Showing Kindness Linked To Better Mental Well-being
Kindness is fundamental to the human existence. To be kind means to be friendly, caring, generous, benevolent, considerate, respectful, fair and affectionate.
A mental health advocate, Mrs Oyebola Adekoya, has said acts of kindness are linked to increased feeling of well-being.
Mrs Adekoya, in an interview with PUNCH correspondent, said helping others is one of the ways people create, maintain and strengthen their social connections. Adekoya said:
“Research has shown that kindness is an antidote to isolation and creates a sense of belonging. It helps reduce stress, brings a fresh perspective and deepens friendships.
“Kindness to ourselves can prevent shame from corroding our sense of identity and help boost our self-esteem. Kindness can even improve feelings of confidence and optimism.
“There is a need to promote kindness between couples so that cases of domestic violence can reduce to the barest minimum.”
Mrs Adekoya added that acts of kindness would help families to build a generation of kind children. She stated further:
“Our children must be taught how to be kind to themselves and to others around them. This will definitely help to build homes, schools, community and society free of hooliganism and violence.
“A kind heart and lifestyle will help combat abusive relationships among siblings, singles in courtship, neighbours, friends and colleagues. Studies have found that acts of kindness are linked to increased feelings of well-being.”
The mental health advocate added that the act of showing kindness could improve people’s self-esteem, improve their support networks and encourage them to be active.
If we act in a kind way, it may seem that we are putting someone else’s happiness ahead of ours, but in practice it doesn’t work that way. Being kind invariably feels good, lifts our own spirits, and nourishes us in ways that we don’t always acknowledge. Everyone benefits.