In this world marked by haste, uncertainty, competition, inequalities, wars... talking about kindness seems to be commenting on an endangered species.

However, now more than ever, it should be given space as an urgent virtue.

The fact is that despite often being underestimated or reduced to superficial gestures, kindness is, in reality, a powerful behavior with measurable effects on mental health, interpersonal relationships, and the fabric of society.

But above all, considering that being kind to others is only possible when cultivating a kind attitude toward oneself and one's own life,

That consideration and empathy for others and for oneself, which is kindness, involves acting this way without expecting a reward, and often without the other person even noticing.

Far from expressing, as some have claimed, a lack of strength in character and, failing that, a "soft" way of being, several experts agree in describing kindness as a sophisticated expression of emotional intelligence and social regulation.

This quality is deeply rooted in our evolutionary biology, and recent studies reveal that acts of kindness activate brain circuits associated with pleasure, including the accumbens nucleus and the medial prefrontal cortex; which is equivalent to being kind making us feel good in a tangible way.

Kindness strengthens human relationships at all levels and promotes a dynamic of reciprocity: those who receive kind gestures are more likely to reproduce them, thus generating a highly beneficial ripple effect, especially when times, like the current ones, are so difficult.

A meta-analysis published in 2023 in Psychological Bulletin evaluated more than 200 studies and concluded that acts of kindness are consistently associated with improvements in mood, decreased depressive symptoms, and, in some cases, even improvements in blood pressure and immune function.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, kindness proved to be a very valuable resource. Mutual aid, telephone support, and various expressions of gratitude for gestures both large and small alleviated isolation and protected mental health.

Because being kind is not a minor virtue, but an evolutionary and therapeutic human behavior that strengthens bonds, protects mental and physical health, and builds a better society.

Especially in turbulent times, kindness is not an alternative, it’s a need.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSi Translation Staff