BETTER LIVING THROUGH Kindness

In 1902, author Henry James told his nephew, ‘Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.’ My mum loved this quote, and integral to my upbringing was the belief that every human being deserves to be treated with kindness and dignity. Now, over a century later, ample scientific evidence shows that kindness could be even more important than Mr James – or my mum – ever imagined.

Vanessa King, head of psychology at Action for Happiness, explains why kindness matters in today’s world: ‘Human beings are a social species, and kindness and empathy fuel social connection, helping us feel calm and safe. People are happier when they have others around them that they can turn to in good times, as well as bad, and when they live in communities where people trust each other.’ She adds: ‘Having close connections matters most, but all our fleeting connections with others