Be kind to others and live longer

Dubai - A research in the UAE revealed the desire of the residents to create and pass on kindness, says Dianna Vaughan.

It is officially World Kindness Day today and 91 per cent of UAE residents testified to the goodwill ripple effect of kindness. Residents claimed that being on the receiving end of a thoughtful gesture moved them to be kinder to others.
The research was conducted by One Poll, on behalf of DoubleTree by Hilton, who polled 1,000 people across the UAE to explore the role kindness plays in their lives. The sample was nationally representative of the entire adult population of the UAE based on age, gender and region.
Of those surveyed, 89 per cent of UAE residents believe there should be more kindness in the world, 77 per cent believe that acts of kindness improve relationships, while 70 per cent say a kinder workplace makes them more productive. Seventy-four per cent of respondents said receiving or performing an act of kindness makes them more content, and 79 per cent said doing good deeds gives them a more positive outlook on life.
The impact of even small acts of kindness is so significant that 85 per cent said a smile or a kind word from a stranger is the ultimate mood booster. Most UAE residents are happy to give as well as receive, with 86 per cent of men and 85 per cent of women willing to smile at strangers.
"Our research in the UAE points to a desire for people to create and pass on kindness," explains Dianna Vaughan, senior vice president and global head, DoubleTree by Hilton.
In partnership with well-being experts The School of Life, DoubleTree by Hilton has also published the UAE's first report of its kind - Mastering the Art of Kindness - looking into the value of kindness to individuals and society at large.
Psychotherapist and The School of Life faculty member Lucy Beresford said: "Kindness is a powerful force of change. Kindness travels in so many different ways, and moments of kindness - no matter how small - bring us together, creating a strong connection that transcends the pressures of everyday life. Scientific research has proven that both giving and receiving kindness improves our happiness, physical health and general well-being. Ultimately, even the smallest acts of kindness can have wide-reaching effects, as our good deeds are paid forward by others."
The scientific consensus is also clear on the benefits of kindness, as psychologist Martin Seligman points out: "We have found that doing a kind act produces the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being of any exercise we have tested."
- saman@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai