Why Kindness Matters

The kinder we are, the happier we feel. It’s a simple equation but an important one, and it’s backed by good science. Kindness makes us healthier and happier in the long term, and it builds social capital — which means that you’re more likely to be successful at work if people like working with you. Here are five ways kindness can make your life better:

1. Kindness is good for you.

In addition to helping others, being kind to yourself is also beneficial. When we act kindly toward ourselves, our self-esteem and self-respect improve. In turn, this can make us feel better about who we are and what we do.

The benefits of kindness don’t end there: Studies have shown that when people are kind to others, they enjoy a boost in happiness. By being warm, respectful and helpful toward other people — even strangers — you can find greater fulfillment in life by making a positive difference in their lives too

2. Kindness builds social capital.

Social capital is the value of relationships in society, and it’s based on trust and cooperation. The more we help others and make them feel good about themselves, the higher their levels of trust are likely to be toward us. As a result, they’re more likely to want to work with us on common goals or projects — and they might even become our friends.

Kindness can also help us build a better world because when people feel loved and cared for by others, they feel more connected to society as a whole. This helps create stronger communities where people look out for one another’s best interests rather than just their own interests alone; this type of community is more likely to take care of its environment (because everyone has an interest in doing so), which means less pollution from industrial waste products being dumped into our oceans or rivers — just one example among many possible positive outcomes from kindness beyond simply feeling good inside yourself today.

3. Kindness triggers a positive feedback loop.

The more you give, the more you get. The more you get, the more you want to give. Kindness makes us feel good, and that good feeling can lead to giving even more kindness in return. Being kind creates an upward spiral that becomes an essential part of your life if you let it take root and grow within your heart; when we are kind to ourselves, we are better able to offer compassion to others; when we offer compassion for others’ feelings or struggles, they often feel empowered by our acceptance — which leads them to become kinder themselves.

4. Kindness makes us more resilient and open.

Kindness is a powerful tool for the brain. Social support and kindness can help us recover from stressful events, increase our capacity for empathy and open us up to new experiences. Kindness also strengthens our connection with others, which makes us feel more connected to them.

5. Kindness is a habit that grows more present every day it’s enacted.

Kindness is a habit, and it can be cultivated with practice. You may not feel very kind at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be kind — it just takes work. Kindness is an investment in yourself and others; it’s like exercising your brain.

Think of kindness as a skill that you’re learning to master. As with all skills, you’ll have more success if you keep practicing consistently over time. The more often you practice being kind, the easier it becomes to do so when things get tough or stressful for any reason (or no reason at all). Don’t give up. Even small acts of kindness add up over time and make big differences in our relationships with others as well as ourselves — and they’re fun to do once they become part of your routine.

—

This post was previously published on medium.com.

***