Kindness boosts our Well-Being
Kindness provides many benefits to a human being. When I am kind to others, I just feel better inside, it’s like a warmth going through my whole body which opens my heart. It even puts a smile on my face.
When you’re kind to others your serotonin levels rise (the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of satisfaction and well-being).
Research suggests that when we make acts of kindness a habit, it's also good for our health.
Being nice to others can be one of the easiest and quickest, most inexpensive ways to keep anxiety at bay.
Kindness, however, does not mean always being there for others when they want you, which can lead to being taken for granted in the long run. It’s okay to define boundaries and important to recognize that being helpful doesn’t mean sacrificing yourself
Participation question:
Are you helping because you want to, or because you feel you have to?
Are you prioritizing others’ needs over your own well-being?
How do you show kindness to others?
Helpful Videos:
A mental vaccine for anxiety & anger (loving kindness)
MBSR Lovingkindness Meditation
Helpful Resources:
When kindness becomes a habit, it improves our health
Seeking Help
Mental stress can cause us not to be able to see the good things in life and lead to excessive rumination or worries which can result in serious health problems. If you have serious, long-term problems with negative thinking and feeling depressed, see your doctor or talk to a therapist if they are related to any mental challenges.
Are you looking for a therapist? 7 Cups has online, certified therapists with a paid option. For more information on what happens in online therapy at 7 Cups, Read Lisa’s (a therapist and director of therapy) explanation
https://www.7cups.com/forum/therapy/General_2432/WeveLaunchedTalkTherapyon7Cups_319430/
To apply for 7 Cups online therapy, click on this link (must be logged into member account) https://www.7cups.com/online-therapy/?ob=1
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@amiablePeace77 we can all make the world a better place, just one kind deed at a time ❤
being kind to someone means so much more than just being kind, it's what makes our hero's, it changes lives, it connects people on a higher level ❤ I try to always be kind, cause of it wasn't for kindness of strangers, I would not be here today ❤
hugs ami ❤ happy New year ❤
@Tinywhisper11
Happy New Year tiny. I am glad you met those kind people who helped you. Hugs
I am helping because I want to help others.
There were some instances when I did prioritize others needs over my own well-being. However, it resulted in me damaging my well-being. As the saying : you cannot pour from an empty cup, I can choose to prioritize my well-being first by taking care of myself ( drinking enough water, physical activity etc.)
I show kindness to others by donation, charity and even through words of encouragement.
@Admirablerainbow2825
Nice that you found balance in helping others and yourself!
I help because I want to! As you said, it gives us a sense of satisfaction and elevated sense of being!
However yes, it has happened a lot times with me that I have been there for my friends for people whenever they needed me! Probably that result as you mentioned taking for granted! I have experienced that!
How should we try to assert our boundaries? And just be ourselves sometimes rather than being there for everybody?
@resilience2025
It's really important to set boundaries for yourself and others, say "No" when needed, maybe ask yourself "Can I really do this now or do I need a break". This requires understanding your needs and loving yourself.
Got it!! I understand and I will make sure to get those things into practice asap!!
Thank you Ami❣️
@resilience2025 I have struggled with boundaries too. Sometimes it feels like others lives are so challenging they need full-time help! But I have started to see that helping too much prevents them from learning how to take care of themselves...I now ask myself how I am feeling before offering help. Do I feel at peace with it? Do I have some needs or self-care that I will be neglecting if I pour into this person at the moment? Also, when I am wanting to be there for someone, I need to set a limit for myself... generally a time limit, but sometimes its a limit for how much negativity I can handle or how much graphic details I can handle. Sometimes simply a few words of encouragement is the best thing I can do.
I love this post! It has definitely got me thinking!
Are you helping because you want to, or because you feel you have to?
I know that most of the time I am helping because I want to, if not all the time. Yes, it does feel good to be a helper.
Are you prioritizing others’ needs over your own well-being?
I used to prioritize everyone else's needs over my own. That left me miserable. I think I was giving with expectations of it being reciprocal. But true giving doesn't expect anything in return. SO first I had to let go of expectations that others would be as giving to me in return, and then learn to take care of my self. Now that I practice self-care regularly, I can feel when I have energy to give to others, and when I don't. The hardest thing now for me is to express my boundaries when someone wants something of me that I can not give.How do you show kindness to others?
One of my favorite things to do to show kindness is to smile at people and look them in the eyes. I work with the public and encounter 100s of people each day. There is not enough smiling going on! But when I take a moment to look people in the eyes, (if they will.. some people wont) and smile, I have seen people's demeanor slowly soften and relax as they let themselves relax and smile back. Its so simple but powerful.
@1BraveBunny
I believe letting go of expectations that others would be as giving to you in return is very important because it protects you from disappointment. Saying "No" needs practice but I hope it will get easier especially with things you simply can't give!
A smile can be truly precious! 😀
@amiablePeace77
Are you helping because you want to, or because you feel you have to?
I want to. I like helping others. That’s how kind people are. It’s one of their own qualities.
Are you prioritizing others’ needs over your own well-being?
Yes. Do I have to? No. Do they always appreciate it? No. Despite that, their needs are always put before myself.
How do you show kindness to others?
Read the answers to the first two questions and you’ll get your answer :)
@akunknown
It's nice to care about others but prioritizing others' needs all the time feels like self-neglect to me. How could you be kinder to yourself?
@amiablePeace77
To me it depends who it is who’s needs you always prioritize.
If it’s someone who doesn’t care or wanna care about themselves then yeah it’s self neglect bc you’re devoting your time to someone who doesn’t care about themselves.
But if it’s someone who puts their own efforts into caring for themselves but still needs help from someone and you help them or they came to you for help and you were there for them……
If you help someone it heals you or if you already are, it helps you stay healed. Yeah there’s other ways to heal yourself. But that can be said about anything bc there’s no one way to do anything.
@akunknown
I can relate to "If you help someone it heals you" although I have to make sure I get enough me-time to recharge as well.
This is so trueee
@amiablePeace77
Are you helping because you want to, or because you feel you have to?
i want to!Are you prioritizing others’ needs over your own well-being?
sometimes, but i think boundaries need to be set for my own sakeHow do you show kindness to others?
mostly acts of service, or sometimes words of affirmation
@daydreammemories
Nice that you help others because you simply want to! I agrees with you about "boundaries need to be set for my own sake"
