In seemingly continuous moments of war, political unrest and conflicting perspectives, kindness might seem like a reliable antidote. Kindness increases our body’s levels of dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin—our “feel good” hormones—which is to say, can be pleasantly contagious.
Sharing and spreading kindness, along with receiving, can lead to positive mental and physical changes due to decreased levels of stress. And even among all of this, optimistic claims such as “kindness can make the world a happier place for everyone” and “being good to others can be good for you,” furthermore hands a silver platter of hors d’oeuvres to every person on this planet.
The ideology of a simple act of kindness can be seen as warming one’s appetite for a larger meal and a permanent change of attitude, but it needs to be expanded upon.
And unfortunately, it isn’t quite as easy as tiny appetizers. Most of our political officials, whether it be local or national, seem to lack a certain principle of understanding. And though kindness might be made to appear as a kind of natural magic, simply inflating the warmth of our souls unto others proves to be difficult. Additionally, individuals can be oblivious to kindness. Sometimes it can be a source of great fear, and more times than none, kindness is a rarity in a terrible number of people’s lives.
Knowing how to absorb and respond to kindness is a premise that tends to be grappled with, and it stems from the scarcity of self-love and acceptance. So, how might kindness be able to reach though society’s superficial shell of order, if not planted and learned?
Moreover, the term “altruism” needs to be considered in relation to kindness. Altruism is a moral code and practice regarding the welfare and happiness of humans and animals, and how it affects the quality of life.
Focusing upon the word “concern” directly implies awareness. Is there such a thing as unconscious kindness? If so, is unconscious kindness authentic? And in many cultures and traditions, altruism is an act of kindness to promote another’s happiness, even when it poses a risk to our own. Using this information, it should be clearly known that for kindness to successfully chisel away the hardships and hurt of this world, it needs to be genuinely heartfelt and heavily contemplative.