The world has been plunged into a time of worry and uncertainty - be it due to the 'Covid 19' Pandemic, politics or other many other reasons.

Many people are struggling with their Mental Health & well-being due to the current circumstances causing lots of depression, anxiety and an increasing sense of insolation.

This is why we should not lose sight of the importance of kindness in our every day lives.

Kindness is proven to increase our self-esteem, empathy and compassion which in turn, improves our mood and overall mental health.

Kindness realises feel-good hormones

When you practice any act of kindness for people, so called 'happiness hormones' are released, boosting your serotonin which is the neurotransmitter which is responsible for feeling of wellbeing and satisfaction. Endorphin levels also increase, leading to a phenomenon which is known as a "helper's high." Psychologists also identified a typical state of euphoria by those who engaged in charitable activity. It is called "helpers high," and that is based on the theory that giving produces endorphins in your brain that provides a mild version of a morphine high.

Another great benefit of kindness is that it can help to lower our anxiety levels. Social anxiety is associated with something known as a 'low positive effect,' which relates to a person's experience of positive moods such as joy, interest and alertness. The University of British Columbia conducted a four-week study that found that participants who engaged in acts of kindness displayed major increases in their endorphin levels (Also known as PA Levels) that were maintained during the study.

Helping others lets you get outside of yourself and can potentially help to build relationships with other people by taking a break from the stressors in your own life. This behaviour can also make you better equipped to handle stressful situations.

Any action that helps you to build bonds with other people is known as 'affiliative behaviour'. And, according to one study on the effects of pro-social behaviour (action intended to help others) — “affiliative behaviour may be an important component of coping with stress and indicates that engaging in pro-social behaviour might be an effective strategy for reducing the impact of stress on emotional functioning.”

Furthermore, once we establish an "affiliative connection" with someone — a relationship of friendship, love, or other positive bonding — we feel emotions that can boost our immune system. So, it seems continued altruism can boost your happiness and improve relationships and connections, in turn indirectly boosting your health.