Giving the Gift of Kindness

On KQED’s show Forum this week, they discussed the psychology of gift giving. One thing jumped out at me: gift giving is meant to strengthen relationships and is about being kind.

With the holiday season of giving and sharing upon us, we can use the opportunity to practice kindness.    

Kindness is the attitude and behavior of being compassionate and selfless.  Most simply it is being nice or sharing your best self with others. 

Research shows that the gift of kindness is directly linked to the level of our happiness and contentment.  Japanese studies showed that happy people were kinder, and that counting our acts of kindness actually led to more acts of gratitude and kindness.

The benefits of gifting kindness are:

• We feel better and the recipient feels loved and cared for, which causes them to be kind to other people. This causes kindness to spread;
• It releases neurochemicals that give us a sense of well-being (a state of being happy, comfortable, and healthy);
• It reduces pain, stress, anger, anxiety and depression;
• It boosts immunity and calm;
• It increases feelings of self-worth.

So this season in addition to giving toys, gadgets, and goodies, we can share the following heartwarming gifts:

• Try and cheer someone up;
• Have your children help you buy and wrap gifts for foster or orphaned children;
• Smile and say hello to an elderly neighbor/stranger;
• As a family, help an elderly neighbor set up their Christmas decorations;
• Lend a helping hand to a coworker or friend;
• Allow someone to go in front of you in a queue;
• Offer to babysit for parents who rarely get out;
• Give someone the benefit of the doubt;
• Take your child to a homeless shelter to help feed the hungry.

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

May your holiday season be filled with many acts of kindness and love for those around you.

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