essay on kindness cannot be quarantined

Essay on Kindness

500 words essay on kindness.

The world we live in today has been through a lot of things from world wars to epidemics, but one thing which remained constant throughout was resilience and kindness. Moreover, it was the spirit to fight back and help out each other. Kindness must be an essential and universal quality to make the world a better place. Through an essay on kindness, we will go through it in detail.

Importance of Kindness

Kindness towards nature, animals and other people has the ability to transform the world and make it a beautiful place for living. But, it is also important to remember that kindness towards you is also essential for personal growth.

Kindness is basically being polite, compassionate and thoughtful. Every religion and faith teaches its followers to be kind. Most importantly, kindness must not limit to humans but also to every living creature.

Even nature has its own way of showing kindness. For instance, the trees grow fruits for us and provide us with shade. One must not see kindness as a core value but as a fundamental behavioural element. When you are kind to your loved ones, you create a stable base.

As people are becoming more self-centred today, we must learn kindness. We must try to integrate it into ourselves. You might not know how a small act of kindness can bring about a change in someone’s life. So, be kind always.

Kindness Always Wins

There is no doubt that kindness always wins and it has been proven time and again by people. Sid is a greedy man who does not share his wealth with anyone, not even his family members.

He also does not pay his workers well. One day, he loses his bag of gold coins and loses his temper. Everyone helps him out to search for it but no one finds it. Finally, his worker’s little son finds the bag.

Upon checking the bag, he sees all the coins are there. But, his greed makes him play a trick on the poor worker. He claims that there were more coins in the bag and the worker stole them.

The issue goes to the court and the judge confirms from Sid whether his bag had more coins to which he agrees. So, the judge rules out that as Sid’s bag had more coins , the bag which the worker’s son found is not his.

Therefore, the bag gets handed to the worker as no one else claims it. Consequently, you see how the worker’s son act of kindness won and paid him well. On the other hand, how Sid’s greediness resulted in his loss only.

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Conclusion of the Essay on Kindness

It is essential for all of us to understand the value of kindness. Always remember, it does not cost anything to be kind. It may be a little compliment or it can be a grand gesture, no matter how big or small, kindness always matters. Therefore, try your best to be kind to everyone around you.

FAQ of Essay on Kindness

Question 1: Why is it important to be kind?

Answer 1: It is important to be kind because it makes one feel good about oneself. When you do things for other people and help them with anything, it makes you feel warm and that you have accomplished something. Moreover, you also get respect in return.

Question 2: Why is kindness so powerful?

Answer 2: Kindness has a lot of benefits which includes increased happiness and a healthy heart . It slows down the ageing process and also enhances relationships and connections, which will indirectly boost your health.

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Mexico Academy & Central School District

Inspiring Excellence and Leadership in All

Student writes: Kindness can't be Quarantined

The below story was submitted as an entry to the MS Tiger Wire Student Submissions contest by Avery Mack, an eighth-grade student at MACS.

Kindness Can't Be Quarantined

The television in the corner issues warnings while words like “PANDEMIC” and “death toll” scroll across the bottom. Outside, the weather transitions from disheartening snow to a seasonal downpour. People who once shared polite conversations while watching their children play sports together now battle over necessities. The entire world seems to be on thin ice, just inches above plummeting into catastrophe.

Then there is a spark.

Not a horrific fire to worsen the situation but a spark of kindness in a small pink bedroom in a home somewhere on the outskirts of Mexico, N.Y. A young girl is sitting on her bed feeling nothing but boredom when she gets the idea to chat with her grandma. She scoops up her tablet from her small brown desk and calls her grandma who she hasn’t seen in about a month now. She answers and is overcome with joy when she realizes her young granddaughter called her. The old woman has been alone with few things to do, having no work to do in retirement and no more Spring cleaning left. They talk for ten minutes and end the call with a truthful “I love you.”

The woman continues with the jigsaw puzzle she had been picking away at when she remembers she is running low on some necessities. She waits until six o’clock to leave for the local grocery store, thankful that the business has designated a shopping time for senior citizens at high risk of catching the imminent virus. In the store, she is almost through her grocery list when she nears the toilet paper aisle and notices a sign that reads: “All shoppers are limited to two packages of toilet paper. Thank you for understanding!” She grabs a package of 10 rolls and feels lucky as she reaches for her second package, for it is the last one on the shelf. Then she remembers the simple act of kindness her granddaughter had shared earlier that day by calling her. She leaves the second package, figuring that if a girl confined to her own bedroom can share some love, then so can she. The woman leaves, feeling excited about the meal she is to make when she gets home.

About ten minutes later, a young man pulls into the same grocery store, hoping he’ll find what he needs for his wife and three children waiting at home for food, diapers, toothpaste, and a few other things. As he puts a box of diapers in his cart that will surely sustain his newborn daughter for a month or so, he spots a lone package of toilet paper nearby. Feeling lucky after finding no diapers or toilet paper at the two stores he visited previously, he takes the items and goes home to his family. Thinking about it later, he realized that someone must have purposely left the package when they might have needed it just as much. Feeling his faith in humanity being restored he sees a headline on his cell phone about people making encouraging signs for medical workers on the frontlines of the current health battle. He thinks of the old man down the street who came out of retirement to help at the nearest hospital. With the small act of selflessness he received that day in mind, he enlists his two oldest children to help him with a project. The next day the young family erects a homemade sign in their front yard to show their neighbor a bit of appreciation.

On his way to the hospital that morning, the old man sees a sign in his neighbors’ yard that hadn’t been there when he came home yesterday. He looks closely and makes out a message that reads: “Thank you medical heroes! You are awesome.” Feeling encouraged, he continues the drive to his temporary job and begins treating sick people with caution. On a quick lunch break, he sees a lunch pail in the fridge that is shared by the employees in his department. He leaves a note on it with a smiley face and tells the unknown recipient to have a good day. He continues to care for people and experiences a warm, fuzzy feeling when he drives home to his wife and dog and sees the sign again.

A few hours before the old man went home, a surgeon in her fifties took a much-deserved break from her 12-hour shift at the hospital. Reaching for her lunch that she had hastily packed that morning, the woman finds a teal post-it note on it. It has a dainty smile sketched on it with a positive message. The woman thinks about the way positivity has become so rare and she appreciated the kind person who left it for her. She struggled through fatigue for the last few hours of the workday and called her daughter when she got back to her big home in the suburbs of the city. When her daughter answered, the woman talked to her about what was going on- as they always did on their daily calls- and told her about how lucky their family is. “After all,” she said, “I am considered ‘essential’ and can still afford to keep the heat on and you can still earn your degree from your computer.” The mother and daughter bode each other goodnight and went to bed.

The next day, the surgeon’s daughter woke from a ten-hour sleep in her small apartment near the college she is now attending online. She began her now automatic routine of taking off her pajamas to put on sweatpants, a t-shirt, and a classic messy bun. She ate a bowl of oatmeal and as she sat down for another session of electronic education, missing her friends and family, she decided to write a letter. She got out some lined paper and a purple pen and found a stamp buried in the drawer of her nightstand. She wrote to her boyfriend who lived in another state because of the college he was attending and told him all about her quarantined life. She printed out a few memes she had found online and put those in an envelope along with the letter and a “Don’t Worry Be Happy” sticker. Then she reluctantly started her daily task of homeschooling and later heated up some ramen noodles for lunch.

In a few days, a young man in Michigan received a letter from his girlfriend who he missed badly. He cherished her writing and actually laughed out loud at the memes, which subsequently startled his roommate. After texting her a thank you and adding a yellow heart emoji, he went for a short walk at the nearby park. While he was walking, he thought about how happy he was to hear from his girlfriend in a way that felt more personal than an abbreviated text message. A few moments later he saw a girl that resembled his younger sister and thought she might appreciate a kind note. In fact, if he mailed it today, he could probably send her a homemade birthday card. He had planned to just call her and celebrate when things calmed down, but a card sounded nice too. With some paper, glitter glue, and markers, the card was complete and in the mail.

When the card reached the mailbox of his family back home, the father brought in the mail and saw something addressed to his daughter from his son. He called her from the living room where she had just finished opening a few presents and gave it to her. She was elated when she saw that her big brother had made her a card and sent it all the way to her from Michigan. She showed her parents and started down the hallway to her bedroom. It was so nice to hear from people that she didn’t live with. The last person she had talked to was her retired grandma, and that was almost a week ago. Inside her pink room with the little brown desk, she pinned the card to a bulletin board and scooped her tablet from her desk. She Facetimed her brother and thought about what an unconventionally quarantined and crazy, yet perfectly happy birthday it was.

Isn’t it funny what a little act of kindness can do?

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Why is Kindness Important in Today’s World: Exploring the Heart of Humanity

As the golden hues of dawn brush the horizon, you witness a single act of kindness that sets the tone for the entire day—a stranger sharing their umbrella in the gentle rain.

It’s this kind of simple, yet profound gesture that underscores the importance of kindness in our daily lives. You might not always see the ripple effect of your kind deeds, but rest assured, they travel far beyond the initial point of impact.

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Kindness serves as the glue that binds society together, fostering trust and cooperation. It’s not merely about being pleasant; it’s a fundamental component of human survival and success.

Reflect on this: in a complex world brimming with challenges and strife, how does your role in perpetuating kindness contribute to the larger tapestry of community and personal fulfillment?

Let’s unpack the layers of kindness to uncover its silent, yet mighty force in shaping our world.

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The Importance of Being Kind

When you’re kind, you don’t just brighten someone else’s day; your own mood gets a lift too. The stress and anxiety you may feel can actually decrease through acts of kindness, as they often lead to a sense of connectivity and support.

Effects on Mood and Emotions

Experiencing kindness, whether by giving or receiving, can significantly uplift your mood and positively influence your emotions. Acts of kindness trigger a release of endorphins, the brain’s natural feel-good chemicals, leading to an improved mood. They also stimulate the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and well-being.

When you’re kind to others in your everyday lives, you’re not just creating a momentary smile; you’re contributing to a more profound sense of joy and contentment for both yourself and the recipient.

Moreover, kindness can reduce stress by creating a buffer against the daily pressures that weigh you down. As you incorporate kindness into your routine, you’ll notice a delightful shift in your emotional landscape, painting your days with brighter, more positive hues.

Influence on Stress and Anxiety Levels

Practicing kindness can significantly reduce your stress and anxiety levels, creating a peaceful state of mind. When you engage in an act of kindness, your body releases oxytocin, which in turn reduces stress levels. Here’s how kindness affects you:

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• Boosts Oxytocin: Every time you perform a random act of kindness, your body releases oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the “love hormone,” which can lower blood pressure and improve overall heart health, directly impacting your stress levels.
• Reduces Anxiety: Kindness stimulates the production of serotonin, which calms your brain and eases tension. Helping others can shift your focus away from your own anxieties, helping you reduce anxiety.
• Health Benefits: Chronic stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your health. Engaging in kindness is a simple strategy to combat these negative effects, promoting both mental and physical well-being.

Physical Health Benefits of Kindness

You mightn’t realize it, but your acts of kindness can do wonders for your heart health.

By helping others, you’re also giving your immune system a boost, making you less susceptible to illness.

It’s not just about feeling good emotionally; kindness can lead to tangible improvements in your physical well-being.

Impact on Heart Health

Kindness not only warms the heart but also may contribute to a healthier one, as acts of compassion can have tangible benefits on cardiovascular health. When you engage in kind acts, you’re not just boosting someone else’s day—you’re also improving your own well-being. Here’s how:

• Reduces Blood Pressure: Kindness has been shown to release oxytocin, a hormone that can dilate blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.
• Decreases Stress: Performing acts of kindness can lower stress levels, which is beneficial for heart health.
• Promotes Positive Lifestyle Changes: The feelings associated with kindness can motivate you to make healthier life choices, which further enhances heart function.

Influence on Immune System

Beyond bolstering heart health, engaging in compassionate behaviors also strengthens your immune system, enhancing your body’s ability to fight off illness.

Kindness has been found to play a significant role in your physical well-being. Research shows that when you’re kind, your body releases certain chemicals, like oxytocin, which can reduce blood pressure and, in turn, boost your immune system.

Social Dynamics and Kindness

You’ve likely noticed how one act of kindness can change the atmosphere in a room. When you’re kind, it doesn’t just help you form stronger bonds; it also creates a more cohesive community.

In the workplace, this ripple of positivity can lead to better teamwork and job satisfaction.

Effects on Relationships and Community

When individuals consistently engage in acts of kindness, they lay the foundation for stronger, more connected communities. The importance of kindness can’t be overstated—it’s a glue that binds people together.

Here’s how kindness reshapes your social dynamics:

• Kindness Intervention : Simple acts of caring become interventions that break down barriers and build trust. You’re not just helping others; you’re fostering an environment where everyone feels supported.
• Sense of Belonging : Your kindness contributes to a community’s fabric, giving everyone a comforting sense of belonging. It’s about being a part of something bigger than yourself.
• Strengthening Relationships : Whether it’s with neighbors, friends, or strangers, your kind actions create ripples, strengthening the bonds within your community and encouraging others to follow suit.

Kindness in the Workplace

Integrating kindness into the workplace’s culture not only enhances social dynamics but also contributes to a more collaborative and supportive environment. Recognize why kindness matters—it’s the glue that holds teams together.

Being considerate towards your colleagues helps create a positive atmosphere where everyone feels valued. If you see a co-worker struggling, offering a helping hand can make a significant difference in their day and workload. It’s an interpersonal skill that goes a long way in fostering respect and trust among team members.

By injecting kindness into your daily interactions, you’re not just doing a good deed; you’re building a foundation for a healthier, more productive workplace.

The Role of Kindness in Well-Being and Satisfaction

Nearly everyone experiences an uplift in well-being and satisfaction when they engage in acts of kindness. You might wonder, why is kindness important? Well, showing kindness isn’t just about making others feel good—it has a profound impact on your own life too. Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with the world around you, making you feel connected and an integral part of your community.

Here’s how kindness plays a role in your well-being and satisfaction:

• Kindness Is an Important Predictor of Satisfaction:  When you’re kind, you’re more likely to be satisfied with your life. The positivity that you spread tends to bounce back to you, multiplying the good feelings all around.
• Acts of Kindness Boost Wellbeing:  Engaging in kind behaviors triggers positive emotional responses. This can lower your stress levels, improve your mood, and even benefit your physical health.
• Feeling Connected Through Kindness:  Generosity and compassion help forge stronger bonds between people. You’re building trust and a sense of belonging, which are essential ingredients for a happy life.

Developing and Practicing Kindness

You can learn kindness much like any other skill, starting with small, everyday acts of generosity. By choosing to smile at a stranger or offering your help without being asked, you’re strengthening your kindness muscle.

Each act, no matter how minor it seems, contributes to a larger culture of compassion and empathy.

Kindness as a Learnable Skill

Contrary to common belief, kindness isn’t an innate trait but rather a skill that can be learned and honed through practice. You have the power to cultivate a habit of kindness with intention and dedication. Here’s how you can start:

• Notice Opportunities: Keep an eye out for moments to practice kindness. Even the smallest acts of kindness can make a significant difference.
• Make it a Daily Habit: Integrate kind acts into your daily routine. By doing so, being kind whenever possible becomes second nature.
• Reflect and Adjust: After you’ve acted kindly, take a moment to reflect. How did it feel? How was it received? Use this insight to fine-tune your approach and expand your kindness repertoire.

Encouraging Acts of Generosity

Building on the idea that kindness can be learned, let’s explore how to foster generosity in our actions and interactions. When you volunteer your time or resources, you show kindness that extends beyond your immediate circle. It’s about being generous and considerate of others’ needs, recognizing where you can make their lives better.

But it isn’t just about grand gestures; small, consistent acts of kindness can have a profound impact.

Start by expressing gratitude for what you have and what others offer. This mindset encourages you to pay it forward. Remember, every act of kindness, no matter the size, contributes to a more compassionate world.

Scientific Studies on Kindness

You’ve seen how kindness can transform individual moments. But it’s the long-term effects that scientists have been keen to unpack. Studies suggest that consistent acts of kindness aren’t just fleeting gestures. They can lead to lasting improvements in both mental and physical health.

Let’s explore how these acts ripple through time, shaping lives and communities long after the moment has passed.

Long-Term Effects of Kindness

Scientific studies have consistently shown that acts of kindness can lead to significant long-term improvements in overall well-being. Here’s how kindness not only brightens someone else’s day but also enhances your own life:

• Boosts Self-Esteem : Being kind reinforces positive self-perception, which is a key predictor of satisfaction and stability in your life.
• Triggers Dopamine Release : Each act of kindness releases dopamine, a ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitter, which helps reduce negative self-talk and elevate mood.
• Promotes Positive Relationships : Kind behaviors build stronger, more supportive relationships, which are essential for long-term mental and emotional health.

Top 25 Quotes on Kindness

Kindness is a universal language that echoes through the ages, touching hearts and transforming lives. Below are 25 top quotes that encapsulate the profound power and simplicity of acts of kindness.

• “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” – Mark Twain
• “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
• “Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” – Eric Hoffer
• “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana
• “Be a little kinder than you have to.” – E. Lockhart
• “When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world.” – Harold Kushner
• “Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows.” – Robert Green Ingersoll
• “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Mother Teresa
• “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart
• “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams
• “The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.” – Mahatma Gandhi
• “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “Always be a little kinder than necessary.” – J.M. Barrie
• “Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” – Harold S. Kushner
• “I’ve been searching for ways to heal myself, and I’ve found that kindness is the best way.” – Lady Gaga
• “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” – Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” – Dalai Lama
• “Kindness is choosing love over hate, light over darkness, compassion over judgment.” – Raktivist
• “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” – Henry James
• “Treat everyone with politeness and kindness, not because they are nice, but because you are.” – Roy T. Bennett
• “Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.” – Seneca
• “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” – Dalai Lama
• “The only time you look in your neighbor’s bowl is to make sure that they have enough. You don’t look in your neighbor’s bowl to see if you have as much as them.” – Louis C.K.
• “Act with kindness, but do not expect gratitude.” – Confucius

Frequently Asked Questions

How does kindness influence workplace dynamics and career advancement.

Kindness at work rockets your career sky-high, fostering a team that thrives on trust. You’ll climb the ladder faster as colleagues and bosses notice your positive, cooperative spirit.

Are There Cultural Differences in How Kindness Is Perceived and Practiced Around the World?

You’ll find that kindness is perceived and practiced differently across cultures, shaped by social norms and values that dictate what’s considered generous or compassionate behavior within each community.

Can Kindness Have a Negative Impact or Be Perceived Negatively in Certain Situations?

You might find that your kindness is misinterpreted or taken advantage of in some situations, leading to unintended consequences or negative perceptions by those not used to genuine acts of goodwill.

How Do Social Media and Technology Affect Our Ability to Be Kind and Perceive Kindness?

Imagine your smartphone as a garden where seeds of kindness can bloom. You’ve got the power to nurture compassion or let negativity thrive, all through your comments, shares, and likes. Choose wisely.

What Role Does Kindness Play in Educational Settings, Such as Schools and Universities?

You’ll find that kindness in schools fosters a collaborative environment, encourages empathy among students, and can significantly reduce bullying, leading to a more positive and effective learning atmosphere.

In Conclusion – Final Last Words

As you stand at life’s crossroads, your simple acts of kindness are the seeds you plant in the garden of humanity. They grow, unseen yet unfaltering, into a canopy of compassion that shelters hearts around you.

Who knows the full extent of their reach? Every smile, every kind word, has the power to echo into eternity.

So go ahead, be the ripple in the pond. Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people.

Your next act could change a life.

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“Hi! Welcome to the launching and introduction to ‘Made You Smile Back’! I’m so pleased you’re here. Let me share with you a little bit about myself and why I created this platform.”

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The importance of kindness during COVID-19

22 May 2020

In this final blog of the series for Mental Health Awareness week on the theme of kindness, Professor Trudie Chalder talks about how we can learn from Commitment and Acceptance theory to help us be kind during this time.

The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic can be overwhelming but also vary from person to person. For some, the virus barely registers, for others the impact is devastating for the individual, their family, and friends. And as we move forward through these difficult times, one can see the fall-out from this is going to be far reaching in this global village in which we all live.

The character Blanche Dubois in Tennessee Williams’, A Streetcar Named Desire needed hospital care for mental illness after she had experienced many difficult life events and trauma, which left her feeling alone and isolated. When she finally gave in to the reality of her situation, recognising her need for professional help, she said ‘I have always relied on the comfort of strangers’. Kate Adie, the war correspondent adopted this quote for her first book, having found herself in dangerous places, potentially alone, but often looked after by people she had never previously met.

This week, Mental Health Awareness Week, the theme is kindness. There has never been another time in most of our lives where so many people are relying on others - family and friends, as well as strangers. Communities galvanise to help neighbours with shopping, prescriptions, even dog walking. Nurses, doctors, social workers, care home staff look after the vulnerable.

The benefits of being kind

Kindness, the effect of being friendly, generous, and considerate, costs nothing, but the impact of kindness on an individual can be immense. Not only does it affect how we feel but it also affects us physically. Hormones are released and stress levels are lowered in measurable ways. Mood is enhanced and anxiety and depression improve.

In the competitive world in which we live kindness at work is rarely prioritised. Success gets centre stage. Last month King’s was ranked top 10 in the world for societal impact, something all who work here can be proud of. What an achievement. It is difficult though to savour this achievement when people are struggling to manage working at home and juggling childcare, and the future is so uncertain. We are all adapting to a new normal, changing, and finding new ways of working at high speed. The energy going into this is hugely impressive. Just for a moment though, it is important to take the opportunity to stop for a minute; slow down a little and reflect on our achievements collectively. How rare it is for us to give ourselves credit, so let us be kind to ourselves and each other!

Adopting Acceptance and Commitment Therapy philosophies

Not everybody will need or indeed want therapy. However, one type of therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may be helpful to us all. The philosophy that influences ACT is drawn from Eastern cultures and helps us to accept what we cannot change. A variety of strategies are used to help us understand what feelings and thoughts influence us and how we respond to them. It helps us to be kind to ourselves and others by being more accepting of the turbulence that affects everyone day to day.

ACT also helps people to pinpoint what is important to them, what they value. This will be different for everyone but may include connectedness, contribution to society, being creative, as well as many others. It then helps people to focus on how they spend their lives and encourages them to focus on living a valued based life, despite the turbulence that may be going on internally. Although we have so little control of many aspects of our lives we can consider being kind to colleagues; show appreciation, be supportive to those in need, check in on colleagues, friends and family here and abroad, celebrate our differences. Perhaps be more proactive than you might ordinarily be - seek out the quiet ones, offer help if someone is struggling and be kind.

Research suggests that when people at work are treated with kindness, energy levels are increased, biological markers of stress such as blood pressure are lowered, and people feel more satisfied with their job. Production also increases. And in the words of Maya Angelou ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel’.

Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 18-24 May 2020. The theme is kindness.

The Author:

Trudie Chalder is Professor of Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London. Her research is focussed on epidemiological and aetiological studies of fatigue and distress in adolescents and adults with long-term conditions, and evaluating the efficacy of CBT. 

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Trudie Chalder

Professor of Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Emotions & Feelings — Kindness

Kindness Essays

Writing an essay on kindness presents a beautiful opportunity to explore the profound impact that acts of kindness can have on individuals and communities.

Prompt Samples to Kickstart Your Kindness Essay

Prompt 1: Reflect on a time when an act of kindness changed your perspective or life direction. What was the act, and how did it transform you?

Prompt 2: Analyze the ripple effects of a single act of kindness that you witnessed or participated in. How did this act influence the community or individuals involved?

Prompt 3: Discuss the importance of kindness in today’s world. Why is kindness more crucial now than ever, and how can it be fostered in daily life?

Brainstorming a Unique Angle for Your Kindness Essay

To discover a captivating topic for your kindness essay, reflect on personal experiences of giving, receiving, or witnessing kindness. Think about moments that left a lasting impression on you or others. Consider also the broader implications of kindness in society, such as its role in social movements, community building, or mental health.

Engaging Kindness Essay Topics to Consider

• The Transformative Power of Random Acts of Kindness
• Kindness as a Catalyst for Social Change
• The Science Behind the Benefits of Being Kind
• Exploring Cultural Perspectives on Kindness
• The Role of Kindness in Leadership and Management

Inspirational Writing Samples for Your Kindness Essay

"In a world where everyone is preoccupied with their battles, a simple act of kindness can be a beacon of hope. I recall the day when [describe a personal story of kindness], and it was a profound reminder that kindness is not just an action but a mindset that can truly transform lives."

Phrases for Inspiration:

• "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see..."
• "A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees..."
• "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention..."
• "Kindness in words creates confidence, kindness in thinking creates profoundness, kindness in giving creates love..."
• "We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love..."

Thoughtful Acts: The Impact of Kindness on Society

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Love is Kind: Nurturing Connections with Compassion

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Random Acts of Kindness: How They Benefit The Human Kind and How Technology is Being Used to Aid in These Acts

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Compassion and the science of kindness: Harvard Davis Lecture 2015

Introduction.

The Francis Report 1 was unequivocal in its findings. The Mid Staffordshire Trust had allowed the following to happen:

‘ Patients were left in excrement in soiled bed clothes for lengthy periods ’ and ‘ Water was left out of reach’.

Robert Francis observed that:

‘ Staff treated patients and those close to them with what appeared to be callous indifference. ’

And, in conclusion, he wrote that:

‘ Patients must be the first priority in all of what the NHS does … (and) receive effective care from caring, compassionate and committed staff, working within a common culture. ’ 1

What went on in the Mid Staffs Trust is a chilling indictment of what happens when we lose sight of the importance of kindness when caring for our patients.

This lecture is about the importance of kindness in the consultation and in our relationships with others. It is based on a lecture given to RCGP Wales and is a brief synopsis of its content. Unfortunately, space does not permit a detailed examination of the key themes of the lecture. Interested readers are, therefore, invited to read the full text through the link at the end of this paper. In summary, my main contentions are that it is kindness which makes us human , builds resilience, and makes us better doctors and better people.

DEFINITIONS

Although we may not be sure exactly what kindness is, we can all recognise it when we see it! Indeed, it is often the case than nothing upsets us more than when someone is being deliberately unkind to us or others. How to define kindness?

Cole-King and Gilbert have defined compassion (or kindness) as being ‘ sensitivity to the distress of … others with a commitment to try and do something about it’. 2 The key point here is that, if we are to be kind, then not only do we need to be sensitive to the suffering of others, but we also need to make a constructive response in such circumstances. Kindness requires action.

Kindness, therefore, is not an ‘optional extra’ only to be deployed when we have sufficient time and energy, nor should it be instrumental in achieving another purpose such as meeting targets. Kindness should be central to our engagement with others (for example, in the consultation) because it is central to healing.

The RCGP motto is Cum Scientia Caritas — scientific knowledge applied with compassion. Caritas will be defined here as the open-heartedness or generosity of spirit demonstrated by a doctor or nurse when caring for a patient. It will be used synonymously with kindness, compassion, altruism, and generosity because space does not permit a more detailed exploration here.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

The origins of kindness lie in ‘kinship’ but over the centuries its meaning and purpose have been expressed in different ways. In the Victorian era, for example, kindness became feminised and synonymous with sentimentality. 3 The Victorian housewife became The Angel in the House 4 and men feared that too much sympathy might erode their gravitas and cloud their thinking on important matters!

Darwin, in The Descent of Man , was clear that sympathy and cooperation were innate and key to evolutionary success 5 and although Dawkins in The Selfish Gene described the ‘ gene’s law of universal ruthlessness and selfishness ’, 6 he emphasised also the crucial importance of teaching our children both generosity and altruism.

Freud described all kindness as seduction 7 and argued that it is therefore only exercised for unconscious (or conscious) ulterior motives for a specific purpose.

However, I believe that altruism remains alive and well in our society. Richard Titmuss, for example, in his classic study The Gift Relationship reported that more than 98% of blood donors give blood for someone they have never met, nor indeed are ever likely to meet. 8 The NHS itself, of course, is founded on great altruistic principles: the idea that through collective provision high-quality health care can be delivered to those who most need it, even though we will never meet those most in need of that care.

Despite all of its problems, the NHS is still loved and valued by the majority of people in this country who recognise its fundamental altruistic importance to our society.

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF KINDNESS

Ballatt and Campling in their 2011 book, Intelligent Kindness: Reforming the Culture of Healthcare , 9 summarise some of the evidence for the impact that kindness can have on our own brains. 9

For example, in altruistic individuals, increased activity in the posterior superior temporal cortex has been reported (when compared with less altruistic individuals). Individual acts of kindness release both endorphins and oxytocin, and create new neural connections. The implications for such plasticity of the brain are that altruism and kindness become self-authenticating.

In other words, kindness can become a self-reinforcing habit requiring less and less effort to exercise. Indeed, data from functional magnetic resonance (FMR) scans show that even the act of imagining compassion and kindness activates the soothing and affiliation component of the emotional regulation system of the brain. 10

There is also some evidence to link the importance of kindness with healing, and the impact of the quality of the interaction between a health professional and a patient on the placebo effect is well recognised. There are also claims of improved diagnostic accuracy associated with empathic staff — as well as an observed effect of kindness on promoting healing and reducing anxiety. In a randomised controlled trial of ‘compassionate care’ for the homeless in an emergency department, frequent attenders received either ‘usual care’ or a compassionate care ‘package’. The outcomes included fewer repeat visits and increased satisfaction with their care in the intervention group. 11

KINDNESS AND WORKLOAD

It is generally agreed that our current workload in general practice is not only unsustainable but also gradually increasing. More than 15 million of us already have long-term conditions and these account for some 70% of the NHS spend and more than 50% of all our consultations as GPs. 12

If we are to address the current workload crisis, we need to find new ways of working and the Five Year Forward View (Vanguards programme) provides us with opportunities to do this. 13 Central to the Vanguards programme is the idea of person-centred care 14 and it is my view that our most underutilised and indeed our greatest resource is the desire and willingness of our patients to contribute to their own care.

One of the key aspects of care that patients most value is that of kindness (compassion) in the consultation. However, the introduction of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and the resultant emphasis on the biomedical aspects of care have made it more difficult for us to practise ‘holistic’ care and engage with our patients in a compassionate way. For example, Carolyn Chew-Graham and colleagues showed that the use of QOF patient templates during the consultation makes holistic engagement with patients more difficult. 15

In the current workload crisis do we have time for kindness?

With the rapid increase in the numbers of people with long-term conditions and the importance of supporting self-management, I wish to argue that we cannot afford not to be kind in the consultation. Being kind is what to do when ‘working harder isn’t working’. 16 It may sound counterintuitive but, actually, taking the time to be kind by engaging our patients more fully in their own care, can reduce our workload and increase our resilience. This is because our individual acts of kindness will be reciprocated by our patients, strengthening our relationship with them and improving our own wellbeing.

I believe that kindness is good for us as well as our patients, and, furthermore, kindness builds our resilience.

KINDNESS: A VIRTUOUS CYCLE

If kindness is such an important component of care, can it be taught? Gilbert has described some of the attributes and skills for compassion that are necessary for the provision of compassionate care. 17 The necessary attributes include sympathy, distress tolerance, empathy, and non-judgement, coupled with a sensitivity and care for wellbeing. Such attributes are necessary for engagement of others, and, once engaged with others, the skills of imagery, reasoning, and attention are all required.

Kindness cannot be faked — most of us will be familiar with the insincerity of the brief professional ‘half-smile’ of overworked air cabin crew, and how such insincerity undermines the trust necessary for ‘real’ kindness to be both expressed and meaningful to our patients. However, although we can identify some of the skills and attributes necessary for the expression of kindness, it is attitudinal change that is a prerequisite for the expression of kindness in the consultation; in other words, despite the efforts of some NHS management, kindness cannot be mandated.

Ballatt and Campling describe a virtuous cycle of kindness whereby kindness directs attentiveness , which in turn enables attunement , which builds trust between ourselves and our patients. 9 This trust generates a therapeutic alliance that produces better outcomes for patients. As it turns, this virtuous cycle can reduce anxiety and defensiveness, and reinforce the conditions for kindness to take place. Such cycles not only can improve the care of our patients but they also can reduce our own stress and improve our morale in the face of overwhelming demand. These virtuous cycles are the polar opposite of the ‘downward spiral’ that can arise from ‘burnout’ and overwork, in turn leading to poor morale and loss of confidence and belief in what we are doing.

Why is kindness important?

‘ Kindness (compassion) is a gift freely given by one person to another in the health service — just like anywhere else. ’ 18

Chadwick’s definition above is a good one — it gives us a pragmatic definition to underpin our care of patients. In addition, thinking of kindness as a ‘gift freely given’ often chimes with our original motivation to become doctors — that is, the desire to help and look after others. And most of us would agree that ‘ kindness encourages a feeling of aliveness and creates the kind of intimacy and involvement with other people that deep down we crave’. 3

Kindness is important for both ourselves and our patients. The Schwartz Centre for Compassionate Healthcare in Boston is named after Kenneth Schwartz, who was a healthcare lawyer with a young family who died at the age of 40 from lung cancer. He described the ordeal of his treatment as being ‘ punctuated by moments of exquisite compassion ’ and how the ‘ simple human touch from his care givers made the unbearable bearable’. 19

I believe this should resonate for all of us whether we are the recipient of acts of kindness or the person offering this gift to others. I leave you with the words of Hippocrates who knew full well the importance of kindness (comfort) when caring for our patients. He famously said that as doctors we should:

‘ Cure sometimes, treat often, and comfort always. ’

Freely submitted; externally peer reviewed.

Competing interests

The author has declared no competing interests.

This is an abridged version of the Harvard Davis Lecture delivered to RCGP Wales in Llandudno on 12 November 2015. The full text can be accessed at http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine/research/aupmc .

Kindness: The Capacity for Kindness

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Different viewpoints, understandings, and definitions of kindness are offered. One way of describing kindness is the ability to bear the vulnerability of the Other through imaginative participation in and sympathetic identification with the experience of the Other. Embodied kindness, which can be developmentally traced to the kindly care provided early by essential others, reveals itself in kindly gestures as forms of communication and communion. Kindness is a form of social sensitivity to the welfare of self and others that overlaps with and yet is more and other than sympathy, compassion, considerateness, generosity, gentleness, and warm-heartedness. Like other markers of psychosocial maturation, kindness comes in degrees. In its mature or discerning form it contributes to intrapersonal and interpersonal integration.

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Hannush, M.J. (2021). Kindness: The Capacity for Kindness . In: Markers of Psychosocial Maturation. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74315-4_10

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• Published: 14 June 2021

How kindness can be contagious in healthcare

• Weiming Tang 1 , 2 , 3 ,
• Dan Wu 3 , 4 ,
• Fan Yang 2 , 3 , 5 ,
• Cheng Wang 4 ,
• Wenfeng Gong   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8929-2008 6 ,
• Kurt Gray 7 &
• Joseph D. Tucker   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2804-1181 1 , 2 , 3 , 8  

Nature Medicine volume  27 ,  pages 1142–1144 ( 2021 ) Cite this article

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• Health policy
• Interdisciplinary studies

Pay-it-forward programs, whereby someone receives a gift or free service and then gives a gift to another person in return, have expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide an opportunity for healthcare providers to reduce costs, increase uptake of interventions such as testing and vaccines, and promote sustainability.

COVID-19 has transformed everyone’s lives and has disrupted the social fabric that weaves medicine together. Unraveled interpersonal relationships have contributed to healthcare-worker burnout, have limited access to health services and have exacerbated inequalities. Will the exhausted frontline worker help the local community group to navigate re-opening? Will the elderly person who lives alone with a disability receive additional help to receive a vaccine? Will the person living in poverty receive high-quality healthcare services? The history of infectious-disease pandemics suggests that responses to plagues are notable for silver linings in which individual people and groups are generous 1 . We define ‘generosity’ as the capacity to give more than is necessary or expected 2 . COVID-19-related messages, fundraising projects and community-engagement activities have demonstrated substantial generosity in these uncertain times 3 , 4 , 5 . This generosity not only showcases the endurance of the human spirit but also may provide a way to help control infectious diseases. Here we review how systematically harnessing the psychological impulse for one form of generosity—pay it forward—can encourage healthy behaviors and mobilize community resources.

It pays to be kind

In a pay-it-forward system, a person receives a gift from someone (or from a community organization, clinic or government) and then is provided the opportunity to give a gift to another 6 (Fig. 1 ). It is an example of upstream reciprocity theory, which suggests that people who are helped by someone feel a ‘warm glow’ that makes them more likely to help other, unspecified people. After a person receives help from someone, there is a perceived social obligation to help another person who needs it. The pay-it-forward approach can increase community solidarity and decrease some of the financial barriers to health services. Two systematic reviews found that being kind (i.e., a prosocial behavior) was associated with well-being, especially psychological function 7 and subjective well-being 8 . In addition, there are potential organizational benefits associated with upstream reciprocity, including improved teamwork, enhanced creativity and stronger engagement 9 . Pay-it-forward approaches have been used widely outside of medicine. Human studies demonstrate that cooperative human behavior may be contagious and may spread through social networks 10 .

Social solidarity probably promotes a sense of obligation to contribute to others.

Generosity ripples

The pay-it-forward concept has a long history. Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller, observed, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Later in ancient Greece, the comedy Dyskolos used this as a central component of its plot. The idea of paying for someone else was popularized by Benjamin Franklin in 1784. Franklin described how he lent money to others without the expectation of their paying it back, but instead with the notion that this act of generosity could ripple forward among friends 11 . Another example of the pay-it-forward approach comes from mathematician Paul Erdős. Already an established and well-recognized mathematics professor, Erdős discovered that an incoming Harvard University mathematics student would be unable to pay his fees. He supported the student in attending the university, and the student later offered to pay him back. Erdős suggested that the student find another student in need and instead pay it forward 12 . In the past ten years, similar pay-it-forward programs have been implemented in many settings, including providing a free cup of coffee in a café, a free beer in a pub, a free ice cream from a shop and a free hamburger from a restaurant. Both locally owned stores and large corporations have used the pay-it-forward concept to spur generosity in local communities.

Within medicine, the pay-it-forward principle is exemplified in the practice of mentorship. The informal and formal wisdom passed from mentors to mentees is often serendipitous and contagious. Mentors provide the unprompted give of time, energy and guidance to the next generation. Over time, mentees transition to become mentors for others. Mentorship creates virtuous cycles within institutions, spurring contagious kindness. A study from the Roberts Woods Johnson Foundation found that scholars who had received mentorship were more likely to serve as effective mentors for others 13 . Beyond mentorship, pay-it-forward approaches have been used in health research to increase diagnostic test uptake and vaccine uptake.

Increased testing

Pay-it-forward approaches have increased testing for sexually transmitted infection among sexual minorities in China 6 . The approach was iteratively developed through the use of crowdsourcing open calls to build community ownership and nurture trust 14 , 15 . Men who have sex with men (MSM) received a free testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia alongside community messages, and were then asked if they wished to donate money or create messages to sustain testing for sexually transmitted infection among subsequent MSM. An observational study enrolled 408 men at MSM-led clinics and compared the rates of testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia during a pay-it-forward period with those observed during a standard-of-care period in which patients paid for their own tests. The uptake rates of testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia were ninefold higher among men who underwent the pay-it-forward testing strategy (54% compared with 6%). Among all men who received testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia, this was the first test for 97 of 121 (80%) of the MSM. A subsequent randomized controlled trial confirmed the effectiveness of the approach and showed that donations supported approximately 40% of the total cost of the service 6 . Details about the total amount donated and people tested were shared back to the MSM community on a weekly basis, which increased transparency and trust in the process. Mixed-methods research suggested that the ‘warm glow’ effect strengthened a sense of engagement among the MSM who participated in and organized the project 16 . The project strengthened social bonds between MSM, nurturing a sense of solidarity.

Vaccine uptake

Pilot data suggest that in addition to aiding sexual health, a pay-it-forward approach may increase uptake of vaccination against influenza 17 . Elderly people and caregivers (parents or grandparents of children) were given a free vaccine against influenza and community-engaged messages, then were asked whether they want to support vaccines against influenza for others in the local community. Data from a pilot study showed that 83% (83 of 100) of participants received a vaccine against influenza after receiving the pay-it-forward intervention, compared with 35% (32 of 92) among those who were offered a fee-based influenza vaccine 17 . After receiving a free vaccine, 98.8% (82 of 83) of people donated money. The mean donation per person was US$5.2, which was over half of the market price of vaccinating a child against influenza. 18% (15 of 83) of people created a text, image or video in support of vaccination against influenza. The community-participatory components of a pay-it-forward approach also helped improve people’s confidence in a vaccine. Further research on how pay-it-forward approaches could increase vaccination against influenza is needed.

Spreading kindness during COVID-19

Pay-it-forward principles have been used in the response to COVID-19 to enhance messaging, fundraising and community support. The United Nations and World Health Organization organized a crowdsourcing open call to creative people, including a category focused on spreading kindness 4 . This category received 689 artworks that are now freely available online through Creative Commons ( https://unitednations.talenthouse.com/ ) (Fig. 2 ). Second, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine organized a #BumpItForward campaign to support the provision of COVID-19-related equipment and supplies for frontline health workers in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi 5 . The campaign raised £174,183 from 3,565 supporters that provided support for critical COVID-19 efforts.

a , Open-access image created by Lucie Rice for this crowdsourcing open call (CC-BY). b , Open-access image created by Justin Teodoro for this crowdsourcing open call (CC-BY).

Similar campaigns have been established to build on the ‘warm glow’ after vaccination against COVID-19 and help direct generous people to support such vaccination in low- and middle-income countries 18 . The City of London’s COVID-19 pay-it-forward crowdfunding campaign raised over £1.5M from 20,000 people for small businesses to rebuild in response to COVID-19 19 . The project included a free platform for fundraising and tailored support for small businesses.

Finally, pay-it-forward principles have been used to structure community-support activities focused on COVID-19. Many mutual-aid groups have used pay-it-forward programs to provide material support, advice and encouragement to other local people 3 . A related example is time banking, a mutual-support approach whereby people contribute volunteer service hours to help others in need within their local community and are then rewarded with time credits or currency that can be used for ordering volunteer services from subsequent volunteers 20 . Time banking, like a pay-it-forward program, relies on individual and collective kindness in order to address health problems. Time banking has been piloted to enhance elderly care 21 .

Looking forward

The pay-it-forward principle has limitations. First, pay-it-forward approaches can expand access to services associated with a fee, but would not be intended to replace government services. Rather than delaying public provision of services, a pay-it-forward program could draw attention to new models that could then be supported by the government or other partners. This may be particularly useful in low- and middle-income countries in which government resources for health are limited. Second, pay-it-forward programs have yet to be scaled up. The broad involvement of community-based stakeholders in pilot pay-it-forward projects suggests that this approach could be integrated into community practices. Implementation research to inform the expansion of pay-it-forward services in the era of COVID-19 is essential. Third, the novelty of the pay-it-forward concept and the involvement of monetary donations may sometimes cause confusion and doubt among potential participants. Mechanisms to ensure accountability and trustworthiness in a pay-it-forward program are key to program maintenance. Fourth, initial pay-it-forward projects have yet to receive sufficient donations to make them independent. At the same time, pay-it-forward approaches are not standalone interventions but are an approach to reduce costs, increase uptake and promote sustainability.

Pay-it-forward approaches could be useful for introducing new health interventions before their formal integration into government health services. Pilots are underway focused on various subpopulations (such as youth, or female sex workers) and diseases (such as vaccination against human papillomavirus, or testing for hepatitis). Given that many evidence-based health interventions take years and sometimes decades to implement, a formal mechanism to support health interventions during this period may be useful. Pragmatic trials, participatory research and related implementation science could help to scale up this approach. The pay-it-forward approach is not a panacea, but such experiences of unexpected generosity shine more brightly during these dark COVID-19 days. The contagious generosity of frontline health workers and local citizens may be one of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIAID K24AI143471 and R01AI158826), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges, the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, the Charles Koch Foundation (Center for the Science of Moral Understanding) and the Guangdong Provincial Dermatology Hospital. The funding sources had no part in the study design, collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data, writing of the report, and decision to submit the paper for publication.

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Pay-it-forward incentives for hepatitis virus testing in men who have sex with men: a cluster randomized trial.

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Essay Samples on Kindness

What does kindness mean to me: a reflection.

What does kindness mean to you? Kindness, a simple yet profound gesture, holds the power to illuminate the lives of both the giver and the receiver. As I contemplate what kindness means to me, I am reminded of its transformative impact on individuals and society...

The Importance of Being Kind to Others

Kindness is a simple yet profound virtue that has the power to transform lives, communities, and the world at large. It is a universal language that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, fostering connections and nurturing empathy. In a world often marked by division and strife,...

An Act of Kindness: The Ripple Effect of Compassion

Amid the challenges and complexities of the modern world, simple acts of kindness have the power to transcend barriers and create positive change. An act of kindness is a selfless gesture that holds the potential to touch lives, inspire others, and foster a sense of...

A Random Act of Kindness: Experiencing the Goodness of Humanity

In a world that can sometimes feel cold and distant, even the smallest acts of kindness have the power to warm our hearts and restore our faith in humanity. One such act that left a lasting impression on me was a random act of kindness...

The Three Core Values of Aging: Dignity, Kindness, and Security

In the last two centuries, life expectancy has doubled from around forty years to over eighty years in Canada and I personally believe that this is one of humanity’s most incredible feats. However; this improved longevity also presents us with one of our greatest challenges....

• Social Security

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Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years: Where Is Happiness of Life

Imagine having a life all planned out, then one thing goes wrong. Oe someone passes away or they move, it could be a big or a small change, but any situation could completely alter the outlook on life. One day the glass could be half...

• Personal Beliefs

Relation Between Kindness And Happiness

Kindness. Kindness is one of the most powerful forces that boost one’s happiness. We define kindness in countless terms because it holds a different meaning for everyone. From helping someone in need without searching for anything in return, being honest, respecting others' opinions, accepting others...

• Positive Psychology

Role Of Kindness And Gentleness When Giving Da’wah

Introduction The contemporary dā’ī (preacher) is one who proselytizes to non-Muslims (da’wah) and reforms wayward and ignorant Muslims (ʾiṣlāḥ). They achieve this through volunteering in local projects, encouraging engagement in religious programs and seminars, counselling people in need, enjoining good and forbidding evil (al-‘amr bil...

The Theme of Kindness and Its Loss in Shakespeare's King Lear

Within the world, kindness is a symbol of love and compassion. The values and thoughts individuals may have might differ and contrast with another, but the feeling and joy of bringing kindness into one’s heart is an undeniable sensation that can be appreciated by all...

• William Shakespeare

Tara Curb, Her Acts of Kindness Association, and Her Unique Vision of Kindness

It is a late-afternoon, November 7, 2019, on a freezing thirty-five degree and gloomy Thursday at the University of Oklahoma Bizzell Memorial Library. In one of the conference rooms held a Acts of Kindness Association meeting. Running the organization meeting was a smart young woman,...

• Someone Who Inspires Me

The Role of Kindness in the Modern World

In this world full of antagonism, we all affray for existence, but the only thing that brings peace of mind is the hand serving kindness. Remember, any time you have been mean or curt to someone and that actually made you happy? No. It never...

The Nature and Significance of Kindness in Human Societies

The quest of otherworldly rapture, or in the search of peace, the term kindness is often thrust into the mainstream throughout the years. Since childhood, adolescents are told by their elders to act kind and behave kind, typically meaning to give politeness in order to...

• Modern Society

Overview Of My Most Pronounced Personality Traits

Human beings have different personality traits and most likely they are influenced by their peers as well as their background. I think to myself that you can be able to define a person’s character according to their actions and preferably how they relate with people...

• Personality

Best topics on Kindness

1. What Does Kindness Mean to Me: a Reflection

2. The Importance of Being Kind to Others

3. An Act of Kindness: The Ripple Effect of Compassion

4. A Random Act of Kindness: Experiencing the Goodness of Humanity

5. The Three Core Values of Aging: Dignity, Kindness, and Security

6. Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years: Where Is Happiness of Life

7. Relation Between Kindness And Happiness

8. Role Of Kindness And Gentleness When Giving Da’wah

9. The Theme of Kindness and Its Loss in Shakespeare’s King Lear

10. Tara Curb, Her Acts of Kindness Association, and Her Unique Vision of Kindness

11. The Role of Kindness in the Modern World

12. The Nature and Significance of Kindness in Human Societies

13. Overview Of My Most Pronounced Personality Traits

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• Personal Experience
• Personal Strengths

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Essay on Importance of Kindness

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Kindness in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Importance of Kindness

Understanding kindness.

Kindness is a virtue that everyone should possess. It’s the act of being friendly, generous, and considerate. It brings joy to people’s lives and strengthens relationships.

Why is Kindness Important?

Kindness is important because it promotes positivity. When we show kindness, we spread happiness. This can make the world a better place.

The Impact of Kindness

Kindness creates a ripple effect. One act of kindness can inspire others to do the same. This can lead to a community filled with love and respect.

In conclusion, kindness is a powerful tool. It can change lives and make the world a better place. So, let’s be kind!

250 Words Essay on Importance of Kindness

Introduction.

Kindness, a fundamental human virtue, is often overshadowed by the pursuit of personal success. However, its importance in fostering a harmonious society cannot be understated.

Kindness and Personal Development

Kindness plays a pivotal role in personal development. It cultivates empathy, patience, and understanding, strengthening our emotional intelligence. When we practice kindness, we step out of our comfort zone, broadening our perspectives and enhancing our personal growth.

The Ripple Effect of Kindness

Kindness has a ripple effect. A single act can inspire others, leading to a chain reaction of benevolence. This collective kindness can bring about substantial societal change, promoting peace and unity.

Kindness and Mental Health

Kindness also has profound effects on mental health. It triggers the release of endorphins and serotonin, promoting happiness and reducing stress. Furthermore, it strengthens relationships, providing a support network crucial for mental wellbeing.

Kindness in Leadership

In leadership, kindness fosters trust and respect, enhancing team cohesion and productivity. It encourages open communication and collaboration, crucial for innovation and problem-solving.

In conclusion, kindness is a powerful tool for personal and societal development. It instills empathy, promotes mental health, and enhances leadership skills. As future leaders, let us embrace kindness, not as an afterthought, but as a guiding principle in our journey towards a better world.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Kindness

Introduction: the power of kindness.

Kindness, often overlooked, is a powerful trait that has the potential to transform individual lives and societies. A simple act of kindness can create ripples that extend far beyond the immediate context, fostering empathy, compassion, and mutual understanding among people. As college students, the importance of kindness cannot be overstated as it plays a crucial role in creating a conducive learning environment and shaping our future society.

Kindness is not only beneficial to those who receive it, but also to those who practice it. It has been linked to improved mood and reduced stress levels. When we engage in acts of kindness, our brain releases endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, which induce feelings of happiness and satisfaction. This emotional uplift can help alleviate anxiety and depression, contributing to overall mental health. Additionally, kindness fosters personal growth by encouraging empathy and compassion, critical skills in our increasingly interconnected world.

Kindness as a Social Glue

Kindness acts as a social glue that fosters community cohesion. It promotes a sense of belonging and mutual respect, which are vital for harmonious coexistence. In a diverse college setting, kindness can bridge cultural and social gaps, fostering inclusivity and understanding. This is particularly important in our globalized world, where diversity is not just a fact of life, but a valuable resource that can enrich our perspectives and experiences.

In the context of leadership, kindness is often misconstrued as a weakness. However, research has shown that leaders who exhibit kindness are more effective. Kind leaders create a safe space where team members feel valued and heard, leading to increased productivity and innovation. They also foster loyalty and trust, which are crucial for team dynamics. As future leaders, college students must understand the transformative power of kindness in leadership.

Kindness and Social Change

Kindness can also be a potent tool for social change. History is replete with instances where acts of kindness have sparked movements and brought about significant societal transformations. By standing up against injustice, showing compassion to the marginalized, or simply extending a helping hand to those in need, we can make a profound impact. As future change-makers, it is essential for college students to recognize the potential of kindness as a force for good.

Conclusion: Cultivating a Culture of Kindness

In conclusion, kindness is not just a personal virtue but a societal asset that can contribute to personal growth, community cohesion, effective leadership, and social change. As college students, it is imperative to cultivate a culture of kindness, not just on campus, but in every sphere of our lives. By doing so, we can contribute to a more empathetic, understanding, and inclusive society.

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• Essay on Kindness Is Compassion in Action
• Essay on How to Avoid an Argument
• Essay on Happiness in Life

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Kindness will not be quarantined: How an OHS senior spread kindness during a pandemic

Isolation can take a toll on many aspects of life—including friendships. Oswego High School senior Katie McCumber went out of her way in May, a time of isolation, to let her friends know she was thinking of them and uplift their spirits. She completed this task by driving to her friends’ houses in Oswego and Kaneland to deliver cards addressed personally to them as well as a box of candy.

“Believe It Or Not I Care,” or B.I.O.N.I.C, a club at OHS focused primarily on building leadership skills and spreading kindness, presented a “Kindness Challenge,” asking members to safely demonstrate an act of kindness during a difficult time and encourage others to do so as well. Being a student board member of B.I.O.N.I.C,  McCumber gladly accepted this challenge and delivered cards and candy to about 17 of her friends—no matter the distance she needed to travel to do so.

“[The] majority of them were all people that go to Oswego High School, and then I have a couple of friends that go to Kaneland High School…I hadn’t seen them in a while,” McCumber said. “So I went over there, too.”

While McCumber knew her good deed would spread positivity, she was overwhelmed with the joyous responses she received from her friends after delivering cards and candy to their mailboxes.

“You never truly understand the joy people are going to experience until it actually happens,” McCumber said. “Actually seeing their reactions and the texts I got afterwards— and just seeing people’s faces brighten once you give it to them— there’s no better reaction you can get than it actually happening in front of you.”

Fellow senior, friend and B.I.O.N.I.C board member Paige Kelly received a gift from McCumber and was encouraged by her to be a part of the “Kindness Challenge.”

“Opening a mailbox, I don’t really assume that there’s something in there for me…so it was really cool to see something that was addressed to me,” Kelly said.

Being on the receiving end of a card from McCumber, Kelly was excited and inspired to keep the kindness chain going.

“Me and then a few of my friends, like, we just delivered candy, like, or handwritten notes… to people’s mailboxes so we could keep positivity going and let people know, like, we’re there for them during these tough times, but in a safe way,” McCumber said.

The chain of events following McCumber’s acts of kindness displays just how inspiring it can be to see friends, or even strangers, simply be kind to others during a predominantly difficult time.

“I was able to nominate some of my friends, as well,” Kelly said. “It was nice to see I impacted someone positively and they are going to go impact someone else in the same way.”

All it takes is one person to do an act of kindness, simple or complex, to create a forward spiral of impenetrable kindness from one person to another. In this case, Kelly was already planning on partaking in the challenge, but being nominated by McCumber really pushed her to do what she knew would leave a lasting positive impact.”

“Katie is one of my closest friends, so seeing her do that definitely made me think it’s something worth while for me,” Kelly said.

After she was inspired by McCumber, she inspired some of her friends, and the cycle continued.

Kindness, unlike us humans, is something that cannot be quarantined; it flourishes in the most unseemingly places or times. In this case, it took just one woman— Katie McCumber— to create a lasting impact on people during a difficult time and create a path of kindness that many decided to travel.

Miranda Mahoney, Managing Editor

My name is Miranda Mahoney, and I am the Managing Editor and Features Co-Editor for 42Fifty. I am a junior here at Oswego High School, and this is my second year on the 42Fifty team. Additionally, I am involved in the BIONIC club, Junior Class Council, the Science National Honor Society, and the Quill and Scroll Honor Society for journalism. In the spring, I play soccer for the OHS Girls Soccer team. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, gardening, and playing piano in my free time. I am excited to see what this year brings!

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Four Things to Create a Quarantine of Kindness

Tips for a better experience during a stay-at-home order..

Posted March 28, 2020 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

A number of years ago, I wrote a guided journal titled, A Year of Kindness . The journal prompts people to write each day for a year about gratitude and kind things they do for others.

This practice is particularly useful right now. Writing about gratitude and kindness helps to free ourselves from feelings of isolation and can increase our happiness while we engage in extreme physical distancing.

You don't need the guided journal to do it — all you need is a notebook. Below is an expanded version of the directions.

1. Journal about Gratitude

Each morning, write down three things for which you are grateful.

At a time when many people are suffering, it can appear unseemly to write lists of things for which we are grateful. But gratitude is about more than just what we have. We can also be grateful for what others do for us and what we can do for others. Writing about the things for which we are grateful focuses our attention on those things. So write with as much detail as you like.

2. Journal about Kindness

Each night, write about at least one kind thing you did for someone else.

Reach out to people who are alone. Get groceries for neighbors when getting your own. Host and attend online gatherings. Tell people what they're doing well. Express your appreciation. Do something unexpected for someone in your home. And then journal about it. If at first you can't remember doing anything kind, don't worry. You probably did something and just can't remember. Once you start to focus on it, you'll start to remember.

3. Put the Two Together

As long as it appears safe to deliver letters, each week (or more frequently if you can), write and send a gratitude note.

Mail a gratitude letter to a teacher who meant a lot to you. Send a note of appreciation to a friend you’ve been thinking about. Hand a note to your spouse, your child, or someone else you live with and tell them something you love about them. Leave a note in your mailbox for your mail carrier. Hand a note to the grocery store clerk when you go shopping. Deliver a note to the pharmacist the next time you need medication . Send a note to your doctor — or the doctors at your local hospital, who may be stretched thin soon, if they aren't already.

4. Allow Your Feelings

Throughout this difficult time, being kind to others is essential. Be kind to yourself, too. Some emotions are uncomfortable. But all your feelings are allowed .

If you are fortunate enough to have a job and a home, or if you are living with parents who do, it can be easy to think you have no right to feel upset right now when so many others are unemployed. If you have lost your job, you might feel angry or hopeless. But while no one should take out their anger or unhappiness on others, the feelings themselves are just feelings. Regardless of your situation, it's okay to have whatever feelings you have.

It’s also helpful to recognize that your feelings aren’t who you are . The way we typically speak about feelings can make this hard to grasp. In English, instead of saying “I have angry feelings” or even “I feel angry,” we typically say “I am angry.” Without our conscious awareness, this frames our feelings in such a way that it could encourage us to experience them as all-encompassing, and in a moment of powerful emotions, to conflate who we are with how we feel .

But feelings, like thoughts, are just things that happen. When you recognize that you have feelings, your feelings no longer have you . You can notice them, thank them, and go about your day. ♦

If you are having thoughts of suicide or about harming yourself or others, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-8255 . If you are a victim of domestic abuse and are quarantined with your abuser, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224 or go to www.thehotline.org . (Clicking the “X” or “Escape” button closes the window but does not clear your history in all browsers.)

Pamela Paresky is a visiting lecturer at the University of Chicago where she teaches “Habits of a Free Mind: Psychology for Democracy.” She served as primary researcher and in-house editor for the New York Times bestseller, The Coddling of the American Mind. Dr. Paresky's opinions are her own and should not be considered official positions of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education or any other organization with which she is affiliated. Follow her on Twitter @PamelaParesky

Pamela Paresky, Ph.D. , is a Senior Fellow at the Network Contagion Research Institute; primary researcher & in-house editor of The Coddling of the American Mind; author of A Year of Kindness.

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