We all know the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. While this is an old adage we learn from an early age, there are a number of real-life benefits associated with the way we treat others.
Acts of kindness have the potential to make the world a happier place. An act of kindness can boost feelings of confidence, being in control, happiness and optimism. They may also encourage others to repeat the good deeds they've experienced themselves – contributing to a more positive community.
Science shows that as children, we’re biologically wired for kindness and we can further develop this trait with practice and repetition. Sometimes, however, due to outside influences and the stress of our day-to-day lives, we can lose this inherent ability.
Kindness and empathy help us relate to other people and have more positive relationships with friends, family, and even perfect strangers we encounter in our daily lives. Besides just improving personal relationships, however, kindness can actually make you healthier.
Here are a few science-backed benefits of being kind.
In my practice I’ve often encountered my clients struggling in its application, life and at work.
Applying The Yin and Yang of Self-Compassion, might be a practical way to be more successful in your application:
I see this framework as a good way to make self-kindness more meaningful to you as it presents self-compassion as a balanced construct with two sides, each associated with their own actions. This is why I encourage you to brainstorm practical behaviors related to each type of self-compassion.
If you need more help to improve your health in this way further, please reach out to me.