Argument Essay
I often tend to shy away from heated arguments and discussions because I really do try to analyze and see all perspectives before I contribute for fear of misspeaking, especially when the topic is important to me. One argument that I feel is generally agreeable to an extent is the power of kindness for others as much as the individual themself, but I believe this is an argument that serves to be particularly applicable during this day and age.
It is not a secret to most people that initiating a kind act makes both the giver and the recipient generally feel better and increases kindness all around. Being kind often boosts serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of satisfaction. This serotonin can transfer to many different aspects of life, most notably including relationships, well-being, personal life, and work life.
This information is not a surprise to most people, but I believe that especially recently, people tend to underestimate what can be done to boost serotonin levels and what “counts” as an act of kindness. It is not necessarily true that an act of kindness “counts” more when it is on a larger scale. Something as simple as complimenting someone’s outfit or saying “hello” to strangers in the hallway or holding the door for someone can genuinely make someone’s day, and these have become daily practices for me because of the personal results I have seen.
I have always been an introvert who tends to get exhausted being around people for long periods of time, and while this is still true, I have seen a dramatic difference in my tolerance to having energy around people when I demonstrate these acts of kindness, although not excessively. Particularly for high schoolers, there is often a social stigma around complimenting random strangers or genuinely wanting to get to know underclassmen or asking about a teacher’s day. I do agree that there can be awkward circumstances when an act of kindness can be perceived differently than intended, but on a general scale, just adding a little more kindness to everyone’s life can have a larger impact than anyone could measure.
Scientifically, kindness can be one of the easiest and quickest ways to reduce anxiety and stress because it allows one to pay less attention to personal problems and instead focus on doing good for others. The reaction of the recipient of the kind act also improves emotional functioning and makes people feel prouder of themselves by associating themselves with a kind identity. In addition, kindness also releases the hormone oxytocin, which dilates blood vessels and reduces blood pressure, thus strengthening one’s heart. Also, kindness rarely ever has drawbacks.
Most people do not consider themselves to be unkind people, but I am stressing the importance of acting with kindness even when it is unprompted or requires slightly more effort, especially now. I feel obligated to acknowledge that acting with limitless kindness everyday is not able to be maintained easily for most, and even the kindest people have their moments of needing to focus on themselves. If someone is not able to be positive and kind all of the time, I urge these people to at least try to remain neutral to avoid spreading negativity to others. Having a neutral mentality is okay. It is healthy to have a break from constant positivity. However, especially in this current time, being able to respect others’ arguments as well as your own, boost personal well-being, and just show a little more kindness can help us all.
