kindness 

/ˈkʌɪn(d)nəs/ noun 

The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. 

Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate but words such as affection, warmth concern and care also invoke the same emotion and psychological associations. 

Being kind is often misperceived as being a behavioural indicator of weakness or naivety, in fact, research suggests that kindness is a behaviour which requires great courage and strength to practice. Kindness is an interpersonal skill. 

“Stay brave, awkward and kind.” – Brene Brown 

Modern Meditation Trainer Emily describes the benefits of Loving Kindness.

Carrying out a kind act, having someone be kind to you, practicing self-kindness or simply witnessing an act of kindness, initiates a physiological response – when any of these things happen our body’s endocrine system (the one responsible for our hormonal regulation) releases a chemical called Oxytocin (otherwise known as the ‘love hormone’ and the ‘cuddle chemical’!) 

This also means that kindness really IS contagious, as it is experienced in the brains of everyone involved or witnessing the act – this means one good deed has the potential to create a domino effect. We feel a physiological benefit from a single release of oxytocin for approximately 3-4 minutes after the event – so it pays to keep being kind, biochemically we can’t survive on the boost from a single act! 

Oxytocin also plays a role in heart-health as it actively lowers our blood pressure and reduces inflammation. Psychologically oxytocin in the body increases self-esteem and optimism, which helps to counteract feelings of anxiety, depression or shyness. 

“Kindness is like snow - it beautifies everything it covers.” – Kahlil Gibran 

Kindness stimulates the production of other ‘feel good’ chemicals too! Serotonin, which regulates our moods, in a similar way as a medical antidepressant might and Dopamine, the chemical that mediates pleasure in the brain. 

It has also been suggested that perpetually kind people have approximately 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) in their bodies than the average person – and less cortisol is never a negative thing! 

Research also shows a whole host of other benefits of kindness too; increased energy and motivation, increased levels of happiness and altruistic behaviour, extended life span and increased sensitivity of the ‘pleasure centres’ in the brain.