Spirit: give

Kindness and Compassion Builds Our Resilience

Ever feel overwhelmed? Scared? Anxious about the future? Most of us have at some point in our lives and given the recent circumstances it’s a pretty natural response. When we feel under threat our Flight, Flight or Freeze survival instinct kicks in, and we naturally notice, and focus on, negative and dangerous situations. This is what has enabled us to survive as a species. But at times of challenge, it is also important to pause, notice and reflect on the good that emerges.

During the covid-19 pandemic we have seen amazing acts of altruism and compassion from healthcare workers putting their own wellbeing at risk to look after others. We have also seen many smaller random acts of kindness, teddy bears in windows to brighten a child’s day, shopping for a neighbour, children using their tooth fairy money to buy toilet rolls for people who have missed out. We are witnessing this because kindness and compassion can also be a reaction to stressful situations or challenges. This is called the ‘tend and befriend response’ and it is related to our innate desire to protect our loved ones.

Be Kind

And here’s the really great news: it’s not just the person on the receiving end who benefits. When we do an act of kindness our brain release dopamine, the neurotransmitter that works on our pleasure and rewards centres, so not only does the recipient of our kindness feel good we do too, it increases our happiness, satisfaction and self-esteem – WIN, WIN!

Be Grateful

Being grateful has a similar effect – people who express gratitude regularly feel less lonely, more connected and are happier and healthier. It’s something that we actively have to work at because we are pre-disposed to notice the negative. However, it’s important to actively notice and appreciate the positive aspects of our life. Spending time appreciating what we do have can distract from focusing on what we don’t. So, when we are feeling low or depressed spending a little time, on a regular basis, counting our blessing and noticing the things that we are grateful for can have a powerful effect.