Why is kindness important?
Tenzin Gyatso (the current Dalai Lama) said it best: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

While being kind inevitably has positive effects on the world around you, it can also help improve your own physical and mental wellbeing. 

For instance, a recent study found that prosocial behavior can help prevent or mitigate the negative effects of stress, have a positive influence on social anxiety, and overall mental health. Impacting our hormone levels, random acts of kindness have been linked to both an increase in oxytocin and dopamine, inducing feelings of euphoria, and general happiness. Oxytocin is also responsible for lowering blood pressure, possibly accounting for the fact that people who volunteer regularly have a 44% lower likelihood of dying early. 

While the benefits kindness can have on your own mental and physical health are undoubtedly nice side effects, practicing compassion can do so much more. Even just small acts can improve a stranger’s day, and – because kindness is contagious – they, in turn, might be kind to someone else, causing a chain reaction. 

Imagine the world we could live in if everyone performed just one or two random acts of kindness a day. 

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Treat others with kindness

Being more mindful of how you treat others and incorporating random acts of kindness into your routine can be hard. In case you might struggle and wonder how to go about it, we collected some tips and ideas for you. 

• Put yourself in their shoes

A good starting point is to consider the situation from a different perspective and think about how you would want to be treated. Depending on the situation, it might sometimes be enough to ask someone what they need or what you can do.

• Acknowledge others

Sometimes we are so stressed that we forget some of the simplest things, such as being appreciative and acknowledging others. However, it can be so simple. Consider thanking the bus driver for safely taking you to your destination, or thanking a stranger for holding open the door for you.

• It’s the little things

Remember that acts of kindness do not have to be grand gestures. They can be taking out the trash when you notice it’s full or doing the shopping without being asked to. It can be holding open the door for a stranger, inviting your friend to a cup of coffee, or calling someone to check on them. 

• Volunteer (virtually)

If you feel like making a bigger gesture, consider volunteering. Typically, there are several projects within each local community looking for volunteers, such as animal shelters or youth groups. However, particularly in times of COVID-19, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer virtually as well. 

• More random acts of kindness

If you need more ideas on how to show compassion and kindness in everyday situations, we have collected some more suggestions for you. 

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Be kind to yourself

While it is important to show compassion for others, it’s equally (if not more) important to treat yourself with kindness. Similar to performing random acts of kindness, self-compassion can have a positive impact on your general happiness, your satisfaction in life, and emotional intelligence. Studies have also found a link between self-love and lower rates of depression and anxiety. 

Accepting and loving yourself can be hard and it might even take years – but that is okay. Incorporating some of these steps into your daily life will hopefully help you on your journey towards self-love.

• Carve out time for yourself

Especially when studying, working, or taking care of children, it can be difficult to find the time for some alone-time and practice mindfulness. Actively try to have a few hours a week for yourself, doing something that brings you joy. Whether it is going to the cinema, having dinner in a fancy restaurant by yourself, or just relaxing in the tub with a good book – make sure to spend those few hours taking care of only your needs and recharge. 

• Give yourself recognition

We put ourselves down all too easily, trying not to show-off or seem full of ourselves. Instead, we should celebrate our achievements and accomplishments and give ourselves credit. Celebrate any and all achievements: better grades than you had expected, a delicious cake you made, or a new skill.

• You are enough

We tend to compare ourselves constantly. We compare ourselves with celebrities on social media or even with friends who seem to have it all figured out. Comparisons, however, slowly chip away at our self-esteem. It is difficult, but try to remind yourself that you are enough, just the way you are. 

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Conclusion

Showing compassion for others has only increased in importance since COVID-19. Coronavirus has arguably had a negative impact on all of our lives, with isolation and the lack of social interaction affecting our mental health. Some also lost people close to them and are in need of some random acts of kindness, now more than ever. So consider checking up on a friend you haven’t talked to in a while, hold the door open for someone running through the rain, and remember to carve out some alone-time to allow yourself to recharge. 

Written by Samira Rauner, a blogger at Safe Harbor International Ministries. For more articles, visit our blog page at https://safeharborim.com/articles/.