Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Kindness is important as it can manifest in different ways. Firstly it is important to be showing kindness to others and secondly showing that kindness to ourselves. Kindness is very important: in practice it can lead to positive mental and physical changes which can also help in producing feel good hormones, as well as even reducing blood pressure. The Dalai Lama once said, “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
When showing acts of kindness, it does not need to be big. Sometimes the smallest act of kindness can have the biggest impact on someone, especially for a stranger. Little things such as a moment of support, word of encouragement, or sharing a tiny smile as you’re walking by can make such a difference. Four things that help when trying to be kind can be awareness, non-judgement, action, and unconditional attitudes. We must be aware of the opportunities that arise for us to be kind rather than becoming absorbed in our own little worlds. The most important thing is to have no judgement in order to truly be kind. Acting in a friendly and generous manner is important, especially for those we are extending our action to. Being unconditional means offering kindness without expecting anything in return; the real reward is inner positivity.
Being kind to yourself is necessary. It’s not just a nice idea, but it is a form of self-care and a vital foundation to carry on to others. Don’t forget to take care of yourself when you are trying to take care of everything around you. Be generous with yourself; do things for you. Disconnect from technology and go soak up the sun. Most important: avoid comparisons. With social media, advertising, and traditional media, this can be really hard. Remember that no one really lives a perfect life. Don’t try to measure up to other people or fall into the comparison trap because it will lead to negative self-talk, which is the opposite of being kind to yourself.
Opening your eyes means noticing when others are suffering. A kind word, a smile, opening a door, or helping carry a heavy load are all examples of acts of kindness. Celebrating someone you love, giving honest compliments, sending an email thanking someone, telling someone how special they are to you, helping an elderly neighbor with yard work, taking a photo of someone and sending it to the person, sharing homemade food, refusing to gossip, and donating old clothing and things you don’t need are all more ideas about how to practice kindness.
There are many ways to be kind, and there are going to be many opportunities to practice. Kindness is a value that could add more satisfaction into our lives as well as strengthen the relationships around us while also helping to build new ones.