#stayinsane series: Kindness is Kind

Day #343250482 of staying indoors. Gotcha! Just curious, what did the title read? Stay insane or stayin' sane? :) Things are what you make of them, including this opportunity to navigate through such unprecedented time as this.

⯅ Live footage of Malaysians right about now.

Undeniably, there is a whole lot of fear and pressure going around globally right now. It's understandable that you're feeling jittery and restless; perhaps even frustrated. It has been approximately a week since being cooped up at home. No random mall hangouts, no late night mamak sessions, no random McD drive-thru days either. :cry

⯅ Oh my lord! No McD drive-thru?! (I miss my ayam goreng mcd)

⯅ Aiyooooo, what on Earth do we do with all this extra time?!

There there, yes we know it is difficult, but we'll get through this. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through Instagram alone in your bedroom or getting frustrated with Whatsapp chain messages for the next three weeks, here is our first #happytip on making life more meaningful - making the best of what we have!

THE ANSWER TO YOUR MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION:

Yeah, yeah, at this point, you must be wondering: how on earth does kindness help me in this miserable state that I'm in? Stop wasting my time, happywords! :eyeroll

Kindness is kind (to you too!)

Humans are biologically designed to be kind - did you know that? And kindness is a muscle! The more you work it, the more it works for you :) Here's a list of great reasons why you should practice kindness today:

1. Recipients of kindness can feel loved.

2. Both recipient and giver can feel the benefits of an increase in oxytocin, which helps to lower blood pressure, increase self-esteem and optimism. Oxytocin ("cardioprotective" hormone) protects your heart!

3. Kindness can increase the feeling of strength and energy due to helping others.

4. Kindness can also make one feel calmer.

5. Increased feelings of self-worth.

6. Kindness is most similar to a medical anti-depressant. Kindness pushes your body to produce serotonin (the “feel-good” chemical) that provides healing and calming feelings. 

7. Kindness decreases pain, by generating endorphins (the brain’s natural painkiller).

8. 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the average population. 

9. University of British Columbia did a study on a group of highly anxious individuals in which they performed at least 6 acts of kindness a week. After one month, there was a significant increase in positive moods, relationship satisfaction and a decrease in social avoidance in socially anxious individuals. 

10. Depression is reduced, mortality is delayed, and well-being and good fortune are improved when we give of ourselves.

Sources: Cassidy & Shaver, 2008; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007; Keltner & Haidt, 2003; https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/the-science-of-kindness; Christine Carter, UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science Center; Stephen Post, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

⯅ Oh my gooshness, ARE YOU FREAKIN' SERIOUS?!

Kindness is the best antidote to administer in such a global crisis where the everyone is scattered, and the BEST part is: we're all part of the solution! In our next article, we'll look at some practical ways to be kind to ourselves and towards others!

⯅ We have some interesting things up our sleeves, so stay tuned!

Let's create a ripple effect of kindness.

In the famous words of Ellen DeGeneres: Be kind to one another!

All ways, always xo

♡,

happywords.co