Did you know that if you perform kind acts of two minutes a day for 21 days you can actually retrain your brain to be more positive? Kindness is the most important aspect of a personality and it involves being positive, respectful, helpful & compassionate towards yourself and others. Being kind can improve mental health, change people’s lives and create and support positive relationship. These are just some of the reasons why kindness is the most significant personality trait.
“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace.
“-The 14th Dalai Lama Countless studies show that people who are kind have better physical and mental health. Many researchers have also proven that when people feel good, they do good and when people do good they feel good.
This is known as a prosocial loop or positive feedback loop. So if being kind makes everyone feel good, why aren’t people kinder? Lots of people have a negative association with kindness because they associate it with giving things away with no return but kindness doesn’t have to involve that.
Simple kind acts can include; complimenting someone, writing a positive sticky note and leaving it on someone’s desk, even listening to other people’s stories and not jumping to conclusions. Kindness helps to make everyone’s day better which makes it vital to everyone’s happiness, therefore making it the most significant personality trait.
Kindness is the glue that holds together not only humanity, but relationships, as well.
Those who are kind develop stronger, better relationships with others. Having healthy, supportive relationships helps success, self-esteem and confidence. The best relationships thrive on kindness therefore it is important that kindness is always shared in relationships so that they can flourish. Also, during a disagreement kindness helps to resolve the issue faster and forgiveness to be granted smoothly. Not only does kindness help with maintaining bonds but also making them. Acts of kindness is a great way to lay the foundations for a future friendship. Healthy relationships are difficult to form and impossible to maintain for long periods of time without strong acts of kindness and compassion. Kind acts assists healthy and prosperous relationships form and last which makes it the most important personality trait.
Kindness can change lives forever in many different ways and not just for humans. Adopting pets through animal shelters instead of purchasing through breeders can actually save animals lives. With many shelters overcrowding some animals have to be put down to decrease stress on facilities and staff. Kindness towards humans can also change lives. Studies by Health Direct Australia have shown that acts of kindness can increase wellbeing and recovery from mental and physical illness. Kindness also boosts self-esteem and can help overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness. Acts of kindness aren’t confined to donating to charities or life-or-death situations.
An example of an act of kindness was during a race in December 2012. Spanish runner Iván Fernández was well behind Kenyan runner Abel Mutai when the leading runner pulled up 10 metres’ shy of the finish line, mistakenly thinking that he had already finished the race. However, instead of exploiting Mutai’s mistake and winning the race, Fernández ushered him towards the finish line, staying behind him the whole time. During a later interview Fernández said “He was the rightful winner. He created a gap that I couldn’t have closed if he hadn’t made a mistake. As soon as I saw he was stopping, I knew I wasn’t going to pass him.” This shows anyone is capable of kindness and sacrificing personal gain for a just, moral reason. Kindness changes lives for the better and anyone can exchange acts of kindness with one another making kindness the ultimate personality trait.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted” – Aesop Kindness makes huge improvements in people’s lives. Kind acts can change lives improve your own happiness and self- esteem and forms and maintains prosperous relationships. The world is a better place with kindness so next time you have an opportunity to be kind, why not see where it will take you.