"Be kind wherever possible, It is always possible." - Dalai Lama
This last year has highlighted kindness during crisis with so many wonderful support systems being rushed into place to help so many different communities and individuals. As we emerge into the post covid world, let’s not forget why kindness is the most important value to harness
Kindness is so deeply rooted to our mental health, increasing self-esteem, empathy and improving mood and relationships. Whether we are on the receiving or giving end, so many of us have found that it has helped cement our sense of belonging even in the midst of isolation. The Mental Health Foundation has conducted a new study into kindness and found that almost two thirds of us say that, when people are kind to them, it has a positive effect on their mental health. A further two thirds said that being kind to others had an equally positive effect! Other studies suggest that acts of kindness help your immune system, increases energy levels and decreases blood pressure thereby reducing stress.
It is not just how you treat other people, it is also how you extend that behaviour to yourself. Being ‘kind to myself’ has an equally positive impact. Only if we are kind to ourselves, can we be kind to others.
Taking time to do small acts of kindness everyday can truly help create a happy and more stable home environment, where everybody feels the desire to do the same.
Below is a simple idea that can be adapted to children of any age and can be adapted for adults too!
It is easy to forget in a crisis that being kind to each other is what has helped the human species to develop over two millennia. In times of Corona, joy is not something that will come to us easily but with daily practice, we can all get there together and remove the negativity bias which has affected us all during the last year. From having fun to doing nothing, make sure that kindness is an integral part of your day.
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