Why kindness?

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Foreign welcome

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to the Kindness Chronicles where we explore the nature, value and practice

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of kindness. I'm your host Matthew McGinnis,

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and today we start our exploration of that simple yet profound concept,

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kindness. What does it really mean to be kind?

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And why is it such a powerful force? In our world,

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we often hear phrases like be kind or pay it forward.

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But have you ever really thought about the true definition

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of kindness? Is it just about small gestures

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like holding the door open for someone? Or is there a deeper,

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more transformative side to it? Let's unpack that today.

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So sit back, relax, and let's explore the beauty of

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kindness.

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So what exactly is kindness? You might think it's just

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being polite or doing nice things for people,

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but when we really get down to it, kindness is about

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intentional actions that promote the well being

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of others without expecting anything in return.

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It's a choice to act with compassion, empathy and

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care. Now, when we think

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of kindness, we often associate it with actions like helping

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someone in need, offering a compliment, or simply listening to someone

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who's having a tough time. But the interesting thing is kindness

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isn't just about the act itself. It's about the intention

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behind the act. It's. It's not about what you do, but why you

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do it. A great example of

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this comes from the work of psychologist and researcher Dr.

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Kristin Neff. She talks about self compassion,

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which is essentially kindness directed toward yourself.

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It's recognizing your own suffering and responding with

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care rather than criticism or judgment. Something I

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struggle with myself. In a way, being kind starts

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from within.

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Now let's talk about why kindness is so powerful.

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It's not just a feel good moment for the person receiving it,

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but for the person giving it as well. Studies have shown that

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acts of kindness release oxytocin, sometimes called the love

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hormone, in both the giver and the receiver.

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This creates a bond and strengthens our sense of connection

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with one another. But here's the

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truly amazing thing about it's

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contagious. One small act

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of kindness can set off a chain reaction. You help someone

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carry their groceries and maybe they are inspired to pay it forward later on.

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A simple compliment can brighten someone's day and inspire

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them to do the same for someone else.

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And when we practice kindness, it creates a ripple effect throughout

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our communities. Imagine if every person took a moment

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every day to show kindness. What kind of world

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would we live in? It's this ripple effect

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that makes kindness one of the most powerful forces for good

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in the world.

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But let's be real for a second. Being kind isn't always

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easy. In a world that can sometimes feel harsh,

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it's easy to fall into negativity or cynicism.

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Sometimes it feels like the world is moving so fast that we forget

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to slow down and be kind to others, or even to ourselves.

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It can also be hard when we're faced with people who aren't kind in return,

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or when our own mental or emotional energy feels drained.

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In these moments, it's important to remember that kindness isn't

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about perfection. It's about practice.

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And even the smallest acts of kindness can have a profound impact.

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It's the trying that counts.

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One of the most remarkable benefits of kindness is how it impacts our

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mental health. It's no secret that acts of kindness boost our mood.

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But did you know that kindness can also reduce stress,

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anxiety and depression? According to the Mayo Clinic,

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performing kind acts releases dopamine, which improves our

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overall emotional well being.

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Kindness can create a sense of purpose, and when we feel like we're

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helping others, we often feel more connected to the world around us.

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Whether you're lending a hand to someone in need or just sharing a warm

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smile with a stranger, these acts can be incredibly uplifting.

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So how can we practice kindness? It doesn't have

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to be grand gestures. It can be the little things that make a big difference.

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We'll continue to explore this in depth, but here are a few

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ideas to start with. 1. Hold the door open for

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someone. 2. Send a text to a friend just to check

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in. 3. Leave a note for your partner or a

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coworker expressing appreciation. 4.

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Smile at a stranger. And 5 take a moment

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to forgive yourself for any mistakes you've made today.

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By incorporating small acts of kindness into your daily life,

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you not only brighten someone else's day, but you also create a

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more compassionate world for everyone.

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So there you have it. Kindness is more than just a simple action.

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It's a mindset, a choice, and a ripple that spreads

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far beyond what we can see. It's about being intentional with

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how we treat others and with how we treat ourselves.

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As we wrap up today, I encourage you to practice kindness,

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whether it's to a friend, a stranger, or yourself.

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And remember, every act of kindness counts, no matter

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how small. Kindness first Kindness always.

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Let's build an empire.