KINDNESS
“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?
”
KINDNESS - YOU MATTER
Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May 2020) and the theme this year was Kindness, which seems a very apt choice in the current world we find ourselves in.
Whilst it is important to generate awareness during this time, we must not forget the importance of raising mental health awareness all year round too.
What kindness means;
Kindness is referred to in the dictionary as,
“The Quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.”
“a Kind act”
Another reason Kindness is a good choice is that - Kindness is often viewed as a weakness, just like mental health is. When this is not actually the case - both Kindness and mental health actually show strength and courage.
“While kindness has a connotation of meaning someone is naïve or weak, that is not the case.
Being kind often requires courage and strength.”
Source: PsychologyToday.com
Some of the benefits of kindness;
Rewarding
Improve your quality of life
Strengthen relationships
Reduce stress
Improve self-esteem
Kindness helps bring people together, which can actually improve our quality of life. When we show kindness to others it feels just as rewarding as it does when we receive kindness from someone else.
Kindness is a great way to support your mental health, it has the power to strengthen our relationships and is a great way to feel less isolated and like we belong. It can also help us to reduce stress and improve our self-esteem.
Here is why the Mental Health Foundation picked Kindness as the theme for 2020;
“We think it could be the most important week we’ve hosted, not least because our own research shows that protecting our mental health is going to be central to us coping with and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic – with the psychological and social impacts likely to outlast the physical symptoms of the virus.” Mark Rowland, Chief Executive Mental Health Foundation.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Carrying out an act of Kindness;
Think about a time when someone has been kind to you, how did that make you feel? You most likely felt valued, seen and supported. Then think of a time when you showed kindness to someone? How did this make you feel? This was likely to make you feel a similar connection and joy.
Captain Sir Tom Moore (aka Captain Tom) is a great example of Kindness, by showing his achievements of walking in his garden to raise money for the NHS in the run up to his 100th Birthday. This act of Kindness then spread to others wanting to help too, meaning that more acts of Kindness were being created by people. Kindness in the making!
For more on his story visit https://captaintom.org
To hear more stories form others on Kindness to inspire you visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/kindness-stories
YOU MATTER - LET’S CONTINUE TO SPREAD KINDNESS IN OUR SOCIETY
If you would like to work with me on ways that I can help you support your mental health with Mindfulness then contact me here
https://www.innercalmwithjane.com/contact
MENTAL HEALTH HELP AND SUPPORT;
If you or someone you know needs urgent support with their mental health do reach out to some of these incredible organisations who are here to help:
SAMARITANS call free on 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
Text “SHOUT” to 85258 or visit https://www.giveusashout.org
MIND Charity Helpline 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk
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