Join our kindness revolution #pledgekindness
We’re on a mission to spread the love!
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that months of social distancing have left us craving human contact. We’d consider going cold turkey on our Netflix subscription if it meant we could give our friends and families a massive hug. But among the mask-wearing, pavement-dodging and Zoom catch-ups, we have come to realise the power of a small, unexpected gesture of kindness, which can bring a much-needed happiness fix at a time when, let’s face it, everything feels a bit dark and depressing.
The current climate feels like a giant leap from our pre-lockdown lives when we were buried in our phones and barely smiled at our neighbours, as our lives were so busy. We’re even realising that our relationship with social media needs a kindness overhaul as well, with #Bekind trending across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. But if this pandemic has given us anything positive, it’s a wake-up call about the way we treat the people around us – and it’s a muchneeded kindness revolution…
KINDNESS IN THE COMMUNITY
A recent survey by our mental health in the workplace campaign Where’s Your Head At?, found 50 per cent of people questioned felt it is more important now to give and receive kindness, and 48 per cent said they feel more open to helping people since the start of the pandemic. It’s clear that we are all making a conscious effort to value acts of kindness more than ever.
And we’re not just talking grand gestures – 29 per cent even pointed out that their definition of what counts as an act of kindness has widened since the outbreak. A phone call to an older relative, knocking on a neighbour’s door to check if they need a pint of milk (or a bottle of wine) are all important ways in which we’re embracing our feeling of community.
HELPER’S HIGH
But it’s not completely selfless – 77 per cent of the people we surveyed agreed that acts of kindness help boost a positive mindset at a time when we need it most. Mental health campaigner Natasha Devon, who’s co-founder of Where’s Your Head At?, explains how reaching out and helping others can have a positive effect on our mental health. “There is a phenomenon known by psychologists as ‘helper’s high’,” she says. “When we do something kind, our body releases endorphins – feel-good chemicals, which give us a short-term euphoric feeling and have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in the long term.”
Natasha adds, “Acts of kindness also help foster connection, both from the point of view of the person on the receiving end and the person doing the act. When we genuinely connect with someone else, it improves our brain chemistry by stabilising levels of dopamine. So, when we talk about acts of kindness, it’s not some fluffy, abstract concept – there’s tonnes of evidence to show they have a tangible positive impact on mental health.”
SPREAD THE LOVE
It’s no coincidence that we’re searching for uplifting news and inspiration at a time of such uncertainty. Bernadette Russell, author of How To Be Hopeful, explains, “We’re up against this dominant fear narrative where we’re surrounded by bad news and told how awful everything is. Sharing stories of positivity and hope counters the fear narrative which is important, because when
‘Sharing stories of hope counters the fear narrative’
we’re scared, we go into fight, flight or freeze mode. At the moment, we need to be resilient. So, even just sharing a story about kindness is an act of kindness in itself.”
PAY IT FORWARD
But sometimes reaching out to help someone, or even accepting help yourself, is hard – especially to take the first step. Natasha suggests that, if you’re nervous of face-to-face encounters, there are still plenty of things you can do to reach out.
She says, “I often send people notes just to let them know I’m thinking of them. If I see someone has been having a hard time on social media, I’ll DM to let them know I appreciate them. Don’t underestimate how things that seem insignificant to us can make someone’s day.” And, if you’re wondering whether you’re worthy of accepting someone’s help, Bernadette wants us to remember, “There has never been another human being who has ever lived who didn’t require help at some time. You’re not alone.” n
Natasha Devon is a mental health campaigner. She has a show on LBC every Saturday, 7-9pm. How To Be Hopeful (Elliott & Thompson, £12.99) by Bernadette Russell is available now. If you are struggling with your mental health or need help, go to Wheresyour headat.org or call Samaritans for free on 116 123