Kindness to me

Kindness isn’t altruistic, nor is it typically done in a spirit of, ‘do as you would be done by. It’s more akin to our need for attention in that the giving of it is as important as the receiving, and we gain a sense of meaning and wellbeing from both.

Receiving, or witnessing, acts of kindness restores our faith in human nature, reassuring us that most people are intrinsically good and helpful, kind and generous. Kindness is a universally recognized human trait, the manifestation of which can unite us by reminding us that we all have common needs, and we all benefit from a bit of help.

Kindness is sometimes described as ‘selfless’ because the very act of helping another, and even the thought process that has prompted the decision to act, will have taken the perpetrator away from their own ‘selfish’ thoughts. In helping others we get out of our own heads, have a break from our infernal internal monologue, and hey presto, we feel better! Our outlook has widened, our own worries have quietened, and perhaps our perspective on our own situation has changed.

Whatever that is, however big or small a gesture, lending someone a helping hand will help them along their way and make all concerned feel better.