The world today seems so divided—no wonder we see a noticeable increase in anxiety disorders. Perhaps you find yourself getting into thorny debates with your loved ones and walking on eggshells around each other. Maybe you get angry over what you see when you’re scrolling through social media. And is it just you, or does it feel like people aren’t as patient and forgiving these days?
Everything moves so quickly that it feels like we barely have time to stop and smell the flowers. We’re harried, rushed, busier than ever, and even when you’re doing the best to stay on top of it all, it feels like your to-do list never ends. Our relationships, our jobs, our constant media exposure—all of it seems to be making us more anxious.
With this in mind, we could all stand to be a little more kind to each other. When it comes to reducing anxiety, giving and receiving kindness can greatly help . Here’s how the impact of kindness serves to alleviate anxiety.
1. Kindness Changes the Way You Feel
Sometimes, you experience anxiety because you assume that other people are angry or disappointed with you. You worry that if you slip up, no one will be there to pick you up when you fall.
When someone helps you out selflessly or even offers up a kind word during a hard time, you often feel relieved. You know that you can trust this person, and you can let your guard down around them. Someone has your back.
On the other hand, when you’re the one doing something kind without expecting anything in return, it’s also quite rewarding. Choosing to be kind, even when you’re feeling anxious and withdrawn, can have a calming effect—you know you’re contributing something useful to the world, however small.
2. Kindness Shifts Your Thinking
Anxiety often involves negative thought spirals. One little thing goes wrong, and we assume that more problems are right around the corner. It’s hard to talk yourself out of those thoughts once they crop up. One of the most challenging aspects of dealing with anxiety is the belief that our worst assumptions are accurate. We are afraid to allow ourselves to even hope for what we want.
But the impact of kindness from someone else can serve as evidence to disprove those thoughts. Suddenly, the world seems a little bit brighter, and we can say to ourselves, “Hey, things don’t seem quite so bad anymore, do they?”
It won’t solve our problems right away, but kindness has the power to interrupt those incessant negative thoughts, if only for a moment.
3. Kindness Influences Your Actions
The impact of kindness prompts you to pay it forward. When someone does something kind for you, you may be inspired to do the same for someone else. You feel motivated to spread those positive feelings. It’s a chain reaction.
A million small acts of kindness may not seem like much on their own, but every good thing we do for each other added up to make the world a better place. We may not have the power to save the world all on our own, but we do have the power to make positive changes in the lives of those around us.
And these acts of kindness can help alleviate anxiety. When you’re anxious, you often end up ruminating or feeling so bogged down by those feelings that you don’t want to take action. But putting in the effort to do something nice for someone else can help you break out of that mindset.
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