Kindness is generally thought of as the quality of being friendly, considerate and generous. A kind person considers the feelings of others, tries to help them and avoids actions that do harm. Affection, empathy and giving to others are qualities of a kind person. Kindness is also considered a virtue.

Diseases and disorders with complex inheritance patterns include:

• Alzheimer’s disease.
• Arthritis.
• Cancer.
• Dementia.
• Diabetes.
• Heart disease.
• High blood pressure.
• Multiple sclerosis.

An inherited trait is a physical characteristic that is passed from parents to their offspring. A behavior is a way of acting. Inherited behaviors are called instincts. Learned behaviors are not inherited but learned from others.

Their definition of kindness is: Doing favors and good deeds for others; helping them; taking care of them. Synonyms include generosity, nurturance, care, compassion, altruistic love, and “niceness” (Peterson & Seligman, p. 29, 2004).

Why is kindness important? When we practice kindness either to other people or towards ourselves we can experience positive mental and physical changes through lowering stress levels and increasing the body’s production of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin.

Being kind might look similar from the outside, but inside, it feels very different. Being kind is making eye-contact, saying something beyond the superficial to another person, seeking connection. It’s accepting them without judgment and going out of your way to offer assistance or to brighten someone’s day.

Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Affection, gentleness, warmth, concern, and care are words that are associated with kindness. While kindness has a connotation of meaning someone is naive or weak, that is not the case. Being kind often requires courage and strength.

kindness

• benevolence,
• boon,
• courtesy,
• favor,
• grace,
• indulgence,
• mercy,
• service,