Being Kind to Others and to Oneself All at Once

Key points

Research shows that acts of kindness towards others can buttress wellness in ourselves.

Such acts can be low-cost, easily performed, and beneficial to both giver and receiver.

Social acts of kindness offer a needed alternative to individualist coping strategies.

Kindness is a voluntary and self-initiated endeavor that does not require a material gift, service, or favor. Researchers Nguyen and Lee (2025) suggest that kindness can be a grand gesture or a tender thought, a greeting or a smile… an action intended to benefit others, with no expectation of reward or recognition.”

Kindness as a self-relation as well as an orientation towards others

Another way of thinking about kindness is as a mental or physical action that has a “warm” component, “directed toward fostering well