By: Sayima Wani
Kindness is the best form of humanity. We feel it when we give it or receive it. Though it seems like a simple word and deed but its meaning is profound. Throughout the journey of life we meet many people along the way, among them, some are kinder than others. Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. Kindness is not just being kind to others; it is being nice and generous to yourself first. An international bestselling author Bryant.H.M.Gill has wisely said that “the first rule of kindness is to be kind to yourself ”. Some say kindness is doing good to others without expecting anything good in return. Making someone smile during hardest times, lending an ear to someone who needs to be listened, offering help to someone in need, forgiving someone for a mistake, smiling, giving someone a compliment, writing a kind note for someone, making donations is kindness.
Some believe that kindness is to have a soft heart or treating others in a kind way. To some it is showing sympathy towards someone or something or being friendly. Different people have different perspectives on kindness. Indeed, it is very true that kindness is a language, the deaf can hear and the blind can see. A doctor or nurse approaching a patient with a smile and using a calm tone is kindness. Feeding the birds during harsh winters, offering your seat to elderly or pregnant women on a public transport, assisting a person who has lost his track and keeping a secret is also kindness. It doesn’t take much but it can make a huge difference for everyone.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the spiritual and temporal leader of Tibetan people has beautifully said that “My religion is very simple, my religion is kindness.” He also stated more fully “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.” Kindness is a selfless act by this you win hearts. The people whom you helped with your kindness will always remember you even after death. Kindness is contagious. When someone does something kind for us, we feel better and happy and are more likely to help out others.
Try to make kindness a norm. Be kind without any reason. Kindness makes us a true human. There are many examples of kindness but a good symbol of kindness is mother. She makes innumerable sacrifices for her children without any greed and without expecting anything in return. A mother is an epitome of love and generosity. Spending time with your family despite of your busy schedule, sending a thank you note to an old teacher or friend, following the traffic rules, planting a tree is kindness. When you will be kind to others, others will be kind to you as, the saying goes as you sow, so shall you reap.
Being kind to others helps to boost mental and physical health. Studies have shown that if you perform just one random act of kindness a day it will not only reduce your stress, anxiety and depression, but your body is flooded with the same hormones that make you and the person you have helped calmer, healthier and happier. There is a great influence of kindness on neurotransmitters. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter also known as feel-good chemical as it is often secreted when you are feeling happy. Serotonin is also responsible for mood regulation. It affects emotions, appetite and digestion. Studies suggest that being kind to others can increase serotonin levels this will automatically uplift your mood and make you feel happy. It is also said that random acts of kindness release dopamine (reward chemical) in the brain that can give us a feeling of euphoria. Kindness can also increase endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers) in body, which eases pain and increases energy. Committing acts of kindness lowers blood pressure. It is said that acts of kindness create emotional warmth, which releases a hormone known as oxytocin (cardio protective hormone). Oxytocin causes release of nitric acid which dilates the blood vessels and protects the heart by lowering the blood pressure. So, when you see any person in trouble, reach out to them, let them know that you are there for them. It can not only uplift their mood but can also ease out your stress.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Verily Allah is kind and He loves kindness and confers upon kindness which he does not confer upon severity and does not confer upon anything else besides it (kindness)” [Sahih Muslim; 6601]. In another hadith, Allah’s messenger (PBUH) said, “Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective” [Sahih Muslim; 6602]. It is taught in Islam that we should always treat others with kindness, not to expect the same thing from them, and to keep our deeds between ourselves and Allah. Kindness is the best medicine, so try to spread it to yourself and everyone you encounter.
“Kindness is like a snow-It beautifies everything it covers.” Khalil Gibran
The writer is a B.Sc.Nursing student at AIHST Srinagar and can be reached at sayimawani131@gmail.com
