Four Ways Kindness Strengthens Your Spirit, Body, And Relationships

A few years ago, I collected research and quotes about kindness for a book I was writing. I wasn’t surprised that spreading kindness positively affects the recipients. Or that being kind is easy to do and benefits others profoundly.  

 What I didn’t know was how good kindness is for the person practicing it.

In a nod to World Kindness Day (November 13) and National Kindness Week (Nov. 10-16), I share four ways kindness strengthens our health.

1. Being Kind Strengthens Your Spiritual Health

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kindness is a core value of Christianity. Believers are called to demonstrate kindness in our words, thoughts, and actions. When we practice kindness, we reflect God’s love for us. And in this current world of growing fear and anxiety, who couldn’t appreciate a kind word or gesture? We please God when we practice kindness.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

(Galatians 5:22-23)

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

(Ephesians 4:32).

2. Being Kind Strengthens Your Physical Health

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

 Mother Teresa

“Kindness is good for your heart and your immune system, and new studies even show that it helps you to live longer,” according to David Hamilton.[1]

Oxytocin, a hormone released when we connect with others, is the reason. The hormone flows through our brain and body, keeping our blood pressure low, healing our wounds and even preventing damage to the cardiovascular system. Oxytocin also reduces levels of free radicals and inflammation in the cardiovascular system, slowing aging.[2]

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

 (Proverbs 16:24)

3. Being Kind Strengthens Your Mental Health

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intentions.” 

 Oscar Wilde

The Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project found that one way to increase mental wellbeing was simply to “Give.” With language usually missing from a scientific study, the report reads: “Do something nice for a friend or stranger.” “Thank someone.” “Smile.” “Volunteer.” “Join a community group.”[3]

Another comprehensive study revealed 95% of participants reported good feelings after volunteering in ways that helped others, while 57% reported greater feelings of self-worth.[4] Other research looked at the effects of volunteering on depression and showed a powerful impact—especially among senior populations, giving this group a greater will to live.[4]

Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

(Proverbs 11:17)

4. Being Kind Strengthens Your Relationships

“Kindness gives birth to kindness.”

Sophocles

It’s sometimes easier to be kind to strangers than to family. We take our loved ones for granted. They see us at our worst and love us anyway. As you develop your kindness quotient, it will naturally spill over into family relationships.

When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind. The theme of “rightness” is at the core of many quarrels between husband and wife, parent and child, and best friends. 

Be present with your family and friends. Listen actively when they talk by maintaining eye contract and using body language such as nods and smiles.

While the benefits of spontaneous acts of kindness for strangers are indisputable, we can’t ignore doing the same for those near and dear to us. We want to do all we can to keep the ripples of kindness spreading to future generations.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

 (Proverbs 22:6)

Thanks for reading! Let's go spread some kindness today!

“In the end, only kindness matters.”  (Click to hear a favorite song by Jewel with this refrain.

*All of today’s scripture is from the New International Version of the Bible.

[1] David Hamilton, Kindness is Good for You. 44-47.

[2] Hamilton, 57-59.

[3] Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project (2008). Final Project report – Executive summary. The Government Office for Science, London. 104-08.

[4] Hamilton. 132-38.

[5] Alan Luks. The Healing Power of Doing Good. 194-206.

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