March 23, 2025-The Antidote of Kindness

Spring is season of growth and new beginnings. A time when the memories of winter’s bitter cold and darkness ebb away, as increased sunlight brightens our day, bird songs once again fill the air and flowers begin to bloom.

But when our country is filled with daily news of division and despair, filling us with anxiety, it can be a challenge to sum up feelings of good will and hope. This atmosphere of negativity plays out daily across our political spectrum and social media, where cruel and thoughtless actions, comments, posts and tweets prevail. How do we counteract this current culture of cruelty and indifference towards the suffering of others? Research has shown that one powerful antidote for our emotional, mental and physical health is kindness. Kindness can be defined as actions of consideration, generosity, and helpfulness without expecting anything in response. But how can simple acts of kindness be an effective alternative to a culture of defensive coldheartedness?

Kindness helps our bodies.

“Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a hormone directly correlated with stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer.” *1

Kindness helps our minds.

A pebble thrown into a pond creates ripples across the surface of the water. Simple acts of kindness, either witnessing or performing them, can lead to ripples of change in our own emotions and thoughts.

“Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, decrease loneliness, combat low mood and improve relationships. It also can be contagious, encouraging others to join in with their own generous deeds.”*2

Practicing kindness has positive physical repsonses in our bodies, by increasing levels of both dopamine and serotonin, leading to higher levels of satisfaction and positivity. These powerful neurotransmitters can actually light up the pleasure and reward centers in your brain.

Kindness helps increase a sense of empathy for others.

In a tech heavy world, where human interactions can be reduced to screen posts, rants and tweets, it can be difficult to feel empathy for others. Events we have no control over can also cause us to retreat from an overstimulating world and devastating acts of cruelty. But we need to remember kindness is inherent in our biology. Survival for humans, whether taking care of an infant, or working together as a community was critical for early mankind and throughout the centuries.

“What studies have shown is that when we are either thinking about kind acts or witnessing kind acts or engaging in acts of kindness to other people, there are several biochemical changes that happen in our brain. One of the most important things that happens is that it releases oxytocin, a neurotransmitter that’s been studied extensively for its role in promoting a sense of bonding.” 3*
Dr. Bwanani Ballamudi

When we feel bonding and empathy towards others, we are more likely to enage in acts of good will.

Kindness can be cultivated.

Acts of kindness can come in many shapes and sizes. It can be a simple random act, like holding the door open to let others pass, or extending help to a family member, friend, neighbor or stranger in need. Giving a compliment, a smile, or offer of assistance can make someone’s day. We can donate our time and resources to make a difference in the lives of others. We can leave a kind note, share baked goods, or give a hug…….all of these gestures show that we care about others.

Kindness can make a difference!

“kindness, by definition, is an altruistic act, being kind rewards givers and receivers. The person performing a kind act gets a rush of endorphins, which provide energy and relieve pain. And “witnessing acts of kindness produces oxytocin, also called the love hormone.When others witness acts of kindness, they often pass them on.” *4

In the singer John Lennon’s song Imagine, he asks us to envision a world where all the people join in to share a life of peace, without the divisions incited by economic status, race, and/or religion, leading to a sense of peace and unity. Extending simple acts of kindness can be powerful steps to change the current atmosphere of cruel indifference.

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my blogpost. I’ve included quotes on kindness to hopefully give you a sense that each one of us can make a difference. Which quote resonates with you? If you have an additional quote on kindness that inspires you, or thoughts about this post, I invite you to include it in the comments below. Please share this post with someone who might find it meaningful.

In Kindness and Peace,

Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

Inspirational Quotes on Kindness

“The very nature of kindness is to spread. If you are kind to others, today they will be kind to you, and tomorrow to somebody else.”
—Sri Chonmony

“Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.”
—Charles Glassman

“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt

“If you have kindness in your heart, you offer acts of kindness to touch the hearts of others wherever you go—whether they are random or planned. Kindness becomes a way of life.”
—Roy T. Bennett

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
—John Holmes

“You can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!”
―Anne Frank

“For it is in giving that we receive.”
―St. Francis of Assisi

“Kind hearts are the gardens. Kind thoughts are the roots. Kind words are the blossoms. Kind deeds are the fruits.”
—Kirpal Singh

“Because that’s what kindness is. It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.”
—Andrew Iskander

“This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart is the temple. Your philosophy is simple kindness.”
―Dalai Lama XIV