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The Wellness Council of Greater Colorado Valley is celebrating the positive impact acts of kindness have on everyone’s health and well-being through their Random Acts of Kindness awareness campaign in February. The co-sponsor for this Campaign is Columbus Physical Therapy, a group that is known for their kindness to all their patients.
Kindness is more than behavior. The attitude of kindness involves embracing a spirit of helpfulness, generosity, compassion and consideration. Additionally, it requires developing this attitude without expecting anything in return.
If you can allow yourself to go beyond thinking of kindness as simply an action and have the desire to develop kindness as a quality of your personality, then you can cultivate it into a daily response that brings improved mental and physical health to both yourself as the giver of kindness as well as the recipient.
“Being Nice to Someone Literally Makes Your Brain Light Up, Science Says” an article of brain studies as reported by Neuroimaging. To read the entire report go to: https://www.bustle.com/p/how-kindness-changes-your-brainaccording-to-new-research-12079120 It’s quite fascinating that something as simple as helping someone in ways such as reaching a product they can’t reach in a grocery store can create positive changes in your brain that lift your mood and make you feel better. So, why don’t each of us do this when we have opportunities every day to be kind, and in the simplest ways?
Making any action a habit and turning that habit into an element of who you are requires purpose and intentionality; you must want to make the change and see the change as positive for yourself. And then the work begins as you focus on the new behavior. For some people, change is very difficult, often because behind the difficulty is fear of failure, ridicule or the inability to sustain the change. But look at the benefits of making positive changes in your life, especially when the brain reacts by brightening your mood. Who doesn’t want to feel better?
February, with all the hearts and flowers of celebrating Valentine’s Day, is a perfect month to focus on being kind. Even for those who may not have that special person to celebrate their love with, sharing the goodness and joy of kindness with another person can bring big rewards.
Kindness is often so simple, free and health-enhancing. Join The Wellness Council this month by being kind with as many Random Acts of Kindness as you can. The Council will meet on Thursday, Feb. 8 to learn more about kindness. Attendees will also hear from some of the kindest individuals and organizations in the county during their presentations.
The meeting is from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Colorado County Courthouse at 400 Spring St., First Floor Courtroom.
Dr. Mazie Leftwich is a PsyD, LCSW Emeritus.
