PSYCHOLOGY AND KINDNESS
What does psychology has to do with kindness? “Kindness and psychology are two different things”, this is the belief of half of the population. However, kindness is actually relatated to psychology. Psychology has its own ‘Ups’ and ‘Downs’. The term ‘Ups’ and ‘downs’ used here is not the advantages and the disadvantages, but it is about what kindness is capable of giving the inspiration and discouragement in our minds and bodies.
Kindness has many ways of being beneficial to us psychologically. Kindness increases oxytocin; which is also known as love hormones in our body. It helps to lower down blood pressure level and heals our hearts. Usually, it is released during positive social connection and under stressful conditions. For example, oxytocin levels are higher when an individual is under stress or feels isolated by the society. Hence, it is very important to take care of our heart and our mental health at all times.
Acts of kindness also helps to increase positive energy in our bodies. For instance, we will feel energetic after helping out others. Being kind will makes us feel better about helping out others and makes recipients of our kind acts happier. It does not matter how small or big is the favour we do to help others, all that matters is giving others a hand at times of need. Kindness does not only teach us of helping and being nice to others, but it also teaches us to be nice to ourselves too. It can help us realize our self-worth by carrying out good deeds to others but also marking a tick for ourselves in the acts of kindness lists.
If the kindness sense in our life increases, then our lifespan also increases. An individual with kind personality may experience just a few conflicts and dilemmas in their entire lives. For example, many people will do and say things, which are hurtful, but our attitude and response to their behaviour influences the consequences. Some researches had found out that being involved in volunteering organizations has 63% lower mortality compared to non-volunteers. Kindness has a stronger effect than exercising four times a week as said by one and only; Christine Carter.
After knowing about the advantages given due to kindness, let’s also see what kindness is capable in decreasing. Kindness is believed to be a stress level decreasing agent. It just takes only a few minutes to do a random act of kindness, but those few minutes can prove that the more kinder you are, the less stressed you are. Smiling which is an involuntary action as it just happens is very powerful. All it takes is to just curve out a smile, which is a stress antidote and helps to end stressful things in our lives. You do not have to say or pay much in order to smile to others and it is a free of charge medicine to cure stress.
