"Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind." - Henry James
Ask anyone if they’re kind, and they’ll probably reply, ‘Of course I am!’. Kindness is an emotion that most of us claim to possess. The virtue of being considerate of, and concerned for, others is a given.
But what does being kind really mean?
According to the Mental Health Foundation, it’s not only an emotion, but is something that is defined by our actions. These acts of kindness don’t have to be grand gestures, however. Simple, small deeds such as holding a door open for someone or listening as somebody tells you about their bad day can go a long way to brightening life.
And that’s not only for the person on the receiving end, but for the person carrying out the act too. It’s a win-win situation because the positive effects are experienced in the brain of everyone - whether giving, receiving or observing. Everybody’s mood is improved, with people much more likely to act kindly themselves. In other words, it creates a ripple effect.
Across a range of studies, people who carry out acts of kindness are found to experience greater wellbeing - and that includes mental health.
As reported by the BBC, being kind makes us happy by producing serotonin; it reduces cortisol, which is the stress hormone; protects the heart by producing oxytocin, sometimes called the 'kindness hormone' or 'cardioprotective hormone'; slows ageing by reducing the levels of oxidative stress; gives us energy; supports the immune system; and produces endorphins, which is the brain’s natural painkiller.
With such strong evidence, it’s no wonder that kindness is the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, particularly when the coronavirus outbreak is having such an impact on people’s mental wellness.
According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, practitioners are seeing an alarming rise in patients needing urgent and emergency care following the COVID-19 lockdown. They forecast a 'tsunami' of mental illness after the pandemic.
In conjunction with City Hall, Thrive LDN, have produced this guide to staying happy and healthy at home.
It’s vital that we protect our mental health to cope with and recover from the pandemic. So be kind to yourself and be kind to others. And do let me know what kindness means to you.