It might sound cheesy, but it's true. Research has repeatedly shown that kindness has the power to benefit both the giver and the receiver – not only can it boost our mood and self-esteem, but it also helps to foster a sense of community and can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Kindness is a strength within the virtue category of humanity, one of six virtues that subcategorize the 24 strengths. Humanity describes strengths that manifest in caring relationships with others. These strengths are interpersonal and are mostly relevant in one-on-one relationships.
“Many people unfortunately believe that being kind or expressing kindness is a sign of weakness—I wholeheartedly disagree,” Breur says. People shouldn't have to feel as though they must choose between being kind and being strong. It's not an either-or concept.
Caring is not a bad thing as it shows how much you understand others. However, the ultimate sacrifice when you care too much is your own mental health and emotional sanity. Caring too much can lead to additional stress and anxiety that you could have prevented if only you set proper boundaries on caring.
While those qualities certainly don't hurt, it turns out the most alluring thing about a person is a bit different. According to recent research, kindness is the number one most attractive trait people look for in a partner.
As Armitage explains: “Kindness is not typically associated with strength but, in actual fact, sometimes it's the strongest people who are able to be the kindest; they don't feel the need to use defences, or put up barriers to protect themselves, and can therefore offer genuine kindness because they feel safe and ...
Experts say that kindness is one of the main features of intelligence. In other words, good people are the smartest. Neurobiologist Richard Davidson says: "the foundation of a healthy brain is kindness." He explains that kindness requires the ability to think not only about ourselves but also about others.
Kindness is an interpersonal skill. Current research supports this idea. Science has now shown that devoting resources to others, rather than having more and more for yourself, brings about lasting well-being.
Researchers estimate that about 30 to 60 percent of kindness is genetically determined, while the rest depends on life experiences and individual choices. With this genetic and environmental interaction, people display different degrees of kindness.
Rather than being selfish, humans are actually born kind. We have kindness genes. The most prominent of these is the gene for oxytocin, a little hormone associated with reproduction, breast feeding and social behaviour.
Research led by the University of Bristol has revealed that intelligence is a greater predictor of success than other qualities such as kindness, generosity, or conscientiousness.
Kindness is a natural tendency, but it's also a skill to be learned and practiced. One that parents and caregivers of young children can nurture one experience at a time.
Indeed, kindness has the power to save the world, one person, one life at a time. It can also comfort you in your darkest moments. By making kindness your superpower, you will have the ability to bring a positive change to others and to inspire more people to follow suit in spreading kindness throughout their lives.
New research shows the ripple effect one act of kindness can have on an entire community. When we see someone being kind or generous, it gives us a warm glow feeling inside. Researchers call this “moral elevation,” and it not only feels good but inspires us to want to do good ourselves.
Kindness = Success
According to the study, which ran for over a decade, “deceitful and aggressive” individuals are no more likely to rise to positions of power in business than people who are “generous, trustworthy and kind”.
Whether you are in business for yourself or you want to be a success in your personal life, giving time to others unconditionally is a sure-fire way to be successful in life. It's by giving to others without expecting something in return that you really begin to see the benefit of being a good and kind person.
Acts of kindness can make the world a happier place for everyone. They can boost feelings of confidence, being in control, happiness and optimism. They may also encourage others to repeat the good deeds they've experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community.
Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction and well-being, and cause the pleasure/reward centers in your brain to light up. Endorphins, which are your body's natural pain killer, also can be released.
According to him, at that moment there were three states that were superpowers, namely the United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom.
Kindness Is Intuitive — It's Overthinking That Leads to Selfish Behavior. It's a good week to be reminded of this: According to the bulk of the scientific evidence, most people are naturally kind.
Kindness and compassion are two of the most positive qualities of emotional intelligence. Each is rooted in thoughtfulness and consideration – a deliberate awareness or regard for the feelings and circumstances of other people.
When we are not emotionally aware or are unkind towards ourselves, it is very difficult to be kind to another. Learning to have greater self-compassion can put us in the right physiological, emotional and mental state to be kind to others.
Psychologists have found that performing acts of generosity boosts happiness and well-being and is even linked to physical health benefits, including lower blood pressure (Curry, O. S., et al., Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Vol.
“It's harder to be kind than to be clever. It's the difference between gifts and choices. Cleverness is a gift. Kindness is a choice.”