Kindness as a route to Mental Wellness
In the Hustle and bustle of life, now even more complicated by the constraints, changes and challenges with respect to the covid-19 pandemic going on, we need to acknowledge that we all are under significant stress and strain.
The world Mental Health Day is observed on October 10th every year. In these current trying circumstances one key aspect which can make our life and other people’s life better is – KINDNESS.
The sad reality is – when we are all stressed out, when we are all facing difficult circumstances we forget to show kindness. Kindness is a very powerful approach that we can take that is always available to us to make even the most difficult circumstances manageable.
Research has shown that practicing kindness can trigger the release of many of the neurochemicals in our brain – like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, endorphins like substances etc. Oxytocin is the chemical for bonding. Helping some one opens up opportunities to enhance your bonding in those relationships. These neurochemicals help manage stress, make you feel good, and even reduce pain.
If we take the effort to cultivate the practice of kindness with awareness it is possible to make even this pandemic stricken world a better place for all of us.
Kindness to others:
Receiving kindness or offering kindness or even witnessing kindness can be beneficial both to your Physical Wellness as well as Mental Wellness. Being kind to others in the current circumstances could be done in so many ways.
- Reach out to people to check on their well being
- Support someone even remotely during their difficult times
- Offer a smile
- Offer a few kind words
- Tell your loved ones how much they mean and how important they are to you
- Be kind to your partner. Share some of their work load. Or give them some quality time. Find new ways to be kind to each other.
- Give somebody a genuine acknowledgement
- Listen to the other person and try to understand their point of view
- Express gratitude
…….and so many more.
Kindness to self:
The most important person that we need to be kind to is ourselves. We are so hard on ourselves, quick to criticize, and reluctant to acknowledge our own selves. Being kind to oneself also means giving ourselves the permission to be. Understanding our own needs, giving it adequate importance and getting those needs met in a healthy manner. Some of the ways to be kind to self could be
- Join an art class or any new activity of interest
- Practice dancing, singing or any coordinated movement
- Spend time for a work out or a walk
- Listen to your favourite music
- Talk to a close relative or friend, reconnect if out of touch
- Make a nice meal with a favourite dish
- Plant a garden even in a balcony
- Reduce clutter
- Be gentle with yourself when you make a mistake
- Practice Mindfulness or Meditation
…….and so on.
Kindness to our environment:
Many times we succumb to cynicism, when it comes to our environment, our planet. We think about pollution, global warming, ozone layer depletion, deforestation etc and think that we cannot do anything substantial to make any positive impact on the environment. It is not true. Every action that we take has an impact. It can begin with simple activities like
- Segregation of waste at home
- Using a bio composter. Use the compost in the garden
- Reduce plastic usage
- Not littering in public places
- Using water judiciously
- Thinking of environment friendly approaches in every thing that we do
…….and so on.
Every drop counts. Every bit of an affirmative action counts. It is the drops that form the ocean.
Practicing kindness can reduce pain stress and can provide some form of protection against depression, anxiety, loneliness – overall enhancing our mental well being. Looking for avenues to be kinder in relationships enhances the quality of the relationship.
Kindness is contagious, a simple act of kindness and can spark a series of kind events through the doer, the receiver and the witnesses too. Looking for ways and opportunities to be kind and practicing kindness can enrich our lives in immeasurable ways.
About the Author:
Kala Balasubramanian is a certified Counselling Psychologist and Psychotherapist with a Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Diplomas in Counselling and has further certifications specializing in couple/marriage/relationship counselling and family counselling. She takes an eclectic approach with different therapeutic modalities like CBT, Gestalt, TA in her work. As a trained therapist, she provides professional and confidential Counselling and Therapy, including Individual counselling and Couples counselling / Marriage counselling.