Why Do We Need to Be Kind to Others?

Last Updated on October 16, 2022

Do you know what began on a Friday the 13th back in November 1998?

World Kindness Day! When the World Kindness Movement introduced it, people came together to show acts of kindness to everybody they meet.

The idea is to be more empathic and compassionate than usual on the day. The more people who take part in the activity, the better. So what do you say that you hop on the train, too?

If you don’t understand why you need to be kind to others, let’s look into the subject.

So, Why Do We Need To Be Kind To Others?

Kindness is free. And since it’s yours to give away, it’s a great idea to go overboard with your power.

Don’t forget, some people need kindness more than ever. They are:

• Those in unfortunate circumstances – Know someone who is born poor or living in a toxic home environment? Be gentle.
• Hurt and unloved – “Misery loves company,” as the classic saying goes. So before you lash out at someone, consider empathizing with their pain.
• Those who are close to giving up – If someone’s about to quit, be there. It’s important to give them reasons to hold on.
• Those with illnesses – Someone who is physically and/or mentally ill could use compassion.

Why Do We Need To Be Kind To Others? 7 Reasons

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There are a plethora of ways you can show kindness to others. You can make their day by sharing kind words. Or you can buy them coffee and take part in other easy ways.

Below is a line-up of reasons.

1. Think outside of the box

Imagine this: A stranger joins you for lunch. You find it odd because you usually eat lunch alone,

Do you get up and leave — look for a different table, perhaps? Or do you stick around and talk to them?

If you choose kindness, you’ll choose the second option. That’s because kindness encourages you to see life with a new perspective.

For what it’s worth, they joined you for lunch for a simple reason: There weren’t any other available tables!

2. Add meaning to your life

Want meaning in your life? Then be kind — and make it a habit.

Living a life without meaning sets you up for a depressed life. So why not walk the opposite direction?

Here’s how you can incorporate kindness and add meaning to your life:

Provide for your family

Be responsible enough. And work to financially secure your loved ones.

Invite a homeless person for daily breakfast

Heading out to grab a cup of coffee and some pancakes? Why not make someone on the streets feel satisfied, too?

Join holiday feeding programs

Sign up to help bring meals during times of merrymaking.

Donate old belongings

Don’t throw away old items like clothes. Instead, give them to someone who needs them.

3. Feel empowered

Want to increase your happiness and self-worth? How about your serotonin — a feel-good chemical?

If so, try fueling your energy. And to experience an energy high, be kind. Open the door for someone or compliment them.

With these acts, you can feel your energy levels soaring. And a closer look into this will remind you of how empowerment can make you feel as if you’re on top of the world!

4. Attract like-minded people

“Empowered people empower people,” is a classic saying that brings light to the power of kindness. If you’re empowered, there’s a high likelihood of you meeting friends who want to be empowered, too.

Here’s what empowerment can do for you:

• Give you confidence – It allows you to believe in yourself and in your ideas.
• Help you see the good in others – It’s important to see the worth of others, too. If you’re empowered, it could happen.
• Help prioritize your wellness – It reminds you of the importance of your physical and mental health.
• Make you feel understood – It helps you “fit in”. Surrounding yourself with the right crows brings clarity to any quirks.

5. The effect of kindness amplifies

In connection to feeling empowered and attracting like-minded people is this. If you’re kind to even one person, that person can be kind to another.

Familiar with the Butterfly Effect of Kindness? It’s a phenomenon where a tiny act can affect another elsewhere and indirectly.

If you want to know more about this phenomenon, a quick Google search can provide you with articles. You might also want to check out the 2004 eponymous film.

6. It attracts good karma

Heard of the Helper’s High?

The linked study can tell you all about it. There, it describes kindness as a ‘give and take’ act. Kind of like respect.

So when you give kindness, you get kindness in return. And it makes you feel great!

Take it from Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group. He’s a committed philanthropist who brought Student Valley Center, his first charity, to life when he was 17.

And since then, nothing but wonderful things come to him. As of 2020, he runs multiple successful companies and has a net worth of $4 billion.

Lead better

Kindness makes you a good — superb, even — leader. It lets you bring out the best in people.

And if you’re a superb leader, your team performs better.

So here are ways on how to be a good leader for your team:

Set an excellent example

Practice what you preach. Your team will respect you more for it.

Be flexible

Give people the room to excel on their own. Have faith in them and don’t micromanage them.

Honor your word

Said you’ll do something? Don’t let that appointment go down the drain.

Invest in people

At your position, it’s important to believe in people. With time, help them grow and be better versions of themselves.

Conclusion

Let’s be realistic, though. Kindness may be free.

But choosing to be kind all the time? No easy feat.

It may even seem as if some people are in this world for one reason — and one reason only: To test your patience.

But you know what? It’s up to you to rise above and give them a fix of kindness.