Try a Little Kindness

When I was a kid growing up in Puerto Rico, my Dad loved to listen to country music. And, yes, I realize how odd that sentence sounds. Not my favorite genre of music, but some of the tunes really stuck with me through the years. In particular was a Glenn Campbell ditty called “Try a Little Kindness” (ok, I’m showing my age now). I mean, you really have to appreciate the cutting-edge effects in this video.

But…what does it mean to be kind? Does it mean being empathetic or sympathetic? Does it mean being a good listener? Does it mean sharing your ice cream? Does it mean saying difficult things in a disarming way? Something else? While trying to figure this out, I stumbled across this website dedicated to kindness. A couple of things jumped out at me. First and foremost, kindness is a choice. We can choose to be kind…or not kind. Second, here’s how they define kindness:

Kindness is the sincere and voluntary use of one’s time, talent, and resources to better the lives of others, one’s own life, and the world through genuine acts of love, compassion, generosity, and service.

While that sounds very grandiose, kindness can also be simple gestures we do daily. A warm smile, a hug, a pat on the back, a kind word.

Look…I get it. When someone cuts you off in traffic, are you feeling kind? When you’ve had a frustrating day at work, are you feeling kind? When you come home and your dogs have made artwork of the paper towels all over the house, are you feeling kind? Hell, no. We’re all human beings – with all our flaws and imperfections. And we need to embrace our humanity – always. And part of being human is making choices. The more we choose to be kind in challenging moments, the easier it becomes. Being kind is an amazing force that CAN diffuse volatile situations. I understand…not always. But it sure does work more than it doesn’t in my experience.

Kindness and Health

Did you also know kindness can have a positive and lasting effect on your body and mind? According to the Mayo Clinic: “Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels. Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact loneliness, improve low mood, and enhance relationships in general. It also can be contagious. Looking for ways to show kindness can give you a focus activity, especially if you tend to be anxious or stressed in some social situations.”

Kindness in Business

Here's the other interesting thing about kindness – it has a positive financial effect on business. Andy, what the hell are you talking about? Check out this TED Talk by James Rhee on the benefit of goodwill and kindness in the work environment. It’s powerful. I won’t say more on this topic because he does it so well.

And…remember, we’re all in different spaces and places in our life journey. Try a little kindness. It could – literally – change someone’s day.

I’ll be kind and finish this email now. 🙂 

Have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Andy

(All written content created the old-fashioned way.)