February's Character Pillar:
Kindness with a Focus on Friendship
The Importance of Kindness and the Relationship to Friendships
Mr. Rodgers once said, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is wasted." Showing kindness is known to build social bonds, increase trust and acceptance in our relationships, and it increases our overall happiness. The most amazing thing is that the more kindness you give out, the more you receive in return. Individuals that put consistent effort into being kind, report higher levels of happiness compared to those that do not. And it doesn't matter who we are kind to. Most people are kind to those they know, work , live with or who are part of their social circles. Even the simply viewing an act of kindness can improve our mood and influence the feelings of others around us.
The Science of Kindness
When we experience kindness, a hormone called dopamine is released in the brain and gives you an elevated feeling and improves our mood. Some call it the "helpers hormone". Kindness also affects our heart. Research shows that when we feel that emotional warmth from being kind, another hormone called oxytocin helps release a chemical nitric oxide which expands our blood vessels, reduces our blood pressure and protects our heart. In addition, oxytocin also reduces inflammation and lowers free radicals, two culprits that age us more. Kindness keeps us healthy!
Every drop of KINDNESS has a ripple effect, changing and transforming the world.
The Four Pillars of a Healthy Friendship.
The Four Pillars of a healthy friendship are that they are balanced, have boundaries, are stable and accepting.