Essay on Kindness

500 words essay on kindness.

The world we live in today has been through a lot of things from world wars to epidemics, but one thing which remained constant throughout was resilience and kindness. Moreover, it was the spirit to fight back and help out each other. Kindness must be an essential and universal quality to make the world a better place. Through an essay on kindness, we will go through it in detail.

essay on kindness

Importance of Kindness

Kindness towards nature, animals and other people has the ability to transform the world and make it a beautiful place for living. But, it is also important to remember that kindness towards you is also essential for personal growth.

Kindness is basically being polite, compassionate and thoughtful. Every religion and faith teaches its followers to be kind. Most importantly, kindness must not limit to humans but also to every living creature.

Even nature has its own way of showing kindness. For instance, the trees grow fruits for us and provide us with shade. One must not see kindness as a core value but as a fundamental behavioural element. When you are kind to your loved ones, you create a stable base.

As people are becoming more self-centred today, we must learn kindness. We must try to integrate it into ourselves. You might not know how a small act of kindness can bring about a change in someone’s life. So, be kind always.

Kindness Always Wins

There is no doubt that kindness always wins and it has been proven time and again by people. Sid is a greedy man who does not share his wealth with anyone, not even his family members.

He also does not pay his workers well. One day, he loses his bag of gold coins and loses his temper. Everyone helps him out to search for it but no one finds it. Finally, his worker’s little son finds the bag.

Upon checking the bag, he sees all the coins are there. But, his greed makes him play a trick on the poor worker. He claims that there were more coins in the bag and the worker stole them.

The issue goes to the court and the judge confirms from Sid whether his bag had more coins to which he agrees. So, the judge rules out that as Sid’s bag had more coins , the bag which the worker’s son found is not his.

Therefore, the bag gets handed to the worker as no one else claims it. Consequently, you see how the worker’s son act of kindness won and paid him well. On the other hand, how Sid’s greediness resulted in his loss only.

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Conclusion of the Essay on Kindness

It is essential for all of us to understand the value of kindness. Always remember, it does not cost anything to be kind. It may be a little compliment or it can be a grand gesture, no matter how big or small, kindness always matters. Therefore, try your best to be kind to everyone around you.

FAQ of Essay on Kindness

Question 1: Why is it important to be kind?

Answer 1: It is important to be kind because it makes one feel good about oneself. When you do things for other people and help them with anything, it makes you feel warm and that you have accomplished something. Moreover, you also get respect in return.

Question 2: Why is kindness so powerful?

Answer 2: Kindness has a lot of benefits which includes increased happiness and a healthy heart . It slows down the ageing process and also enhances relationships and connections, which will indirectly boost your health.

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Why Kindness Matters: The Importance of Being Kind

kind couple

Think about the last time someone was kind to you. Maybe a stranger held the door open for you or someone you love offered to help with a task you found daunting. How did that make you feel? Valued? Worthy? Happy?

It’s no secret that being kind feels good. It makes us feel connected, appreciated, and happy. But what many of us don’t realise is that being kind is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves and for others.

What is kindness?

Let’s first take a moment to define what kindness is. Kindness is an intentional act of compassion, thoughtfulness, and understanding that involves treating others with respect and empathy. This can include anything from lending someone a helping hand, volunteering for a good cause, or simply smiling at strangers on the street.

When we’re kind, we’re recognising, listening to, and understanding the feelings of others. We’re also trying to make their lives better in some way. When we strive to include more kindness in our lives, we’re sending a powerful message to the world that we care – for ourselves and for others.

Why is kindness important?

There are many reasons why kindness is important . These include both the personal benefits of being kind and the impact of our kindness on others.

Personal benefits

  • Kindness makes us happier. Kindness leads to happiness. Research shows that people who are kind are happier . The reverse is also true – happier people are kinder. And it makes sense when you think about it. When we’re kind, we’re focused on others. We’re not thinking about ourselves and our own problems. Our kind acts make others happier and witnessing that brings us joy. When we’re happy, we’re motivated to be kind and the cycle continues.
  • Kindness strengthens our connections. When we are kind to others, we strengthen those bonds of connection that make us feel seen, appreciated and loved. When kindness is given and received, it creates a sense of trust and connection. People are more likely to want to spend time with us and help us out too. Kindness is also a critical aspect of emotional intelligence. It helps us to better understand and empathize with others, showing them that we care about their feelings and experiences. This helps to build trust, create meaningful human interaction, and develop strong relationships that last.
  • Kindness improves our physical well-being. Practising kindness has been shown to have numerous physical health benefits. Kindness can reduce stress levels, lower blood pressure, and even boost our immune system! People who practice kindness live longer, healthier lives.
  • Kindness makes us feel good about ourselves. Kindness helps to foster a sense of belonging and purpose. When we are kind, it reinforces our self-worth and importance and boosts our self-esteem. It reminds us that we have the power to make a positive impact in the lives of others, even if it’s in a small way. Kindness gives us the courage to stand up for what’s right. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that we are contributing to making the world a better place.
  • We remember to practise self-kindness. When we’re kind to others, we’re more likely to remember to be kind to ourselves as well. When we show self-kindness, we are less hard on ourselves. We acknowledge our faults and accept that we’re imperfect. We forgive ourselves for our mistakes. Accepting that we’re imperfect reduces negative self-talk and thoughts. We develop a more positive mindset and our overall mental health improves. We become more resilient, as we allow ourselves to overcome personal failures and learn from these experiences rather than define ourselves by them. As a result, we become more confident, secure, and content with our lives.

The impact of our Kindness on Others

When we practice kindness, it doesn’t just help us. It helps those around us as well. Kindness can have a ripple effect, spreading from individual to individual and making a positive impact on the world.

  • Kindness makes others feel good. Kind words, random acts of kindness, or even a genuine smile can brighten someone’s day and make them feel good. When we show kindness, it helps others to feel seen and appreciated. It lifts their spirits and encourages them to keep going when times are tough.
  • Kindness makes others feel safe. Kindness can help to create a safe, supportive environment where people are free to express themselves and be their authentic selves. When we’re kind to others, it makes them feel secure in our presence. It’s easier for them to open up when they trust that they won’t be judged or ridiculed for their thoughts or ideas.
  • Kindness inspires others to be kind. When people observe acts of kindness, it makes them want to be kind too. It encourages them to pass on the same kindness that was shown to them by paying it forward and doing nice things for others. They might even be inspired to do something that they wouldn’t have done before.
  • Kindness creates a positive environment. When kindness is practised in the workplace, it creates a more collaborative and supportive environment. People are more likely to work together and help each other out when they feel supported and appreciated by their colleagues.

What are some simple ways to be kind?

With all the great reasons to be kind , how can we make kindness a part of everyday life? Here are some easy ways to be kind :

  • Be considerate. Be mindful of how others are feeling and think before you speak or act. Do something that you know will benefit someone else, like holding the door open for someone carrying a heavy load or offering your seat on the bus.
  • Offer a helping hand. If someone is struggling, step in and lend a helping hand. Offer to help with a task or problem that they’re trying to solve. Be generous with your time and resources, including your knowledge and skills.
  • Show gratitude. Acknowledge and appreciate people for their efforts. Freely give compliments to those who deserve it and take the time to thank people for their help.
  • Be patient. Don’t rush others or jump to negative conclusions when things don’t go as planned. Instead, take a deep breath and be patient with yourself and others.
  • Be respectful. Always treat people with respect. Listen to what they have to say with an open mind and don’t talk down to them. Say please and thank you, and be polite to everyone.

As we practise these simple acts of kindness, remember that the importance of being kind is much greater than just making someone feel good. When we show kindness, it can have a positive ripple effect that changes the world for the better. In this way, even the smallest acts of kindness can have a big impact.

Final thoughts

Kindness is one of the most important things we can offer to others and ourselves. It makes us happier, healthier people, and it’s something that we should all try to cultivate in our everyday lives.

Showing kindness not only benefits those around us but also has a positive impact on our relationships, communities, and society as a whole. So whenever kindness is an option, always choose kindness . It matters.

a little dose of happy (aldohappy, “all do happy”) is a mission, mindset, and movement dedicated to spreading happiness throughout the world. 

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Why Is Kindness Important? (13 Reasons)

Life can often feel like a complex puzzle, each piece representing the various actions and decisions we make every day. Among these pieces, acts of kindness stand out, fitting effortlessly into the gaps between us, smoothing the edges that sometimes rub and chafe.

Let’s prepare to embark on a quest to unearth the true essence of kindness. Here, we’ll challenge the status quo with a simple yet profound hypothesis:

What if kindness isn’t just a pleasant trait but the cornerstone of a thriving human existence? Could this unassuming gesture hold the power to rewrite our collective narratives toward enduring peace and cooperation?

Join me as we traverse the many dimensions of kindness and possibly uncover the most underrated solution for global harmony.

Kindness Fosters Positive Connections

Imagine you’re at your local coffee shop, and the person ahead of you pays for your drink. That little surprise not only makes your day but also creates an invisible link between you and the giver — a connection steeped in goodwill and appreciation.

The impact isn’t just fleeting; these bonds foster a network of support that can spring into action during tough times. Kindness creates a web of empathy and understanding among acquaintances and strangers alike.

By promoting positive interactions, kindness lays the groundwork for a society that not only survives but thrives on mutual respect and compassion.

Kindness Improves Our Mental Health

Picture this: It’s been a long, tiring day, but you still take a moment to help an elderly neighbor with their groceries. How do you feel afterward? There’s a good chance you’re experiencing what many refer to as the “ helper’s high .”

Here’s the deal — kindness acts as a natural mood enhancer. It’s that inner glow from making someone’s day a little brighter, and it’s not just happenstance.

This emotional boost we feel has a foundation in our brain chemistry. When we perform acts of kindness, our brain’s pleasure and reward centers light up, affirming to ourselves that what we’ve done is good. ( source )

  • Endorphins , the body’s natural painkiller, are released.
  • Serotonin levels , which regulate mood, increase.
  • Our sense of well-being is elevated , diminishing the weight of our own problems.

By incorporating acts of kindness into our routine, we’re not just helping others; we’re setting the course for a healthier, happier self.

Kindness Is Contagious and Encourages More Good Deeds

Imagine you’re the bystander to a heartwarming scene — maybe it’s a person sharing their umbrella in a downpour or someone picking up a dropped glove and sprinting after its owner to return it. This scene sticks with you, warming your heart and, without you even realizing it, influencing your behavior.

This simple transfer of goodwill from one person to another has the potential to encourage an entire community to act with more kindness. Experiencing kindness firsthand ignites a desire to extend the same generosity to others.

And the beauty of it? There’s no limit to how far it can go. Just like tossing a pebble into a pond, one small act can send ripples that reach the farthest shore.

Kindness Can Reduce Anxiety and Stress

Kindness has a remarkable effect on reducing our own anxiety and stress, creating a calming influence that’s hard to overstate. Just imagine the act of volunteering. While you’re focused on helping others, your own worries and stressors can seem to melt away, even if just for a little while.

All these actions serve dual purposes: they provide valuable aid and also give us a mental break from our personal anxieties. In stepping outside of ourselves to focus on the needs of others, we are rewarded with a quieter mind and a more peaceful heart.

Kindness Instills Empathy in Youth

In the journey of life, one of the greatest gifts we can pass on to our children is the capacity for kindness. By demonstrating empathy and compassion, we are teaching the younger generation essential life skills. These skills shape how they interact with the world, encouraging a future filled with conscientious and caring individuals.

  • Model behavior : When children see adults acting kindly, they learn that this is how we treat others, setting the stage for a lifetime of empathy.
  • Encourage positive actions : Offering children opportunities to be kind fosters a sense of responsibility for others’ well-being.
  • Praise kind behavior : Recognizing acts of kindness in children reinforces their importance and encourages them to continue such actions.

Kindness Strengthens Interpersonal Relationships

The glue that holds any relationship together is often found in the small acts of kindness exchanged. These expressions of care and concern for one another’s well-being fortify bonds and foster a resilient connection. Whether it’s between friends, family members, or partners, kindness reassures us that we are valued and appreciated.

Consider the act of listening—it’s a subtle form of kindness but powerful in its impact. When we listen intently to someone’s concerns without judgment, the message we’re sending is, “ You matter, and your thoughts are important to me. ” This deepens our connection with others and creates a safe space where trust can flourish.

Kindness in relationships manifests in many forms:

  • Remembering and acknowledging important dates like birthdays or anniversaries
  • Making time for each other in busy schedules
  • Providing support during challenging times without expectations

Kindness Is Essential for Personal Growth and Self-Improvement

Embarking on a personal journey of growth and self-improvement is akin to tending a garden. Just as you would nurture plants with water and sunlight, so too does the soul require kindness to flourish. Engaging in kind behavior forces us to think beyond our immediate self-interests and consider the broader impact of our actions on others and our own character.

Kindness can be a doorway to new understandings and experiences:

  • It challenges us to be patient in moments of frustration.
  • It urges us to show forgiveness instead of holding onto grudges.
  • It prompts us to offer help when it’s easier to walk away.

Each of these actions not only benefits those around us but also leads to profound personal introspection and development.

Kindness Helps Alleviate Depression and Loneliness

When we’re kind, we create moments of connection and positivity that can pierce through someone’s veil of isolation, reminding them that they are not alone. It might not solve all their problems, but it can be a step toward healing.

Small acts can make a big difference:

  • A handwritten note to someone who’s struggling.
  • A sincere compliment to a stranger passed on the street.
  • Taking the time to listen to a friend without judgment.

These actions are more than mere gestures; they are lifelines, reminders of human warmth and concern. By reaching out in kindness, we can help dissolve the walls built around lonely individuals, showing them that the world still holds compassion and companionship.

Kindness Enhances Teamwork and Productivity in the Workplace

A thriving workplace is one where kindness is as much a part of the culture as deadlines and meetings. It’s the fuel for a collaborative engine that powers productivity and job satisfaction.

Here’s the simple truth: kindness makes team members feel valued, respected, and part of a collective endeavor. It turns challenges into shared goals and competition into cooperation.

Consider how kindness can transform a typical workday:

  • Morning greetings and friendly conversations over coffee can set a positive tone.
  • Offering help on a difficult project can foster a sense of teamwork and cooperation.
  • Acknowledging others’ hard work at the end of the day can leave employees feeling valued and respected.

These kinds of interactions are not only good for the soul; they’re good for business. They build a foundation of trust and respect, which are essential for effective teamwork and, ultimately, for the productivity that drives success.

Kindness Cultivates a Positive Learning Environment

Setting the stage for a conducive learning experience is crucial – whether it’s in a school, a professional training session, or any educational setting. Kindness lays the foundation for a comfortable, non-threatening environment where individuals feel encouraged to express themselves, ask questions, and take risks, which are all critical components of the learning process.

Reflect on these educational benefits when kindness reigns:

  • When teachers show kindness, students are more likely to emulate these behaviors.
  • A kind atmosphere mitigates bullying and fosters inclusivity and diversity.
  • Supportive peer interactions contribute to a thriving educational ecosystem.

When students and educators treat each other with kindness, they not only exchange knowledge but also respect and understanding. Such an environment can embolden individuals to strive for excellence, not just in academics but also in their social and emotional development.

Kindness Serves as a Tool for Conflict Resolution

Kindness provides a powerful mechanism for de-escalating tensions and finding common ground. When individuals approach conflict with empathy and a sincere desire to understand the other’s perspective, solutions become more accessible, and relationships can even be strengthened post-resolution.

Imagine two coworkers at odds:

  • Rather than assuming the worst, they begin by giving each other the benefit of the doubt.
  • They listen actively and express their thoughts and feelings without aggression or assumption.
  • Sincere apologies and a willingness to compromise lead to a constructive outcome rather than a stalemate.

By employing kindness as a tool, we open the door to resolutions that respect everyone’s dignity and maintain strong connections.

Kindness Can Bridge the Gap Between Different Backgrounds

The language of kindness transcends the barriers of culture, language, and belief. It is a universal thread that weaves through the human experience, drawing us closer in ways words often cannot.

Reflect on these scenarios:

  • Sharing a meal with someone from a different culture.
  • Volunteering in a community other than your own.
  • Offering assistance without any language in common.

When we act with kindness, we acknowledge the humanity in others, irrespective of where they come from or what they look like. This universal currency has the power to connect the dots between diverse communities, creating a mosaic of understanding and respect.

Kindness Is a Foundational Aspect of Many Spiritual Practices

At its core, kindness resonates with the spiritual practices of countless traditions around the globe. It acts as a common thread, a universal language of compassion that transcends dogma and doctrine. In many spiritual beliefs, kindness is seen not just as a moral duty but as a path to enlightenment or a way of aligning with a higher power.

Incorporating kindness into our spiritual practices can take many forms:

  • Mindfulness and meditation focused on loving-kindness.
  • Community service as an expression of faith.
  • Acts of charity and benevolence endorsed by religious teachings.

By integrating kindness into our spiritual lives, we not only enrich our own souls but also contribute to a more loving and peaceful world. It becomes both a personal practice and a collective benefit, extending outwards from the inner tranquility it fosters.

Final Thoughts

At the heart of our conversations and actions, kindness remains the ever-present hum, the undercurrent of our humanity, bidding us to come together in compassion and understanding.

May these reflections on kindness not merely be words that are read but actions that are lived. Let’s allow kindness to be our compass, leading us to the richer, more connected lives we are capable of living.

Join me in making kindness not just an important part of our lives but the very essence of them.

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Bea Mariel Saulo

Kindness and compassion

Kindness and Compassion for Students

What are they.

Compassion is defined as the feeling that arises when you perceive another’s suffering and feel motivated to relieve that suffering.

Compassion can arise from empathy —the more general ability to understand and feel others’ emotions—but goes further by also including the desire to help. Of course, we can feel compassion without acting on it, and not all helpful acts are motivated by compassion.

When compassion does lead to action, we often call the result kindness. Kindness always includes the intention to benefit other people, especially (though not always) at a cost or risk to ourselves.

Research has shown that compassion and kindness are deeply rooted in human nature–our first impulse is to cooperate rather than compete. Even toddlers spontaneously help people in need out of genuine concern for their welfare. This innate kindness, however, often gets lost in a society built on competition. Schools have a golden opportunity to cultivate the compassionate side of students by creating a school culture in which kindness is valued and practiced.

  • A science teacher sets up his classroom to cultivate students’ innate kindness and cooperation, rather than their selfish and competitive natures. He takes the time at the start of the school year to get to know students and for students to get to know each other by doing some fun icebreakers from Playworks, like Crooked Circle .
  • To create an inclusive and connected classroom climate, students sit in a large circle for discussions and in small groups during regular instruction.
  • Everyone is encouraged to practice self-care, taking short breaks when they need to in the “Chillax Corner”, and to take care of each other—noticing when a fellow student might be having a hard time and connecting with him or her.
  • The curriculum is taught with a “prosocial” lens, taking into consideration how the scientific content might be used to benefit students’ communities and society in general.

Children’s understanding of kindness and compassion change as they mature. For example, their ability to be compassionate grows as they develop their perspective-taking ability and emotion regulation. Elementary age students and younger may view kindness mainly in concrete ways, such as in terms of the consequences of actions; whereas, older children and teens can appreciate the intentions behind the actions, allowing them to better navigate complex situations.

  • A first grader might say kindness is asking someone to play, taking turns, or helping someone who is hurt.
  • A high schooler gives his friend a hard time for choosing to go to the movies rather than study for an important test. At first, his friend is upset, but then realizes that the admonishment was made in his best interest.

Why Are They Important?

Research has found that practicing compassion and kindness can improve health, well-being, and relationships, as well as academic achievement. Of course, beyond our own lives, these qualities strengthen our communities and may even be vital to the survival of our species as a whole.

Kindness and compassion make us happier.

  • Compassion training programs, even very brief ones, strengthen reward circuits in the brain and lead to lasting increases in self-reported happiness.
  • Compassion training also enables us be more altruistic , and kindness does seem to be its own reward —giving to others activates those pleasure circuits and actually makes people, including kids , happier than spending money on themselves.

Compassion makes us more resilient.

  • Feeling compassion helps us to overcome empathic distress —or the feeling for others that makes us so upset that we want to run away rather than help. We are better able to handle the strong emotions that occur when faced with others’ suffering.

Kindness and compassion are good for our health.

  • Feeling compassionate can reduce the risk of heart disease by helping slow the heart rate , and compassion training has been shown to reduce stress hormones and boost the immune system.
  • Acts of kindness such as donating money help lower blood pressure .
  • People who volunteer are healthier overall, and teens who volunteer to help younger kids show reduced risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Kindness and compassion improve our relationships.

  • Compassion is associated with more satisfaction and growth in friendships and makes us less vindictive towards others.
  • Compassionate behavior is highly valued in romantic relationships: In surveys of over 10,000 people across 37 cultures, kindness was rated the most important quality in a mate, and the only one universally required.
  • Altruism promotes social connections in general and creates ripple effects of generosity in communities.

Kindness and compassion benefit education.

  • Preschoolers and elementary schoolers prompted to perform acts of kindness show increased well-being and social competence; in turn, prosocial (kind and helpful) peer interactions increase middle schoolers’ positive emotions and life satisfaction.
  • Prosocial behavior in elementary school predicts higher academic achievement in middle school, and it predicts academic achievement in high school.
  • High-quality service learning programs, which put compassion into action by combining classroom learning with real-world community service, have been shown to improve academic performance, student attitudes and behavior, and school climate.
  • When high schoolers see their school as a kind place, they are more interested and motivated to learn .

Practice Collections

Image of someone making a heart with the sunset shining through

Seeds of Self-Compassion

Three children coloring while lying on the floor

Art on Purpose

Smiling mature female teacher working on a computer at high school.

Assessing Your School Climate

Craft envelope filled with autumn maple leaves

Courage Blooms

Neighborhood homes surrounded by flood water

Inspiring Climate Awareness Through Gratitude

A tabby cat sitting on wooden floor and looking at the running (or jumping) tiger sketched (chalk drawing) on the wall.

Courage Creatures

Low angle of a group of diverse teenage girls standing together in a circle with their fists together in an act of courage

Identifying Acts of Courage

Teen holding a sign that says we need a change

Courageous and Compassionate Citizens

Student courageously standing up for what's right.

Developing the Courage to Speak Up

Girl wearing black hoodie bullying girl at schoolyard

The Bystander’s Dilemma: What Does Courage Look Like?

Finding Awe in Collective Acts of Kindness

Finding Awe in Collective Acts of Kindness

Student in bright orange shirt dances to the playlist she created in class.

Creating Musical Playlists for the Classroom

People doing the wave on the sport or music event.

The Beauty of Collective Effervescence

Young woman with a raised fist protesting in the street

Finding Awe In Everyday Moral Beauty

Cropped shot of a young woman wearing headphones against a blue background

Letting Music Shape You

Two paper heads on yellow background. One has growth mindset written on it and one has fixed mindset.

People Can Change: Recognizing Our Potential for Growth

Teens talking and listening with compassion at school.

Listening with Compassion

Teenage students learning in classroom

Building Collaborative Classroom Norms

Enroll in one of our online courses

GGIE Online Courses for Educators

Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Enroll in one of our online courses for educators!

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✍️Essay on Kindness: Samples in 100, 150 and 200 Words

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  • Updated on  
  • Nov 2, 2023

Essay on kindness

Research says that being kind to someone or vice versa can positively rewire your brain. Kindness is when one is generous to another person. Well, in today’s world, it is very difficult. We can hardly find anyone. Do you wish to bring a change in your lifestyle ? Well, you have come to the right place. Today, we will be talking about kindness in depth. Here, in this article, we have compiled several sample essays on kindness which describe this topic in depth. 

This Blog Includes:

Importance of kindness, essay on kindness in 100 words, essay on kindness in 150 words, essay on kindness in 200 words.

Kindness is an effortless yet powerful gesture which put a very positive impact on someone’s life. In the academic community, this gesture is seen as an attitude that can create a huge impact on one’s achievement. 

Speaking in a bit of a medical language, being kind to someone boosts serotonin and dopamine. These brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters, are what light up your reward and pleasure centres and give you a sense of fulfilment.

This doesn’t end here. Kindness has been shown to have cardioprotective effects. It can lower blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn affects stress levels. 

Speaking of which, here, we have compiled an essay on kindness which will provide you with more information on this topic. Let’s dive in. 

Also Read: Essay on the Importance of the English Language for Students

Being kind is a basic virtue which is very important for humankind to create a world that is more peaceful and compassionate. It is one of the most straightforward acts which can be shown by anyone to others without expecting anything in return. When it comes to showing kindness, there are many ways by which one can show it. These include opening doors for others giving your time to support a good cause or simply being with them during their hard times. 

Always remember that even showing a tiny act of kindness can create a huge impact in someone’s life or simply make their day better. 

Also Read: Essay on Save Environment: Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

Kindness is a feeling of being generous, friendly and considerate. In a world full of hatred and cruelty, kindness is what one can spread. You never know whom you might someone from a having bad day. One can simply start spreading kindness in the community they are living in. 

One of the best examples to describe the word kindness would be Mother Teresa . She devoted her entire life to caring for the destitute and dying in the slums of Calcutta (Kolkata). She is considered to be one of the greatest humanitarians the world has ever produced.

Speaking of kindness, doing little things such as opening a door for someone. Helping an elderly person cross the street, or holding things of someone are some basic things which can be done.

To conclude, kindness is contagious. It can spread like wildfire. Therefore, in a world where there is so much hatred, and cruelty, where people are fighting. One can be kind which will provoke others to do the same. 

Also Read: Essay on Unity in Diversity in 100 to 200 Words

Kindness is one of the most important qualities which people should have. This is very important to create a more compassionate and harmonious world. The simple act of being considerate towards others and not expecting anything in return is kindness. The word ‘kindness’ can be expressed in many different ways. From helping someone during tough times to helping an old lady cross the street is what best describes this word. 

Other than this, kindness is also beneficial for our well-being. Studies show that people who are kind to people around them tend to be more happy than others. This is because of the endorphins which are released. They contribute towards mood-boosting and pain-relieving effects. Not only this, kindness has also proved to have reduced stress levels and improved cardiovascular health.

To conclude, I would like to leave you all with a thought. In today’s times, we hardly come across kind people. Consider ourselves, we may feel for others around us going through the bad phase but how often do we reach out and assist them? It is our responsibility to nurture kindness in ourselves before we can ask others to do the same for us.

Related Articles 

We hope after reading some of these essays on kindness, your perspective on kindness would have changed. Always remember, everyone is fighting their own battles, so the best you can do is be a little kind and bring a smile to their face. Signing off!

There are certain advantages to our happiness and general well-being for those of us who are kind and caring. Perhaps we will live longer. Additionally, kindness lowers stress and enhances mental health.

These expressions describe persons who are kind, considerate, and considerate of others’ feelings.

Kindness belongs to the human virtue category and is one of the 24 universal character strengths.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay-writing page and follow Leverage Edu ! 

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Malvika Chawla

Malvika is a content writer cum news freak who comes with a strong background in Journalism and has worked with renowned news websites such as News 9 and The Financial Express to name a few. When not writing, she can be found bringing life to the canvasses by painting on them.

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Essay on Kindness

Students are often asked to write an essay on Kindness in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Kindness

Understanding kindness.

Kindness means being friendly, generous, and considerate. It involves actions and words that show care towards others.

Why is Kindness Important?

Kindness helps to build a sense of community and warmth. It makes people feel valued and loved.

Examples of Kindness

Kindness can be as simple as sharing your lunch with someone who forgot theirs or helping a friend with homework.

Impact of Kindness

Kindness can change a person’s day or even their life. It promotes happiness and positivity.

Kindness is a powerful tool that can make the world a better place. Let’s practice it every day.

Also check:

  • 10 Lines on Kindness
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250 Words Essay on Kindness

Introduction.

Kindness, a simple yet profound virtue, is the act of expressing genuine concern for the well-being of others. It is a universal language that transcends geographical borders, cultures, religions, and social strata.

The Essence of Kindness

Kindness is not merely an act, but a lifestyle – a commitment to creating a positive impact on others’ lives. It is often misconstrued as a sign of weakness when, in fact, it requires immense strength and selflessness. The act of kindness is a testament to the human capacity for empathy, compassion, and benevolence.

The Power of Kindness

Kindness holds the power to transform lives. It can alleviate suffering, instill hope, and foster unity. It has the potential to bridge the chasm between individuals, communities, and nations, fostering a sense of shared humanity. Acts of kindness, no matter how small, can start a chain reaction, influencing others to act kindly in turn.

Kindness in Practice

Practicing kindness does not necessarily entail grand gestures. It can be as simple as lending a listening ear, offering a word of encouragement, or helping someone in need. It is about recognizing the intrinsic worth of every individual and treating them with dignity and respect.

In conclusion, kindness is a powerful tool that can engender a more compassionate and harmonious society. It is a virtue that should be cultivated and practiced consistently, not only for the benefit of others but also for our personal growth and fulfillment. As the adage goes, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

500 Words Essay on Kindness

Kindness, an integral human virtue, is often overlooked in our fast-paced, self-centered world. It is a quality that signifies benevolence, consideration, and empathy towards others. It is not just an ethical principle or a moral duty, but a fundamental aspect of human interaction that bridges gaps and fosters unity.

Kindness, in essence, is an act of understanding and accepting others without judgment. It’s about recognizing the inherent worth of every individual, irrespective of their status, background, or beliefs. It is an extension of love, compassion, and respect towards others. Kindness is not merely about grand gestures; it is often reflected in the simplest of acts such as a comforting word, a helping hand, or a genuine smile.

Kindness and Society

In a society, kindness plays a pivotal role in creating an environment of mutual respect and understanding. It is the thread that weaves individuals into a cohesive social fabric. When kindness becomes a core societal value, it fosters a sense of belonging among its members, promotes positive interactions, and reduces conflicts. Acts of kindness, when multiplied, can transform a community, making it more inclusive, empathetic, and harmonious.

Kindness and Personal Growth

On a personal level, kindness contributes significantly to our mental and emotional wellbeing. It boosts our mood, reduces stress, and enhances our sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Kindness also fosters personal growth. It encourages us to step out of our comfort zones, to understand perspectives different from ours, and to develop empathy. It teaches us to be patient, to be tolerant, and to appreciate the diversity of human experience.

The Ripple Effect of Kindness

Kindness begets kindness. It has a ripple effect that extends far beyond the initial act. A single act of kindness can inspire others to do the same, creating a cycle of positive actions. This ripple effect can reach far and wide, touching countless lives and making a significant impact. The beauty of kindness is that it costs nothing but has immense value for both the giver and the receiver.

In conclusion, kindness is a powerful tool that can bring about profound change in our society and in ourselves. It is a universal language that transcends boundaries and connects hearts. By embracing kindness, we not only enrich our own lives but also contribute to a more compassionate and harmonious world. After all, as Mark Twain rightly said, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Let us strive to make kindness a way of life, not just an occasional act.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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51 Kindness Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for kindness topic ideas to write about? The concepts of kindness, generosity, and compassion are crucial nowadays.

🏆 Best Kindness Essay Examples

📌 top kindness topics to write about, 🥰 interesting kindness essay topics, 👍 controversial kindness topic ideas, 🙏 catchy kindness essay titles.

Being a debated subject in philosophy, psychology, and religion, kindness is definitely worth writing about. The topic of kindness is one of the key in the Bible. It has become especially important nowadays, in the era of intolerance and instability. In your kindness essay, you might want to focus on the importance of helping others. Another option is to consider the concept of kindness in philosophy, psychology, and religion. Whatever direction you will choose, this article will be helpful. It contains everything necessary to write an A+ paper on generosity & compassion! There are kindness essay examples, topics, and research titles.

  • Stories of Random Acts of Kindness Foundation I made a shopping list and after completing it, I went to one of the shelters to hand over the purchases to its representatives. In addition, it is important to understand that the reaction of […]
  • Acts of Kindness and Happiness in Human Life The research at hand is aimed to prove that, to boost happiness through receiving positive emotions, a person should commit more actions that can be referred to as acts of kindness.
  • “Selfless Gene” by Olivia Judson and Reasons for Altruism Once people realize that the biology and social life of another race is the same, they tend to be more understanding and kind.
  • Does True Altruism Exist? Therefore, in their experiment, Cialdini and his colleagues sought to separate the feelings of sadness from those of empathy among the subjects in order to assess the reliability of the findings of the former experiments […]
  • Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and Personal Acts of Kindness This exercise enabled me to reflect on my principles and think about the kind of impact I make in my day-to-day life.
  • Acts of Kindness in Society Initially, she wrote a report on this topic, in the preparation of which she visited the shelter and was upset to tears about how depressing the life of animals is.
  • “The Kindness of Strangers” by Ruben Martinez The USA may promote itself to be the “land of immigrants” with the Statue of Liberty as a shining reminder of what the rhetoric of residency means.
  • Altruism and social behavior This shows altruism is not only beneficial to the recipients of the meritorious deeds but also to the doers of the deeds.
  • An Anonymous Act of Kindness When speaking about the relation of altruism to psychology, it is necessary to state that altruism is considered to be the issue of social psychology.
  • The Role of Compassion While Anne Fadiman’s this book seems to be primarily related to the impact of linguistic and cultural barriers on the experiences of immigrants, Amy Tan’s essay suggests that their difficulties can be explained primarily by […]
  • Critical Response “On Compassion” She is a lawyer, a sign that her level of literacy is quite higher and she able to learn and understand, even by seeing, the situation of other people.
  • Happy People Become Happier through Kindness: A Counting Kindnesses Intervention
  • How Kindness Shapes One’s Destiny in Million Dollar Baby
  • How Patience Can Be Considered An Act Of Kindness
  • Important to Treat Patients with Kindness and Respect
  • Introspection in A Complicated Kindness and The Catcher in the Rye
  • Jacqueline Woodson’s Lovely Letter to Children About Kindness, Presence, and How Books Transform Us
  • Job’s Suffering Not Befitting His Kindness and Compassion
  • Larry and Friends: An Illustrated Ode to Immigration, Diversity, Otherness, and Kindness
  • Love, Kindness, and the Song of the Universe: The Night Jack Kerouac Kept a Young Woman from Taking Her Own Life
  • Marcus Aurelius on What His Father Taught Him About Humility, Honor, Kindness, and Integrity
  • Muslim Muslims And Muslim People With Kindness And Love Essay
  • People Can Still Show Kindness Despite all the Evil Out There Essay
  • Portrayal Of The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment On Kindness
  • Positive Interventions: Happiness Attained from Acts of Kindness and Gratitude
  • Revealing of the True Identity in Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews and Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones
  • Revisiting Kindness and Confusion in Public Goods Experiments
  • Roland: A Charming Vintage Illustrated Ode to the Imagination and the Animating Power of Kindness
  • Secular Views on the Concept of Kindness
  • Self-Indulgence or Kindness as the Keys to Happiness and a Better Life
  • Self-Scrutiny Applied with Kindness: Epictetus’s Enduring Wisdom on Happiness and How Philosophy Helps Us Answer the Soul’s Cry
  • Shakespeare: Portia’s Kindness Out Shines
  • The Disabled With The Utmost Kindness And Compassion
  • The Effect Of Kindness During The Iranian Revolution
  • The Effect Of Random Acts Of Kindness, And Social Responsibility
  • The Essence of Life: Kindness
  • The Farmer and the Clown: A Warm Wordless Story about an Unlikely Friendship and How We Ennoble Each Other with Kindness
  • The Huge Impact of the Small Acts of Kindness in Mawi Asgedom’s Memoir of Beetles
  • The Importance of Kindness and Thankfulness in The Rihla Essay
  • The Importance of Showing Kindness Through Acts
  • The Importance of the Qualities of Shredders, Adaptability and Basic Human Kindness in Mark Twain’s Novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
  • The Injustice of Reality: Social Messages in Gilman’s “Wedded Bliss” and Plath’s “Kindness”
  • The Issue Of Identity Change In The Novels “Mister Pip” By Lloyd Jones And “A Complicated Kindness” By Miriam Toews
  • The Kindness of Strangers? An Investigation into the Interaction of Funder Motivations in Online Crowdfunding Campaigns
  • The Kindness of Strangers: The Usefulness of Electronic Weak Ties for Technical Advice
  • The Lion and the Mouse who Returned a Kindness
  • Themes of a Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews
  • The Semblance of Selflessness: The Ingenuity of Kindness in As I Lay Dying
  • The Theme of Kindness in The Grapes of Wrath, a Novel by John Steinbeck
  • The Toil of Good and Evil: Multi-Faceted Kindness in The Book Thief
  • The Value Of Kindness In Bhakti According To Vyasa’s The Bhagavad Gita
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College Nut

College Essays About Kindness: Why It Matters in Admissions and Beyond

The significance of kindness in college essays.

When it comes to writing college essays, most students focus on highlighting their academic achievements and extracurricular activities. While these aspects are undoubtedly important, there’s one quality that can set an applicant apart from the rest: kindness.

Kindness can take many forms, from volunteering at a local charity to helping a classmate who’s struggling with coursework. It’s the small acts of kindness that can make a big impact on the people around us. But what makes kindness so crucial in college essays?

The Power of Empathy

College admissions officers want to see that applicants are not just capable students, but also empathetic individuals who care about the world around them. In a college essay, showcasing empathy is crucial to demonstrate that you have a broader perspective on life beyond your own achievements.

By highlighting a time when you showed kindness to someone else, you can showcase your capacity for empathy and your ability to connect with others. This quality can help you stand out in a sea of applicants who may have similarly impressive academic and extracurricular records.

The Importance of Character

Colleges aren’t just looking for students who can ace tests and earn good grades. They want individuals who will contribute positively to the campus community and beyond. In other words, character matters.

Kindness is a key component of a strong character. By showcasing your acts of kindness in your college essay, you can demonstrate that you’re the type of person who cares about others and is willing to go out of your way to help them. This quality is highly valued by college admissions officers and can help you stand out in a competitive applicant pool.

The Ability to Overcome Adversity

Another reason why kindness is important in college essays is that it can demonstrate your ability to overcome adversity. Many acts of kindness are born out of difficult situations, such as helping a friend through a tough time or volunteering to help those in need.

By showcasing how you overcame challenges and still managed to show kindness in the face of adversity, you can demonstrate your resilience and determination. This quality is highly valued by colleges, as it shows that you’re not just a high achiever, but also someone who can handle the challenges of college life.

How to Showcase Kindness in Your College Essay

Now that we’ve established why kindness is important in college essays, let’s discuss how to showcase it effectively. Here are some tips to help you highlight your acts of kindness in your essay:

Be Specific

When writing about your acts of kindness, it’s important to be specific. Don’t just say that you volunteered at a local charity – describe what you did and how it impacted the people you helped. The more specific you can be, the more impactful your essay will be.

Connect Your Experiences to Your Values

Kindness is often rooted in our personal values and beliefs. When writing about your acts of kindness, be sure to connect them to your own values and beliefs. This will help admissions officers understand what drives you and what’s important to you as a person.

Show, Don’t Tell

One of the most common mistakes that students make in their college essays is telling admissions officers what they think they want to hear. Instead, show them who you are through your actions. Show them how you embody kindness in your everyday life, rather than just telling them that you’re a kind person.

While it’s important to showcase your acts of kindness, it’s equally important to remain humble. Don’t brag about your accomplishments or make it seem like you’re trying to impress admissions officers. Instead, focus on the impact that your kindness had on others and the personal growth that you experienced as a result.

Proofread and Edit

Finally, don’t forget to proofread and edit your essay carefully. A well-written essay that showcases your acts of kindness can be undermined by careless errors and typos. Take the time to review your essay carefully and make any necessary edits to ensure that it’s polished and professional.

In conclusion, kindness is a powerful quality that can set applicants apart in their college essays. By showcasing their acts of kindness, students can demonstrate their empathy, character, and ability to overcome adversity. To effectively showcase kindness in their essays, students should be specific, connect their experiences to their values, show rather than tell, remain humble, and proofread and edit carefully. By following these tips, students can create compelling essays that highlight their unique qualities and stand out in the crowded college admissions process.

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The importance of kindness

World Kindness Day is the perfect opportunity to pause and reflect on what we mean when we talk about kindness. This small, simple word that we all know and use without thinking, carries such a weight of meaning. And yet, how often do we really stop to consider what we are really talking about when we use it? What is it? Who does it apply to? How do we know when we, or someone else, has been ‘kind’?

What is kindness?

My old 2001 Oxford Dictionary of English defines kindness as ‘the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate’. Interestingly, the ‘and’   indicates that all three of those conditions are required for kindness to be present. So, one can be friendly and yet not kind, or both generous and considerate but not kind. Perhaps it’s when we become aware of all three conditions being present that we feel for ourselves the pleasure of real kindness.

In my work as a therapist I often come across two distinct ways in which kindness manifests itself. Firstly, and perhaps most frequently, in showing kindness to others. Secondly, and much less consistently, in showing kindness to ourselves.

Why is kindness important?

When we practice kindness either to other people or towards ourselves we can experience positive mental and physical changes through lowering stress levels and increasing the body’s production of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. Being kind helps boost the immune system, reduce blood pressure and reduce stress and anxiety.

The great thing is that it isn’t difficult to be kind. As the Dalai Lama said, ‘Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible’.

How do we show kindness to others?

Showing kindness to others does not have to mean doing something big or life changing. Often it’s the smallest acts of kindness that can have the most impact. A moment of support in a time of need, a quiet word of encouragement, a helping hand to carry a heavy load, or just a smile that says ‘I see you’ can make a world of difference. Whatever the act itself, it’ll be underpinned by four principles:

Awareness – we must be aware of the opportunity to be kind. We can’t recognise the need if we are completely absorbed in our thoughts, our own world, or our on-line alter egos.

Non-judgment – we must be prepared to suspend judgment if we want to be truly kind. It’s not for us to judge the good or bad, right or wrong of another person’s situation. It’s only for us to recognise there is an opportunity for us to be kind.

Action – we must act in a friendly, generous and considerate manner to the person in front of us. Awareness without action can’t be kind.

Unconditional – being kind means offering kindness without conditions or expectation of reward. The real reward for a kindness is in the inner positivity, rather than any external reward or recognition.

Being kind to yourself

Being kind to yourself is not just a nice idea, it’s an essential form of self care and a vital foundation for sustained kindness to others. Remember those aircraft safety briefings that stress the importance of putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others? Well, kindness to yourself is a bit like that.

Often when I’m working with people, it quickly becomes apparent that they’re so strongly committed to taking care of everyone and everything around them that they’ve forgotten to take care of themselves. They’re going through life trying so hard to look after others, all the while not realising they don’t have their own oxygen mask on. Eventually they reach breaking point and end up sitting in front of me.

Here are just a few simple ways in which you can show yourself a bit of kindness today and every day.

Self-awareness

Being kind to yourself starts by building your self-awareness, listening to your internal voice with a sense of curiosity. What are you telling yourself, how often are you being negative or hard on yourself? How infrequently are you praising yourself, recognising all the things you are so good at? Consciously recognise all the positive things about yourself.

Be generous with yourself and do things just for you. Give yourself time, disconnect from technology for a few hours and get out into nature. So many people unhesitatingly give themselves to other people and yet find it very difficult to be as generous to themselves.

Avoid comparison

Beware the danger of comparisons. We live in a world of TV, advertising, social media that constantly shows us how we are not yet living the perfect life, how we don’t measure up to other people. Don’t fall into the comparison trap because this is one route to lots of negative self-talk and critique. The very opposite of kindness, in fact.

If you’re an introvert, as apparently 70% of us are, remember that after working or socialising with other people, after giving yourself to others, you’ll need quiet time alone to rest and recharge. This isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. And doing so means you are being friendly, generous, and considerate to yourself.

So, on World Kindness Day make a point of showing yourself, and those around you, some kindness. You’ll feel better for it.

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Compassion and the science of kindness: Harvard Davis Lecture 2015

Introduction.

The Francis Report 1 was unequivocal in its findings. The Mid Staffordshire Trust had allowed the following to happen:

‘ Patients were left in excrement in soiled bed clothes for lengthy periods ’ and ‘ Water was left out of reach’.

Robert Francis observed that:

‘ Staff treated patients and those close to them with what appeared to be callous indifference. ’

And, in conclusion, he wrote that:

‘ Patients must be the first priority in all of what the NHS does … (and) receive effective care from caring, compassionate and committed staff, working within a common culture. ’ 1

What went on in the Mid Staffs Trust is a chilling indictment of what happens when we lose sight of the importance of kindness when caring for our patients.

This lecture is about the importance of kindness in the consultation and in our relationships with others. It is based on a lecture given to RCGP Wales and is a brief synopsis of its content. Unfortunately, space does not permit a detailed examination of the key themes of the lecture. Interested readers are, therefore, invited to read the full text through the link at the end of this paper. In summary, my main contentions are that it is kindness which makes us human , builds resilience, and makes us better doctors and better people.

DEFINITIONS

Although we may not be sure exactly what kindness is, we can all recognise it when we see it! Indeed, it is often the case than nothing upsets us more than when someone is being deliberately unkind to us or others. How to define kindness?

Cole-King and Gilbert have defined compassion (or kindness) as being ‘ sensitivity to the distress of … others with a commitment to try and do something about it’. 2 The key point here is that, if we are to be kind, then not only do we need to be sensitive to the suffering of others, but we also need to make a constructive response in such circumstances. Kindness requires action.

Kindness, therefore, is not an ‘optional extra’ only to be deployed when we have sufficient time and energy, nor should it be instrumental in achieving another purpose such as meeting targets. Kindness should be central to our engagement with others (for example, in the consultation) because it is central to healing.

The RCGP motto is Cum Scientia Caritas — scientific knowledge applied with compassion. Caritas will be defined here as the open-heartedness or generosity of spirit demonstrated by a doctor or nurse when caring for a patient. It will be used synonymously with kindness, compassion, altruism, and generosity because space does not permit a more detailed exploration here.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

The origins of kindness lie in ‘kinship’ but over the centuries its meaning and purpose have been expressed in different ways. In the Victorian era, for example, kindness became feminised and synonymous with sentimentality. 3 The Victorian housewife became The Angel in the House 4 and men feared that too much sympathy might erode their gravitas and cloud their thinking on important matters!

Darwin, in The Descent of Man , was clear that sympathy and cooperation were innate and key to evolutionary success 5 and although Dawkins in The Selfish Gene described the ‘ gene’s law of universal ruthlessness and selfishness ’, 6 he emphasised also the crucial importance of teaching our children both generosity and altruism.

Freud described all kindness as seduction 7 and argued that it is therefore only exercised for unconscious (or conscious) ulterior motives for a specific purpose.

However, I believe that altruism remains alive and well in our society. Richard Titmuss, for example, in his classic study The Gift Relationship reported that more than 98% of blood donors give blood for someone they have never met, nor indeed are ever likely to meet. 8 The NHS itself, of course, is founded on great altruistic principles: the idea that through collective provision high-quality health care can be delivered to those who most need it, even though we will never meet those most in need of that care.

Despite all of its problems, the NHS is still loved and valued by the majority of people in this country who recognise its fundamental altruistic importance to our society.

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF KINDNESS

Ballatt and Campling in their 2011 book, Intelligent Kindness: Reforming the Culture of Healthcare , 9 summarise some of the evidence for the impact that kindness can have on our own brains. 9

For example, in altruistic individuals, increased activity in the posterior superior temporal cortex has been reported (when compared with less altruistic individuals). Individual acts of kindness release both endorphins and oxytocin, and create new neural connections. The implications for such plasticity of the brain are that altruism and kindness become self-authenticating.

In other words, kindness can become a self-reinforcing habit requiring less and less effort to exercise. Indeed, data from functional magnetic resonance (FMR) scans show that even the act of imagining compassion and kindness activates the soothing and affiliation component of the emotional regulation system of the brain. 10

There is also some evidence to link the importance of kindness with healing, and the impact of the quality of the interaction between a health professional and a patient on the placebo effect is well recognised. There are also claims of improved diagnostic accuracy associated with empathic staff — as well as an observed effect of kindness on promoting healing and reducing anxiety. In a randomised controlled trial of ‘compassionate care’ for the homeless in an emergency department, frequent attenders received either ‘usual care’ or a compassionate care ‘package’. The outcomes included fewer repeat visits and increased satisfaction with their care in the intervention group. 11

KINDNESS AND WORKLOAD

It is generally agreed that our current workload in general practice is not only unsustainable but also gradually increasing. More than 15 million of us already have long-term conditions and these account for some 70% of the NHS spend and more than 50% of all our consultations as GPs. 12

If we are to address the current workload crisis, we need to find new ways of working and the Five Year Forward View (Vanguards programme) provides us with opportunities to do this. 13 Central to the Vanguards programme is the idea of person-centred care 14 and it is my view that our most underutilised and indeed our greatest resource is the desire and willingness of our patients to contribute to their own care.

One of the key aspects of care that patients most value is that of kindness (compassion) in the consultation. However, the introduction of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and the resultant emphasis on the biomedical aspects of care have made it more difficult for us to practise ‘holistic’ care and engage with our patients in a compassionate way. For example, Carolyn Chew-Graham and colleagues showed that the use of QOF patient templates during the consultation makes holistic engagement with patients more difficult. 15

In the current workload crisis do we have time for kindness?

With the rapid increase in the numbers of people with long-term conditions and the importance of supporting self-management, I wish to argue that we cannot afford not to be kind in the consultation. Being kind is what to do when ‘working harder isn’t working’. 16 It may sound counterintuitive but, actually, taking the time to be kind by engaging our patients more fully in their own care, can reduce our workload and increase our resilience. This is because our individual acts of kindness will be reciprocated by our patients, strengthening our relationship with them and improving our own wellbeing.

I believe that kindness is good for us as well as our patients, and, furthermore, kindness builds our resilience.

KINDNESS: A VIRTUOUS CYCLE

If kindness is such an important component of care, can it be taught? Gilbert has described some of the attributes and skills for compassion that are necessary for the provision of compassionate care. 17 The necessary attributes include sympathy, distress tolerance, empathy, and non-judgement, coupled with a sensitivity and care for wellbeing. Such attributes are necessary for engagement of others, and, once engaged with others, the skills of imagery, reasoning, and attention are all required.

Kindness cannot be faked — most of us will be familiar with the insincerity of the brief professional ‘half-smile’ of overworked air cabin crew, and how such insincerity undermines the trust necessary for ‘real’ kindness to be both expressed and meaningful to our patients. However, although we can identify some of the skills and attributes necessary for the expression of kindness, it is attitudinal change that is a prerequisite for the expression of kindness in the consultation; in other words, despite the efforts of some NHS management, kindness cannot be mandated.

Ballatt and Campling describe a virtuous cycle of kindness whereby kindness directs attentiveness , which in turn enables attunement , which builds trust between ourselves and our patients. 9 This trust generates a therapeutic alliance that produces better outcomes for patients. As it turns, this virtuous cycle can reduce anxiety and defensiveness, and reinforce the conditions for kindness to take place. Such cycles not only can improve the care of our patients but they also can reduce our own stress and improve our morale in the face of overwhelming demand. These virtuous cycles are the polar opposite of the ‘downward spiral’ that can arise from ‘burnout’ and overwork, in turn leading to poor morale and loss of confidence and belief in what we are doing.

Why is kindness important?

‘ Kindness (compassion) is a gift freely given by one person to another in the health service — just like anywhere else. ’ 18

Chadwick’s definition above is a good one — it gives us a pragmatic definition to underpin our care of patients. In addition, thinking of kindness as a ‘gift freely given’ often chimes with our original motivation to become doctors — that is, the desire to help and look after others. And most of us would agree that ‘ kindness encourages a feeling of aliveness and creates the kind of intimacy and involvement with other people that deep down we crave’. 3

Kindness is important for both ourselves and our patients. The Schwartz Centre for Compassionate Healthcare in Boston is named after Kenneth Schwartz, who was a healthcare lawyer with a young family who died at the age of 40 from lung cancer. He described the ordeal of his treatment as being ‘ punctuated by moments of exquisite compassion ’ and how the ‘ simple human touch from his care givers made the unbearable bearable’. 19

I believe this should resonate for all of us whether we are the recipient of acts of kindness or the person offering this gift to others. I leave you with the words of Hippocrates who knew full well the importance of kindness (comfort) when caring for our patients. He famously said that as doctors we should:

‘ Cure sometimes, treat often, and comfort always. ’

Freely submitted; externally peer reviewed.

Competing interests

The author has declared no competing interests.

This is an abridged version of the Harvard Davis Lecture delivered to RCGP Wales in Llandudno on 12 November 2015. The full text can be accessed at http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine/research/aupmc .

Shoba Sreenivasan, Ph.D., and Linda E. Weinberger, Ph.D.

Why Random Acts of Kindness Matter to Your Well-being

Being kind can have an impact on your psychological and physical health..

Posted November 16, 2017 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma

Mother Teresa once said, “We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.”

Small acts of kindness resonate in all our lives. For example:

  • Letting someone cut in front of you in a traffic jam.
  • Stopping to talk with an elderly neighbor, even though you are in a rush.
  • Lending a helping hand to a co-worker who’s behind on their project, even though this means that you will have to stay late at work.
  • Giving a gift certificate for a dinner out to a couple who you know are facing hard times.

Kindness means a behavioral response of compassion and actions that are selfless; or a mindset that places compassion for others before one’s own interests. In performing the selfless act, a person may undercut their own selfish interests.

Kindness is a value that is often disregarded. Why is kindness so undervalued? In part, it’s because kind people may be viewed as “enablers” by some, or worse, as “suckers” by the cynical. Thus, the cynic’s view that one is a “sucker,” if one behaves in a kind manner toward others, reflects a belief system that success is only achieved through stepping on or ignoring others. Yet, the cynic’s behavior rarely results in true happiness —that sense of feeling loved, that one’s true destiny and purpose are fulfilled, and that what one is doing matters in the most profound sense.

In fact, kindness is linked inextricably to happiness and contentment—at both psychological and spiritual levels. Over a decade ago, in a study of Japanese undergraduates, researcher Otake and colleagues, found that happy people were kinder than people who were not happy. Their study also revealed and that one’s sense of happiness increased by the simple act of counting the number of one’s acts of kindness. Counting one’s acts of kindness also led happy people to become more kind and grateful.

Why do random acts of kindness increase a person’s sense of happiness? Because kindness can promote gratitude . You are kind to others in need; having that awareness then heightens the sense of your own good fortune. Kindness promotes empathy and compassion; which in turn, leads to a sense of interconnectedness with others. Kindness can forward the will to live in depressed individuals who feel isolated and different; that is why performing volunteer work is so powerful. When you feel connected with others, you lessen alienation and you enhance the sense that we are more similar than dissimilar in our experiences. Feeling connected melds us together rather than divides us. Kindness is potent in strengthening a sense of community and belonging.

Researcher, Barbara Fredrickson, had an interesting viewpoint—that kindness, specifically loving-kindness, moved one out of the selfish realm. Stated differently, it took one off the hedonic treadmill . Compassion and kindness also reduce stress , boost our immune systems, and help reduce negative emotions such as anger , anxiety , and depression .

When we practice random acts of kindness,

  • It releases positivity: We feel better and the recipients of our acts feel better, which then makes them more likely to be kind to other people.
  • It can release neurochemicals that result in a sense of well-being, the “helper’s high,” as Allan Luks and Peggy Payne describe the healing power of doing good. In fact, the neural circuits that are involved in chemical “highs” are the same ones activated by kindness and compassion.
  • It can reduce pain. Dopamine , serotonin, and endogenous opioids are released by kind behavior.
  • It enhances the release of oxytocin in interactions where two or more people are engaged in kindness behavior. In turn, bonds between those who are kind to one another are strengthened.
  • It enhances both physical and mental health. Many physical ailments are either precipitated by or aggravated by stress. Kindness reduces stress.

Kindness is a habit of giving—of wanting to lift burdens from others or to merely provide a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. It humanizes us; it lifts us spiritually. And it is good for us.

Interestingly, the simple witnessing of others being kind can release the same “feel good” chemicals that engaging in an act of kindness can produce. However, one can yield a greater benefit by being the performer of acts of kindness. Look for opportunities to be kind and count your acts of kindness. You will experience the rewards almost immediately. One act of small kindness can release an enormous chain of positive events. The miracle of kindness is that it is contagious and something we should all want to pass on and spread to many others.

Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95 , 1045–1062. DOI: 10.1037/a0013262

Hamilton, D. R. (2010). Why Kindness is Good for You. United Kingdom: Hay House.

Luks, A., & Payne, P. (2001). The Healing Power of Doing Good. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.com, Inc.

Kerr, S. L., O’Donovan, A., & Pepping, C. A. (2015). Can gratitude and kindness interventions enhance well-being in a clinical sample? Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 17-36. DOI: 10.1007/s10902-013-9492-1

Otake, K., Shimai, S., Tanaka-Matsumi, J., Otsui, K., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2006). Happy people become happier through kindness: A counting kindnesses intervention. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7, 361-375. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-005-3650-z

Shoba Sreenivasan, Ph.D., and Linda E. Weinberger, Ph.D.

Shoba Sreenivasan, Ph.D., and Linda E. Weinberger, Ph.D. , are psychology professors at the Keck School of Medicine at USC.

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Importance of Kindness in Our World

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why is kindness important essay

Open Education Online

10 Reasons Why Kindness Is Important

Kindness and “niceness” are often considered interchangeable, but kindness goes deeper. Its layers include generosity, compassion, and empathy. When challenged by an often-cruel world, kindness also takes significant effort and emotional strength. It’s a choice that can take many forms. Why is it important? Here are ten reasons:

#1 Kindness is associated with well-being

Researchers have studied kindness and its effects for many years. Studies consistently show that kindness is linked to better health and an increased sense of well-being. In 2020, research in Psychological Bulletin examined 201 studies of behaviors driven by things like trust, cooperation, and compassion. They found a “small and significant” connection to better physical and mental health. Interestingly, there were more well-being benefits linked to “informal helping” or spontaneous acts of kindness.

#2 Kindness lowers your stress

When we talk about stress, we have to talk about cortisol. This is known as the “stress hormone” In truly stressful situations, it’s necessary. It prepares our bodies for survival in the form of flight or fight. However, when we find ourselves in consistently stressful situations and can’t leave, that stress hormone has negative effects. Kindness has been shown to help reduce levels of cortisol and return our bodies to a more balanced, relaxed state.

#3 Kindness boosts self-esteem

When people exhibit kindness towards others, there’s a bounce-back effect. It’s often called “the helper’s high.” Being kind to people floods you with positive, happy feelings about yourself. This increases your self-esteem, which is an important part of remaining optimistic and productive in your life. Studies show that kindness towards strangers has a bigger effect on self-esteem than kindness towards friends and family.

#4 Kindness boosts productivity

Speaking of being productive, work environments where kindness is a priority get more work done! This goes against the common idea that people need “tough love” to achieve success. Too often, “tough love” is just code for a toxic, domineering environment. In one study that analyzed over 3,500 businesses and 50,000 individuals, behaviors like giving praise were linked to better productivity and lower turnover. Considering how kindness improves a person’s well-being, it makes sense that it would have positive impacts on a work environment.

#5 Kindness creates better leaders

You don’t have to look far to find research supporting kindness and empathy as essential traits for a good leader. Good leaders have strong social connections and a good understanding of peoples’ emotions. They also know how important it is to treat people with dignity and respect. In turn, people trust and respect them and will remain loyal.

#6 Kindness helps kids do better in school

Just like kindness improves a work environment, kindness also has positive effects on schools . When the adults in a school encourage traits like empathy and generosity, it can combat the presence of bullying. Kids also feel safer, more confident , and better equipped to form important social connections.

#7 Kindness sets kids up for a good future

What happens to kids in their younger years has a huge effect on their futures. When kids grow up in environments where kindness is common, they’re more likely to avoid problems like drug use and prison time later in life. When kids show kindness, they enjoy many benefits, such as reduced aggression and fewer anti-social behaviors. Research shows that if a kid focuses their kindness mostly on friends, they don’t see as much positive impact than when they’re more helpful to family and strangers.

Note: Factors like family income still remain an essential predictor of a kid’s future.

#8 Kindness is good for romantic relationships

When couples show empathy, compassion , and generosity towards each other, they are significantly more likely to stay together (and stay happy) than if kindness isn’t present. Along with emotional stability, kindness is the most significant predictor of happiness within a marriage. For struggling couples, prioritizing acts of kindness and identifying how to make a partner feel loved and understood can strengthen communication and feelings of connection.

#9 Kindness towards self is essential to a good life

Kindness towards self (often known as self-compassion) is as important as kindness towards others. Studies show that people who engage in negative self-talk and who are overly critical towards themselves are more vulnerable to depression and anxiety. This comes back to the belief that “tough love” gets good results, but really, it’s kindness and compassion that do that. When people practice self-compassion, they enjoy fewer anxiety and depression symptoms .

#10 Kindness is contagious

Lastly, kindness is important because it’s contagious. When a person engages in pro-social behaviors, the people who benefit from them are likely to turn around and “pay it forward.” This creates a ripple effect where it becomes more and more common to show kindness. It’s essentially a positive form of peer pressure. That “helper’s high” also encourages humans to keep being kind. When something feels good, humans want to repeat the behavior.

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Student ‘How To’ Contest Winner

How to Be a Kid Forever

A winning essay by Raniya Chowdhury, age 17.

photo illustration of a wooden ring stacking toy; the rings are primary colors; a shadow of an adult's face and tiny butterfly extends from the right hand side of the toy

By The Learning Network

This essay, by Raniya Chowdhury, 17, of Mississauga, Ontario, is one of the Top 11 winners of The Learning Network’s new “How To” Informational Writing Contest for Teenagers .

We are publishing the work of all the winners over the next several days, and you can find them here as they post.

“The best part of being a kid is getting candy when you’re sad,” says eight-year-old Lolia Almasri, who is a Mickey Mouse-loving third grader living in the sleepy suburbs of southern Ontario, and a leading expert on all things kid-related. For many teenagers like myself who dance on the cusp of “adulthood” — in the legal sense, anyway — grappling with growing up has felt like an impending apocalypse of responsibilities. To those counting down the doomsday clock of turning 18, you might be hoping to hold onto the feeling of youth and postpone the inevitable. Or maybe you’ve already been a grown-up for some time and long to reclaim that balmy, magical, wide-eyed wonder of childhood.

Well, according to Lolia, it’s not hard to keep being a kid, as it revolves around the core tenets of remembering the value of kindness and having fun. Empathy is the bedrock of her ethos and she expresses its importance through a personal anecdote: “When my friend needed scissors, I gave him mine and got another one.” The economy of kids is barter-based (e.g. if you give me your Pokémon card, I’ll give you my strawberry-scented eraser). Their transactions are exchanges of happiness, so a good place for you to start is by sharing things with others, even though that grows difficult with age.

Once you’ve mastered this, it’s time for the fun part. “Kids have to behave nice and also play,” Lolia says, which is a facet of childhood that I wonder why we ever let go of. A return to playing outdoors is imperative. Suspend your disbelief. Instead, make-believe! Don your light-up sneakers and search the woods for fairies, play hopscotch in the backyard, kick a ball around — allow yourself to sincerely enjoy it, the little things.

But, truly, what strikes me most about Lolia’s philosophy on living life like you’re in Neverland is her final step: a gentle reminder that “even if you’re a grown-up, if you’re scared at night you can still snuggle your parents.” After all, in Lolia’s world, there is no reality in which there won’t be someone to console her after a nightmare. To her, unicorns and dragons exist, and so does love, always. Ultimately, the best advice Lolia gives on being a kid forever is to have faith that you aren’t alone in life and to turn to someone when you’re afraid of the dark.

Good Leadership Is an Act of Kindness

"Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind." —Henry James

As a professor of business administration in the Organizational Behavior Unit at the Harvard Business School, I teach courses in leadership in the MBA and Executive Education programs. With the COVID-19 pandemic transforming our lives at every level, a growing number of students and former students have sought my advice about how to lead in a time of great uncertainty and unprecedented employee stress.

The stories these executives tell attest to the fact that these are the most difficult times in memory for many, if not most people. Parents struggle to balance the demands of remote work and homeschooling. Employees who live alone strain to stay focused while isolated from loved ones and traditional social supports. In between Zoom meetings, caretakers exhaust themselves attending to a special needs child or ailing parent. Everyone frets over their physical and financial well-being. Who among us isn't anxious, stressed out, and off our game right now?

From bolstering remote collaboration to scheduling meetings upon meetings, the business press and bloggers are buzzing with guidance about ways to sustain employee engagement and productivity in the chaos of a pandemic. Unfortunately, most Management 101 advice does not recognize that in times like these, the manager's toolkit must expand in ways we haven’t seen before.

I believe that a powerful, fundamental leadership strategy is being largely overlooked. It is, in fact, the most innately human one: Be kind.

LEADING IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY

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  • What Leaders Can Do to Fight the COVID Fog
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  • The COVID Two-Step for Leaders: Protect and Pivot
  • Keep Your Weary Workers Engaged and Motivated

According to a recent Gallup survey , less than half of employees (45 percent) feel strongly that their employer cares about their well-being. Many realize that this needs to change. Practicing active, habitual kindness can transform the remote workplace and it can start today. A little reassurance, compassionate listening, a conscious effort to validate people's fear and confusion all go a long way.

Employees and managers alike face unprecedented obstacles every day. In March and early April, as COVID-19 spread worldwide, a study by Mind Share Partners in partnership with Qualtrics and SAP found that 42 percent of respondents said their mental health had declined since the outbreak. Six months later, people's anxiety, confusion, and despair are topics of near-daily reports in the news and on social media. Even if gestures of kindness and compassion were not woven into business as usual before the pandemic, they are essential now and going forward.

Unfortunately, the notion of kindness in the form of the simplest words and gestures often gets lost when CEOs and managers are in perpetual crisis management mode, struggling with layoffs, remote work technology, market woes, and a range of other frustrating disruptions.

While confronting these challenges requires time and unique skill sets, kindness does not. The value and rewards of kindness have been touted by leaders as legendary as King Solomon and Desmond Tutu to latter-day executives like General Motors CEO Mary Barra, known for her inclusive, employee-centric style.

Kindness is teachable. Ritchie Davidson of the University of Wisconsin has compared practicing kindness and compassion to weight training : "People can actually build up their compassion 'muscle' and respond to others' suffering with care and a desire to help," he said. Great leaders attest that it is not a sign of weakness or relinquishing authority to be consistently kind and to offer encouragement and show genuine interest in employees' mental well-being in punishing times. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, at once forceful and compassionate, remarked that one of the criticisms she's faced over the years is that "I'm not aggressive enough or assertive enough, or maybe somehow, because I'm empathetic, it means I'm weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong."

We've seen how stress can alter behavior. It's jarring for managers to see normally calm, high-functioning employees show signs of confusion and burnout. Teams are failing to meet deadlines and executives tell me they see an increase in petty conflicts and a parallel pandemic of short tempers, exposed nerves, and increased sensitivity to perceived slights.

It's important to remember that kindness is contagious as well as calming. And it is healing: the Mayo Clinic urges us to "intentionally set a goal to be kinder to others . Express sincerely felt kindness to a co-worker." Science has confirmed what we observe in our daily interactions. According to the Mayo Clinic, acts of kindness activate the part of our brain that makes us feel pleasure and “releases a hormone called oxytocin that helps modulate social interactions and emotion. Being kind is good for our own and our employees' mental health." And that translates to improved morale and performance.

Here's what Psychology Today had to say about kind bosses: "They have been shown to increase morale, decrease absenteeism and retain employees longer. Kind bosses may even prolong the lives of their employees by decreasing their stress levels which improves cardiovascular health."

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." —Philo of Alexandria

The pandemic is not a time for a stern, iron-fisted approach to leadership and management. The virus's vast fallout demands a kinder, gentler approach. What can CEOs and managers do to infuse their leadership with kindness and empathy? Here are straightforward, effective ways to practice kindness as a matter of course:

"I hear you." Really listen. Be fully present and don't judge. Encourage employees' questions and concerns. Listen actively—no side glances at the phone. "When someone shares that they're struggling, you won't always know what to say or do," write Kelly Greenwood and Natasha Krol in Harvard Business Review . "What's most important is to make space to hear how your team members are truly doing and to be compassionate. They may not want to share much detail, which is completely fine. Knowing that they can is what matters."

""Are you okay?" Show a willingness to provide comfort and monitor for signs of distress such as social withdrawal and poor performance. Know when to refer an employee to professionals, suggest Lesley Hammer and Lindsey Alley in The Conversation .

""What can we do to help?" It may be as simple as validating an employee's personal challenges during the pandemic. But being kind might also involve taking an active role in offering mental health resources or creating a virtual support group or sounding board.

""How are you managing these days?" According to the MIT Sloan Management Review , “some companies are creating deeper insights into the specific situations their workforces face by surveying home workers.” What they’ve found is that being single and working under quarantine alone carries a very different set of stresses than being a member of a working family with young children. For employees experiencing the pangs of social isolation, one company launched daily virtual coffee breaks. For those working while caring for children, leaders must be sensitive to issues of exhaustion and the difficulty of working during pre-pandemic office hours. "Leadership signaling that working unorthodox hours is okay could make a real difference to their stress levels," according to the article.

""I'm here for you." Let your employees know routinely that you are there for them when they need to share concerns or simply require a sympathetic, nonjudgmental ear. Consider making yourself available at times outside work hours; these are not normal times.

""I know you're doing the best you can." This statement is, with few exceptions, true. In scores of first-person accounts and on social media, people are reporting they are working harder than they did pre-COVID. This makes perfect sense; as layoffs and furloughs skyrocket, employees live in fear of losing their jobs. In times of crisis, bosses must alter their expectations. As Bryce Covert wrote in a New York Times op-ed , "Keeping output steady while maintaining our physical and mental health just cannot be done. We have to work less, and employers have to get on board." Public schools are closed in a majority of states, most child care services have ceased operations, and a majority of couples with school-age children both have jobs. "These working parents are logging on after the kids are asleep and answering emails before they wake. Bosses must acknowledge how incredibly hard this has been." But as Covert noted, "far too often, employers are acting as if little has changed. Their employees are responding to their expectations by working themselves even harder. Enough."

""Thank you." Say it with sincerity and say it often.

Along with empathy and emotional intelligence, kindness is one of the most essential soft skills for good leadership. But in these times, it might be the most crucial one. To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, kindness is an investment that never fails.

About the authors

Boris Groysberg is the Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. Susan Seligson, an independent researcher, contributed to this article.

Are your managers demonstrating and modeling kindness with team members?

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Essay On Kindness – 10 Lines, Short And Long Essay For Children

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Key Points To Note: Essay On Kindness For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on kindness for kids, a paragraph on kindness, short essay on ‘importance of kindness’ in english for children, long essay on kindness for kids, what will your child learn from the kindness essay.

Children should possess the virtue of kindness from an early age. Therefore, an essay on kindness in English for classes 1, 2 & 3 is prominent in their coursework. Parents and teachers strive to teach young kids the value of being kind in numerous ways. Kind kids are polite, considerate, compassionate, generous, and loved by all. They make people around them happy through their actions, thoughts, and words. Kind people are admired and appreciated by everyone around them. However, not all kids have this virtue in-built in them. For most, it needs to be taught and shown for understanding. So, an essay on kindness is the best way to teach kids the importance of this great asset of life.

Lower primary kids may wonder how to write an essay on kindness. Here are some key points they can remember when writing an essay on kindness to help them:

  • Explain what kindness is.
  • Write why it is important to be kind.
  • Write a few points on how to be kind.
  • Briefly conclude with why everyone should be kind.

Essay writing on subjects like kindness enhances the understanding of the topic and teaches sentence structure formation to kids. Here are a few lines on kindness for kids. This will be helpful for class 1 and 2 kids to write an essay on kindness:

  • Kindness is an admirable virtue.
  • To be kind, we must be good to people around us.
  • Very few people have this quality, but it can be attained with the right guidance.
  • Kind people are caring, polite, and generous.
  • They always help other people with their problems.
  • Kind people offer support and are always there for each other.
  • Not only to just other people, but we should also be kind to animals.
  • Kind people never hurt anyone.
  • To be kind, one needs to be caring and good at heart.
  • Kindness motivates people and makes them happy.

The virtue of kindness can be best taught through an essay to young kids. Writing short paragraphs will also help them in short sentence construction. Here is a short paragraph on kindness for their reference:

Kind people are always thought of as good people. Being kind means a person is caring, polite, and good to people around them. Many people in this world lack this virtue and want to hurt each other. Kindness should be the first base of character building in any person. Kind people don’t hurt others. They understand and value each other’s feelings and emotions. Providing support and helping people in their troubles are some highlights of kind people. One needs to be caring, supportive, compassionate, and helpful to be kind. Kindness makes people happy and the world a better place. Everyone admires compassionate and kind people.

Essay On Kindness - 10 Lines, Short and Long Essay For Children

Writing a kindness essay for classes 1, 2 and 3 students is a great way to teach them about being kind. Here is a short essay on the importance of kindness for children:

Kindness, in simple words, means to be good and compassionate to people around us. We can be kind by speaking politely, being supportive, helping people, and motivating them. Kind words or actions are enough to make someone happy. When someone goes through a problem, just words of kindness can make them hopeful. No big gesture is required. Kind deeds not only help others but also make us happy. When we help others, care for them or be good to them, we too feel happy. We also feel nice when others talk to us politely or care for us. To be human is to be kind. However, kind people are rare. However, the world is full of bad people and bad things. To make the world a better place, we all need to care about other people, animals, and nature.

Students of class 3 can be asked to write a long essay on various topics as it helps them broaden their thought process and long sentence construction ability. Here is a long essay on kindness for class 3 students, and this will explain to them the meaning and the importance of being kind.

We are taught from childhood to be good to others. Our parents and teachers all talk about how good things happen to good people. They tell us everyone loves a good person, and they also emphasise that the most important quality of a good person is kindness. Kindness is the basic characteristic of being human. Let us understand in detail what kindness is and its importance in our lives.

What Is Kindness?

Kindness can be simply described as being caring, compassionate, polite, and thoughtful. Being kind means having love, concern, tenderness, and respect for others. Kind people support other when they have a problem and don’t hurt anyone, whether a person, animal, or plant. Kindness means being a good person who respects and cares for everyone.

Importance Of Kindness

Kindness is an important virtue. To be a good human, we have to be a kind person first. One cannot be a good person without being kind. Kindness is important to make this world and our society better. Even for our growth, kindness is important. We help each other because we care for each other. It is our kindness that makes us compassionate towards our family, friends, and strangers too. Being kind is important to nurture our environment too. We can care for nature and animals only when we are kind. In this fast-paced world, most people only think about their well-being. That makes them selfish or bad towards others. Therefore, kindness is crucial to ensure the world retains its humanity. When we do a kind deed for someone, say some encouraging words or care for them, they feel good. Then when they see someone in trouble, they do the same for them. Thus, a chain of good deeds is formed. This brings a positive change to people and the world. So, kindness is important to make the world a better place for us and our coming generations.

How Can You Be Kind To Others?

We all are kind to our families as we love them. But for others, we find it difficult to be kind. To be kind to others, we don’t have to do much. We just need to be genuinely good to them. Kindness doesn’t require us to spend money on others. We just need to be caring, polite, and compassionate. Saying a few encouraging words, caring for them in trouble, helping them, and not hurting others are essential traits of a kind person.

Kindness is a fundamental quality that maintains the balance in the world and makes it a beautiful place to live.

Children learn things better when they are involved in them. So, to teach kindness and its importance to kids, reading and writing essays is a great method. When they read or write essays on kindness, they understand what kindness is and what is needed to be kind. Kids learn the value of being empathetic and polite to be good humans. This exercise will also help kids’ behavioural development and make them understand the importance of having good conduct in society. Kindness is not just being good to our near ones but also towards plants and animals. Kids learn to be polite, caring, and respectful towards everyone through the kindness essay.

Some FAQs on kindness:

What’s The Difference Between Kind And Nice?

Kids often get confused between being kind and nice. Being kind means being caring, polite, respectful, and compassionate. Whereas being nice means one is polite in their speaking or is pleasing. They may or may not be caring and compassionate.

Kids should be taught to be kind from their early years. Essays on kindness are a great way to teach them the significance of being kind.

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COMMENTS

  1. Essay On Kindness in English for Students

    Kindness must be an essential and universal quality to make the world a better place. Through an essay on kindness, we will go through it in detail. Importance of Kindness. Kindness towards nature, animals and other people has the ability to transform the world and make it a beautiful place for living. But, it is also important to remember that ...

  2. Why Kindness Matters: The Importance of Being Kind

    Kindness makes us feel good about ourselves. Kindness helps to foster a sense of belonging and purpose. When we are kind, it reinforces our self-worth and importance and boosts our self-esteem. It reminds us that we have the power to make a positive impact in the lives of others, even if it's in a small way.

  3. Why Kindness Matters

    Kindness has the power to boost satisfaction, happiness, and physical and mental well-being. Each of us has the capacity to show up kindly and make a difference in the world of another. Kindness ...

  4. The heart and science of kindness

    The heart and science of kindness. Kindness (noun): the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate; a kind act. Ombudspeople like myself have a unique view of the institutions they serve. Some of us fondly refer to it as the "view from the underbelly" of our organizations. The urgent calls we get aren't to share a recent act of kindness.

  5. Kindness and Its Benefits

    3. Kindness makes you more attractive. Kind individuals may even be considered better-looking. In other words, being a kind person could make people perceive you as more attractive. We are ...

  6. Why Is Kindness Important? (13 Reasons)

    Kindness has a remarkable effect on reducing our own anxiety and stress, creating a calming influence that's hard to overstate. Just imagine the act of volunteering. While you're focused on helping others, your own worries and stressors can seem to melt away, even if just for a little while.

  7. Essay on Importance of Kindness

    Kindness acts as a social glue that fosters community cohesion. It promotes a sense of belonging and mutual respect, which are vital for harmonious coexistence. In a diverse college setting, kindness can bridge cultural and social gaps, fostering inclusivity and understanding. This is particularly important in our globalized world, where ...

  8. Kindness and Compassion for Students

    Research has shown that compassion and kindness are deeply rooted in human nature-our first impulse is to cooperate rather than compete. Even toddlers spontaneously help people in need out of genuine concern for their welfare. This innate kindness, however, often gets lost in a society built on competition. Schools have a golden opportunity ...

  9. The Importance of Compassion and Kindness in Today's World

    We can have compassion for, and act in kindness to, ourselves and others, and respond in kindness. In doing so, we remind people who are in pain, darkness, low self-esteem, and ignorance that they ...

  10. Essay on Kindness: Samples in 100, 150 and 200 Words

    Essay on Kindness in 200 Words. Kindness is one of the most important qualities which people should have. This is very important to create a more compassionate and harmonious world. The simple act of being considerate towards others and not expecting anything in return is kindness. The word 'kindness' can be expressed in many different ways.

  11. Essay on Kindness

    Kindness, in essence, is an act of understanding and accepting others without judgment. It's about recognizing the inherent worth of every individual, irrespective of their status, background, or beliefs. It is an extension of love, compassion, and respect towards others. Kindness is not merely about grand gestures; it is often reflected in ...

  12. 51 Kindness Essay Topics & Examples

    The concepts of kindness, generosity, and compassion are crucial nowadays. Being a debated subject in philosophy, psychology, and religion, kindness is definitely worth writing about. The topic of kindness is one of the key in the Bible. It has become especially important nowadays, in the era of intolerance and instability.

  13. College Essays About Kindness: Why It Matters in Admissions and Beyond

    The Ability to Overcome Adversity. Another reason why kindness is important in college essays is that it can demonstrate your ability to overcome adversity. Many acts of kindness are born out of difficult situations, such as helping a friend through a tough time or volunteering to help those in need. By showcasing how you overcame challenges ...

  14. The importance of kindness

    Why is kindness important? When we practice kindness either to other people or towards ourselves we can experience positive mental and physical changes through lowering stress levels and increasing the body's production of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. Being kind helps boost the immune system, reduce blood ...

  15. Essay on Kindness for Students and Children in English

    Long Essay on Kindness 500 words in English. Kindness essay will be helpful to students of classes 7, 8, 9 and 10. Kindness can be described as the value of being polite, compassionate, and thoughtful. Unconditional love, tenderness, comfort, concern, and support are words associated with kindness. Although kindness has an undertone that ...

  16. Compassion and the science of kindness: Harvard Davis Lecture 2015

    The RCGP motto is — scientific knowledge applied with compassion. will be defined here as the open-heartedness or generosity of spirit demonstrated by a doctor or nurse when caring for a patient. It will be used synonymously with kindness, compassion, altruism, and generosity because space does not permit a more detailed exploration here.

  17. Kindness Essay

    Kindness Essay. Kindness essay is a reflection on the idea of kindness, which is an act of selflessness. Because kindness doesn't come with the expectation of receiving anything in return, it is a great way to show your appreciation for what you have received in life. Kindness is always an excellent choice to make in any situation.

  18. Why Random Acts of Kindness Matter to Your Well-being

    It can release neurochemicals that result in a sense of well-being, the "helper's high," as Allan Luks and Peggy Payne describe the healing power of doing good. In fact, the neural circuits ...

  19. Acts of Kindness: Importance of Being Kind

    These acts of kindness are not only about being polite, but also encompass supporting others, aiding in boosting their self-confidence, being present during times of need, offering emotional support, and providing encouragement and motivation. When one consistently engages in acts of kindness, it becomes effortless to utter positive words and ...

  20. Importance of Kindness in Our World

    Kindness is a quality which comprises many things like warmth, smile, giving, concern, empathy etc.it is what makes human beings humane. At dark times, kindness is like a light shown for you and that light makes the bleaker things brighter. Many people think being kind means being weak. That is not the case.

  21. 10 Reasons Why Kindness Is Important

    Lastly, kindness is important because it's contagious. When a person engages in pro-social behaviors, the people who benefit from them are likely to turn around and "pay it forward.". This creates a ripple effect where it becomes more and more common to show kindness. It's essentially a positive form of peer pressure.

  22. How to Be a Kid Forever

    After all, in Lolia's world, there is no reality in which there won't be someone to console her after a nightmare. To her, unicorns and dragons exist, and so does love, always. Ultimately, the ...

  23. Good Leadership Is an Act of Kindness

    Enough." ""Thank you." Say it with sincerity and say it often. Along with empathy and emotional intelligence, kindness is one of the most essential soft skills for good leadership. But in these times, it might be the most crucial one. To paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, kindness is an investment that never fails.

  24. Essay On Kindness

    Here is a short essay on the importance of kindness for children: Kindness, in simple words, means to be good and compassionate to people around us. We can be kind by speaking politely, being supportive, helping people, and motivating them. Kind words or actions are enough to make someone happy.