Kindness is highly valued and considered to be a virtue in most religions and cultures throughout the world and throughout history. It is considered a virtue and is recognized as a value in many cultures and religions. Kindness may also be known as good-heartedness, benevolence, altruism, courtesy, goodwill, graciousness, good intention, or solicitousness.
In Book II of “Rhetoric”, Aristotle defines kindness as “helpfulness towards someone in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped”. Nietzsche considered kindness and love to be the “most curative herbs and agents in human intercourse”. Kindness is considered to be one of the Knightly Virtues. In Meher Baba’s teachings, God is synonymous with kindness: “God is so kind that it is impossible to imagine His unbounded kindness!”
There are different ways to practice kindness. One way to be kind is to open our eyes and be active when we see people in need. A sense of community is created when people are kind to those who need help.
Opening our eyes means noticing when others are suffering. A kind word, a smile, opening a door, or helping carry a heavy load can all be acts of kindness. Celebrating someone we love, giving honest compliments, sending an email thanking someone, telling someone how he/she is special to us, helping an elderly neighbor with yard work or food, taking a photo of someone and sending it to the person, sharing homemade food, refusing to gossip, and donating old clothing and things we don’t need are all ideas about how to practice kindness.
In human mating choice, studies suggest that both men and women value kindness and intelligence in their prospective mates, along with physical appearance, attractiveness, social status, and age.
In Psychology – Based on experiments at Yale University using games with babies, some studies concluded that kindness is inherent to human beings. There are similar studies about the root of empathy in infancy motor mirroring developing in the early months of life, to lead (optimally) to the easy concern shown by children for their peers in distress.
Barbara Taylor and Adam Phillips have stressed the element of necessary realism in adult kindness, as well as the way “real kindness changes people in the doing of it, often in unpredictable ways”.
Actually, Kindness is a character strength within the Humanity theme. This theme encompasses tending to and befriending others. Their definition of kindness is:
“Doing favors and good deeds for others; helping them; taking care of them.”
Important Personality and Character Trait –
If we want a happier world, start with kindness. It’s contagious, slows aging, is good for our heart and improves relationships.
Dr. David Hamilton explains this in ‘The five side effects of kindness’. He says we’re not selfish people; we evolved to help each other. This led to strong bonds and increased survival rates.
Popular TV shows or movies highlight the importance of strong group bonds. Vikings, Sons of Anarchy, and Avengers are examples of this. There are many more examples real and imagined.
Kindness is not only an important trait, but it’s also critical for our success as a species. Hamilton explains how oxytocin, produced when we express kindness and compassion, helps us.
Kindness is also about telling the truth in a gentle way when doing so is helpful to the other person. Receiving accurate feedback in a loving and caring way is an important part of a trusted relationship. The courage to give and receive truthful feedback is a key component of growth and flexible thinking. There are many ways to be kind and many opportunities to practice. Perhaps kindness is a value that could add more satisfaction to and strengthen our relationships.
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