There’s no denying that we continue to live in difficult and scary times which can be bad for our individual and collective mental health. There are some truly horrifying things going on around the world, both far away and closer to home. At times this can seem overwhelming and I, like many others, feel helpless in the face of it all.
But this also reinforces to me that we need to maintain a balance. The dark stories are not the only story. There are positive things happening too. Reminding ourselves of examples of kindness between people is a powerful way to rebalance the story we have of our world.
Time and again people tell me that reading about kindness gives them hope and makes them feel positive. I believe that making a conscious choice to notice people being kind to each other is a way to take ownership of our world view. To bring the power of positivity into our lives so that we have the energy to share it with others and deal with the things that are darker.
Create human connections
Kindness is sometimes dismissed as being weak, a bit fluffy perhaps (and not in the good way that your favourite blanket might be). But in reality, kindness is incredibly powerful because it connects us as human beings. If we help a neighbour to bring in their bins on bin day or let a stranger in front of us with a couple of items at the supermarket, we instantly create a connection, however small.
More often than not we will exchange a small smile and a word with each other. Even if the smile and conversation are very brief, they do make us feel better for those few seconds or even longer.
The power of kindness at work
This happens in workplaces too. A colleague helps you to solve a problem, makes you a cup of tea or sends you a supportive note on Teams chat. These are all actions that connect us more closely.
Taking time to notice acts of kindness from and between colleagues is a simple and effective way to boost connection and positivity. Both are vital for business success as shown by a growing body of research.
For example, a University of Warwick study found kindness increased happiness and happier people ended up 12% more productive than less happy people. Increasing the way kindness is valued at work is therefore a good business move.
Learn positive habits
Not everyone knows where to start to see the world more positively. Even those of us who find this approach easier can have days when it’s harder to spot. So I now run workshops to teach people how to notice kindness more often in the world around them.
During the workshops we share uplifting stories and I teach people easy to adopt habits to use at work and beyond. Together we build up a collective sense of connection and community, as well as resilience for individuals’ mental health.
“I learned how kindness makes me feel and the impact that it can have on team dynamics and the way we work.”
When you see kind, you feel better. And when you feel better, you perform better.
A ready to go solution
It can be difficult to fit this kind of learning in when you’re in a busy environment. Right now many organisations are preparing their employee activities for Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May). My ready-to-go ‘Noticing kindness: a tool for hope and connection’ workshops are an easy solution for businesses and individuals.
Find out more on my wellbeing workshops page.
Let's work together
Bring kindness to life with workshops, talks and other support that make a real difference — boosting wellbeing, improving performance and creating lasting positive change.
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