Here at HELLO!, we're big on kindness. Each year we create our , to shine the spotlight on celebrities who have shown kindness to others and in 2023, we wanted to go even further to highlight just how important being kind is, for our own wellbeing too. Today sees us launch the latest pillar in our HELLO! To Kindness, which explores why being kind to others makes us happier and showcases stories of people who have found themselves happier after being kind to others, be it volunteering, doing an elderly neighbour’s shopping or simply helping someone with heavy luggage.
, so where do those good vibes come from? “Kindness leads to the release of the feel good hormone oxytocin and happiness hormone serotonin, meaning we get a rush of good feelings when we’re kind to others,” says Jo Howarth, founder of . Being kind has also been found to increase our sense of satisfaction with life, as well as decreasing stress and anxiety. “It is a huge part of building emotional resilience,” Jo says.
“The more we practice kindness, generally the happier we are.” Supporting others helps us feel connected and generally more positive. “There is always the opportunity to do a bit of good in the world,” says member .
“We can all take the opportunity to spread more kindness in the world, regardless of our own individual situation,” she adds. Helping others can also bring light into your life during dark times, as transformation coach Asyha Bell, who has experienced depression, .