The Math And Science Of Kindness

I truly believe kindness is a superpower. But, can it be measured? Can Math prove kindness?

Do you know that you have superpowers? You do.  First is gratitude, second is kindness which I’ll write about in this blog post. (there are many other superpowers as well.) When you say something nice to someone, when you do a kind thing for someone, or when you just smile in a friendly way at someone, you make two people feel good: you and the other person.  That’s your superpower. Don’t believe it just because I said it.  Be a scientist and investigate it for yourself.  Use your superpowers every day and see what happens. Or turn to research journals that prove it by using math. Yes, math has a formula for kindness.

You, people, know the proud nerd that I am. I research and investigate everything. (for those of you who don’t know, my first degree is in mechanical engineering, and then I dove deep into entrepreneurship and business and life coaching.) So while I was reading about kindness as a topic for my blog, I stumbled across this mathematical equation that defines kindness! I found it oh-so-cool.

First, let me explain the question – how can science and math prove kindness exists? Answer: the equations of kindness mean the price equation given by George Price. The price equation is about how any trait changes with successive generations in a population that is under selection pressure. It factors in both the reproductive effect and the transmission effect which together shapes the genetic composition of the successive generation. These equations have applications in many aspects of population genetics and even beyond the scope of biology as well. Now, where does “kindness” come into the picture? These equations were part of the proof which tried to explain the emergence of altruism, kindness, and cooperation in human and animal societies.

Mathematical Formula for Kindness :

 (K= ∞/∑ CH(R+D)/i=1)

Kindness means that compassion (C), humility (H), dignity (D), and respect (R) equal the sum of everything together set in motion by just one person for all time. The four virtues are explained in the following manner. Compassion is empathy and caring about the feelings of others. Humility is to be humble, not boastful or arrogant. Respect is to treat others with courtesy and honour. Dignity is being worthy to be honoured or esteemed.

Put simply, kindness is the conscious act of engaging others in a positive way without asking whether those individuals deserve to be treated kindly. All living beings thrive on kindness.

A single, sincere compliment can turn a person’s entire world around. Holding a door or thanking someone who has held a door for you can inspire others to practice politeness and make already kind individuals feel good about their efforts. Smiling at people you meet-even those who make you feel like frowning-can turn a dreary encounter into a delightful one, for both of you. Every kind act has a positive influence on the individual who has performed said act as well as on the recipient, regardless of whether the act is acknowledged. Kindness brings about more kindness and slowly but surely takes a positive toll on humanity.

How about that? Math actually can prove about our universal needs, even kindness!

With everything that is going on around the world right now, there is a need to develop kindness.

The New York Times published a poem by Danusha Laméris, selected by Naomi Shihab Nye. What I love about this poem is how the small kindnesses are called holy. And are reminders of our connection to each other, as one human tribe.

Now that math and science have proved that kindness exists (it wasn’t any need in the first place, though. people must be kind. period.), Anyway, let me discuss few more thoughts on the subject.

Do No Harm

I’ve often repeated that “Peace Is Only A Thought Away.” Its motives emerge through kind thoughts towards oneself and others.

“Unconditional love flows through specific channels of respect, integrity, purpose, meaning, value, response-ability, forgiveness, kindness, and compassion — and these form the foundation of our new, naturally ethical lives,” says author and psychotherapist Loch Kelly in Shift into Freedom: The Science and Practice of Open-Hearted Awareness.

Kindness is not something that demands hard work. It originates from the simple act of doing no harm to others.

It involves judging less, however compelled you might be to do so.

The ego is quick to judge when it is victimised and hurt, so it retaliates in revenge.

Kindness, however, bites its tongue. It does not seek to be right but to preserve peace of mind.

You gain little by giving someone a piece of your mind, other than inciting conflict and separation.

It was the Lebanese-born poet Khalil Gibran who wrote: “I have learnt silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.”

It might be clear to you that fighting force with force is not the way towards peace. But you might ask, does that mean allowing others to treat me unfairly?

No, not by any means. Though you needn’t retaliate with overwhelming force. I’m not implying you become a doormat, however I urge you to accept the lessons contained within the experience. Are you letting others treat you unfairly on some level? Or unconsciously giving them permission to do so?

“No matter how anyone responds to your kindness, just by repeating out loud the words you didn’t hear often enough or never heard at all, you guarantee yourself to be the one who exits each scene of life more healed, aligned and expanded than the moment before,” affirms author Matt Kahn in Whatever Arises, Love That: A Love Revolution That Begins with You.

What if everything were sacred?

If you find yourself feeling depleted and longing for connection, this motto may brighten your spirits. Regardless of your religious affiliation (or lack thereof), there is something to be gained from this perspective. It’s not necessarily about God (though it can be), it’s about surrender.

Do you feel something when I say sacred? Think about the last thing that really moved you; a moment when you felt connected. What was different within you, that allowed you to feel this? You were open. You stopped gripping and let something deeper touch you for a moment. I believe this is always available to us, but we have to release our negative beliefs, our resentment, and grudges that constrict us. If the task at hand were sacred, how would you do it? If the people you were interacting with were blessed, how would you treat them? How would you feel?

“Do unto yourself as you would do unto others” — the reverse golden rule.

Be Kind Anyway

It’s no surprise wicked acts have a greater impression on us than acts of kindness. We are alerted to fear more than goodness. In these times of disingenuous social media interactions and problems around the globe, unkindness abounds as people hide behind screens. This does not make it appropriate to abuse others. There is a person on the other side of the screen with feelings we must take into account.

An important lesson in kindness involves asking yourself: ‘How would I handle being the recipient of this?’ If it doesn’t feel good avoid the behaviour.

Hurt is hurt, and every time we honour our own struggle and the struggles of others by responding with empathy and compassion, the healing that results affects all of us.

“No one is born with hate. People are taught and they learn to hate. If they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” ~ Nelson Mandela

There’s a natural Law Of Karma that vindictive people, who go out of their way to hurt others, will end up broke and alone.

I wish to leave you with a passage from Mother Teresa’s poem titled Anyway, in which she states: “People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.”

Incorporate the smallest acts of kindness into your everyday life and notice the ripple effects. The Butterfly Effect in Chaos Theory asserts that a tiny event in one region of the globe can have a substantial effect somewhere else.

Armed with this knowledge, it is the Dalai Lama who reminds us that if you can’t be kind, avoid harming others.

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ON A SIDE NOTE –

As some of you may have noticed already, I’ve completely changed the look of my blog and even redesigned the logo for EclipsedWords. The site is currently under maintenance and hence, might appear different and work a bit slow and/or might have broken links. I’m working on getting this issue resolved ASAP. Also, I’m about to finish my eBook and plan to make it available for purchase by next month. Can you guess what my first eBook is about? Let me know in the comments below about your thoughts regarding the same.

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—–Have Hope. Keep Faith—–

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ECLIPSEDWORDS BY AISHWARYA SHAH | JUNE’ 2020 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©