Everyone knows it is important to be kind to others, but did you know that it boosts mental health too? Research proves that being kind builds positive mental health. As your loved ones grow older, having purpose and being kind can help them live a healthier life. The world has gone through many changes that you need to adjust to, so why not bring a kind word or action into play to make it a little more fun.

4 Benefits of Being Kind

Kindness makes others feel good. Just a simple act can add to someone’s day. Giving a call to a friend or family member you have not talked to in awhile, can be one of the best doses of medicine. This one act gives you a good feeling and supports positive mental health. Next time you get a chance, tell someone they look nice or open a door for them or simply say hello. It is that easy to be kind.

It creates a sense of community and helps eliminate loneliness. Being kind and helping others makes you and others feel a sense of friendship and connection. Humans in general are wired to want to be connected to others. We need that interaction. Volunteering and helping others allows you to have not only a good connection to someone, but also positive mental health. 

Kindness helps give you perspective. Nothing is greater than realizing the perspective of others. Kindness encourages you to appreciate and accept different perspectives on life. When you see other perspectives you typically enjoy the outlook on your own life. It is gratifying to gain a new perspective and realize your life can be pretty positive and happy. 

One act of kindness can create more. When you share kindness it makes you feel good, and it motivates others to want to be kind too. It is amazing when you and others start creating a chain reaction of treating others with kindness and acceptance. The joy and mental positivity is amazing for you and others. 

Kindness is nothing new to do, but it sure is worth reiterating for mental wellness and building a strong sense of purpose. If you notice your aging loved one is ready for a new chapter in life, we are ready to make that process easier for you. Contact Ann Jamison at Senior Living Options. Ann is experienced and willing to help you every step of the way in making the next chapter in aging doable with joy, kindness, and options.

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.