I had to pause. “Kind” is… buzzwordish. It can mean lots of things.
It can mean “nice,” but, sometimes, the kind thing doesn't feel like the nice thing (like when you have to give someone honest feedback).
It can mean “compassion,” but sometimes, true kindness needs action, not just thoughts or goodwill.
Then again, sometimes, it's kinder not to act (like when someone doesn't need help, or for you to fix things, but just needs you to listen).
And, being kind might mean putting someone else first, but not always. (I definitely want my kids to be kind and take care of themselves, too.)
In the end, I told my son, “'Kind' means that we care enough to think of others when we act.” He shrugged (8-year-old speak for “OK”).
But then, he helped me clean up the toys. 💛
- Dr. Sarah Glova, Co-Editor of 8&21 and Lover of Words
“Kindness” as
treating everyone like “kin”
kind (adj): “friendly, deliberately doing good to others.”
Middle English kinde, from Old English cynde, “natural, native, innate,” originally “with the feeling of relatives for each other.”
From Proto-Germanic kundi (“natural, native”) from kunjam (“family”, see kin).
Old English also had a word-forming element -cund “born of, of a particular nature” (see kind (n.)); sense development probably is from “with natural feelings,” to “benign, compassionate, loving, full of tenderness” (c. 1300).
Excerpts pulled from the Online Etymology Dictionary, etymonline.com
More than just words
Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels.
People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer.
Physiologically, kindness can positively change your brain. Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction and well-being, and cause the pleasure/reward centers in your brain to light up. Endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killer, also can be released.
It is not just how you treat other people — it is how you extend those same behaviors and intentions to yourself as well. If you would not say it to your good neighbor, do not say it about yourself.
Excerpts pulled from “The Art of Kindness” from Mayo Clinic
Great job!
Way to take a pause and give 3 minutes to your practice of pursuing awesome
by exploring this issue's theme. You rock!
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