shelter.

- The most generous things you can do for another person, is not spend money on them, but give them your attention, actually listen to them.

- Say hello as you pass people.

If you are struggling please do not struggle alone. As Mental Health Awareness Week commences, please think about how you can look after yourself and be kinder to yourself. You deserve it.

Lisa Wilson



Places you can contact if you need help


ree

Text: 86463

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page