It's World Kindness Day this week and as a team we've been thinking about what kindness means to us. Kindness comes in so many forms, it can be obvious like telling someone you appreciate them, but it can also be displayed in so many other ways. It's that cup of tea and a snack popped onto your desk when a colleague's noticed you flagging in the afternoon, it's the parent who offers to bring your child home from school because they know you're snowed under at work, it's your little one making you a picture at nursery because they sense that you're perhaps under a lot of stress. Whatever form it comes in an act of kindness has the potential to change our outlook on our day completely!
Being considerate, helpful and thoughtful are the core qualities of kindness. People who have these qualities improve the lives of those around them and, in general, enjoy better health due to the biological changes that occur while being kind. Studies indicate that simply witnessing acts of kindness can have positive side effects. Kindness can increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact loneliness, improve low mood and enhance relationships in general.
Physiologically, kindness can positively change your brain. Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction and well-being and cause the pleasure/reward centers in your brain to light up. Endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killer, also can be released.
Here's just a few ideas for spreading a little happiness today....
1. Go slightly out of your comfort zone at least once a day to make someone smile.
2. Share a compliment with a co-worker, friend or family member.
3. Treat someone to a cup of coffee (a friend, a Stranger...or perhaps yourself!).
4. Pass along a great book that you’ve been reading
5. Be kind to the most important person, you! It's sometimes very easy to forget that in order to have the energy to be kind to others we also need to be kind to ourselves. Take a little time to think about something simple that would make you really feel like you'd been kind to yourself.
6. Take up the challenge of saying, 'good morning' to at least 4 people on your morning walk/commute. Many friendships have started this way and you never know the positive impact that person may have on your life too.
7. Make an extra portion of lunch and share it with a friend or colleague.
Grab those feelgood hormones today!