23 - Kindness

Today's challenge;

Perform a random act of kindness.

What is it?

Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

Why is it important?

Sometimes kindness is perceived as a weakness or naivety. Being kind requires a great deal of courage and strength. Kindness is an important interpersonal skill. Research shows that helping and devoting resources to others, rather than acquiring more and more for yourself, promotes lasting well-being. It also strengthens relationships and builds supportive networks around you.

Charles Darwin is known for his theories of evolution and the concept of “survival of the fittest”. Some may use this as an argument to be self-interested and competitive with others. While healthy competition has value, a win at all costs attitude is socially isolating and from an evolutionary standpoint and does not support one’s survival living outside of the protective group.

How can you become a kinder person?

• Perform random acts of kindness. Small acts of kindness can make a big impact on someone who is having a bad day or dealing with problems. Keeping it anonymous or not requiring thanks allows you to be kind without the expectation of getting rewarded for your actions.

• Be attentive to others. Look around to see if members of your family, your friends, or coworkers are showing signs of stress or unhappiness. Offer support and help them by offering a kind word, compliment, or assurance that they are not alone.

• Improve your emotional intelligence. Strong emotional intelligence (controlling things like anger and frustration and replacing them with understanding and patience) is linked to kindness.

Deep Dive

"The Art of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler

This book presents kindness not as a moral duty, but as a practical path to happiness. Additional concepts that have been presented through Cardalyst are also found here. These include; compassion, empathy, forgiveness, and how treating others well improves your own well-being. The content is highly accessible, even if you're not religious or

spiritual.

Waypoint: 

“No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted” – Aesop