By Dr Attia Anwar
Kindness is another thing that makes your life better. It is very important for the pursuit of happiness. After expressing gratitude for all the good things in your life you should do some service for your fellow beings, and this is going to make you happy in the long run.
Again research has shown acts of kindness release certain hormones like serotonin in the body which are good for your long-term well-being both physically and mentally. The person who does the act of kindness will receive this benefit. The person to which kindness is done will be touched and have a release of these chemicals. Even witnessing an act of kindness makes you happy. An act of kindness creates a response that releases all four happiness neurotransmitters. So it gives pleasure and a feeling of well-being.
As I already mentioned it does not happen only to the person who is doing an act of kindness but it also affects the receiver of kindness. It creates a neurobiology that connects us. So three people benefitted from a single act of kindness. A person who is doing it, a person who is receiving it, and anyone who is looking at that heartfelt moment. And we are not alone in happy feelings in this case. Serotonin which is released as a result of an act of kindness also aids in healing physical wounds as it decreases pain by increasing endorphins. Kindness also reduces the level of the stress hormone cortisol. People who develop habits of kindness reduce their levels of stress and anxiety.
“Give up the drop and become the 0cean.” Rumi
If we study literature from social sciences, it shows that it leads to habit formation. If we do more of them, we do it frequently, and if we do it repetitively neurogenesis will occur. We will develop pathways in our brains and will be able to recognize more when people need our kindness. This will boost our confidence in reaching out to people when they need us. And our brain is going to grow healthier and more productive. Apart from scientific proof, there is experiential proof of feeling good and being mentally healthy by doing acts of kindness. Studies have shown that it is helpful for longevity. People who volunteer for multiple organization and spend significant time in service of others live longer. Being kind promotes empathy and compassion. It will increase a sense of interconnectedness with others. These feelings in turn inspire happiness and reduce negative emotions. People who give of themselves in a balanced way tend to be healthier and live longer.
Be kind with others for your mental health
If we talk about history there were and are many religions, there were many other schools of thought on how to live your life. Not a single one of them is there, which did not stress enough being kind to others. That is a time-tested virtue. Previously it was thought, that being kind is important for the collective benefits of humanity and the greater good. But in recent years lot of work has been done on individual happiness and it has been proved far from a doubt that it is more beneficial for the person who is doing it.
The heart is concerned with its healing, which comes with love compassion, and service to other fellow beings. Heart feels wholeness in this way that we are all connected and part of the web. We are sisters and brothers as humans. And if we support each other we are supporting ourselves. If we help other people in achieving their greatest potential then we are at the final level of being human or we can say that is the maximum long-term happiness we can get. When somebody leaves drug addiction, he has to go through many steps to prevent relapse, the final step is to help someone else to leave addiction. The person who has done the final step will never revert to addiction again. this is a proven fact from research that this is the final stage of healing. It is important to remember how much kindness impacts our well-being and the lives of those around us. Kindness can change everything from mental health to overall well-being.
As people say being kind and doing a few things from your heart is very important. So you do not always need logic to be kind or do something for others. If you live completely in your head it means your brain and logic are always your guide you will miss the warmth, breath, and rhythm of life. If you just follow your heart you will be a person with poor judgement and discipline. So you have to keep your brain and heart together to be kind to others. Then you will not look for your benefit in everything.
Kindness is not just something we practice for others. We should be kind and compassionate to ourselves. Research suggests that one of the most effective ways to alleviate stress, anxieties, and general worries is to practice more deliberate kindness and self-compassion. When you say affirming words to yourself or look beyond the difficult moment toward a bigger picture, it draws your attention away from what is out of your control. It will push your focus toward what you can. As a result, you will know how to cultivate more joy, gratitude, and inner satisfaction in your life.
So in pursuit of happiness, the biggest thing is to do something for your fellow beings without any selfish motives. Yes you know it is going to bring long-lasting happiness for you. It is irrespective of whether people thank you or feel grateful. That is in your best interest as I have started this section with the quote that altruism is egotism. So being part of Web Kindness will give us fulfillment and it will unexpectedly reach us when we least expect it and maybe from where we least expect. So if we all behave with kindness this planet Earth will become a better place to live, and we all will thrive.
The author Dr. Attia Anwar is a consultant family physician with a postgraduate degree from the Royal College of GP UK. She is a strong advocate of health and well-being and wants patient participation in decision-making regarding health.
