Why Kindness Counts: The Benefits of a Kindness Driven Business in Chiropractic Healthcare
You are in the kindness business. Through your services, you deliver kindness.
Sometimes, you, your doctors and chiropractic support team may think that you are in the adjustment business. Maybe the marketing and sales business and insurance business. There are these and probably 50 other smaller “businesses” within your practice.
We can get caught up with these and sometimes take them too seriously!
But the overarching business you are in -- is kindness. That is what you are delivering.
Kindness is acting with concern for others without expecting praise or reward in return. When adjusting a patient or treating a client, you are not thinking about how much money you will make. You are simply helping another person.
You are being kind.
In business, kindness does have a return. It strengthens your relationships with your patients and within the team. This improves patient referrals and retention. It also improves your mood and health and creates a ripple effect in your community. (Some studies demonstrate this on our blog. *)
But being kind is its own reward.
And since it is that time of year, with patients, family, friends, and memories, near and far, here’s a poem to remind us why … kindness counts.
Stay driven to be kind,
Ed
Let Us Be Kind by W. Lomax Childress (Click to download a PDF of the full poem)
Let us be kind;
The way is long and lonely,
And human hearts are asking for this blessing only—
That we be kind.
We cannot know the grief that men may borrow,
We cannot see the souls storm-swept by sorrow,
But love can shine upon the way to-day, to-morrow—
Let us be kind.
Let us be kind;
This is a wealth that has no measure,
This is of Heaven and earth the highest treasure—
Let us be kind.
A tender word, a smile of love in meeting,
A song of hope and victory to those retreating,
A glimpse of God and brotherhood while life is fleeting—
Let us be kind.
Song by Tim McGraw “Humble and Kind”
References
Let Us Be Kind by W. Lomax Childress
Let us be kind;
The way is long and lonely,
And human hearts are asking for this blessing only—
That we be kind.
We cannot know the grief that men may borrow,
We cannot see the souls storm-swept by sorrow,
But love can shine upon the way to-day, to-morrow—
Let us be kind.
Let us be kind;
This is a wealth that has no measure,
This is of Heaven and earth the highest treasure—
Let us be kind.
A tender word, a smile of love in meeting,
A song of hope and victory to those retreating,
A glimpse of God and brotherhood while life is fleeting—
Let us be kind.
Let us be kind;
Around the world the tears of time are falling,
And for the loved and lost these human hearts are calling—
Let us be kind.
To age and youth let gracious words be spoken;
Upon the wheel of pain so many lives are broken,
We live in vain who give no tender token—
Let us be kind.
Let us be kind;
The sunset tints will soon be in the west,
Too late the flowers are laid then on the quiet breast—
Let us be kind.
And when the angel guides have sought and found us,
Their hands shall link the broken ties of earth that bound us,
And Heaven and home shall brighten all around us—
Let us be kind.
https://rainydaypoems.com/poems-for-kids/poems-teachers-ask-for/let-us-be-kind-by-w-lomax-childress/
Here are some studies and research that support the benefits of kindness:
1. Improves Mental Health
Research published in the Journal of Social Psychology (2010) found that performing acts of kindness can increase happiness and reduce feelings of depression. In a study, participants who performed acts of kindness for 10 days reported higher levels of well-being and lower levels of stress.
• Source: "Acts of kindness and well-being", Journal of Social Psychology, 2010.
2. Strengthens Social Connections
A study by the University of California, Berkeley found that being kind strengthens social bonds by enhancing trust and promoting prosocial behaviors. When people experience kindness, they tend to reciprocate it, which helps build and maintain stronger relationships.
• Source: "The Social and Emotional Benefits of Kindness," Greater Good Science Center, University of California, Berkeley, 2016.
3. Boosts Physical Health
The link between kindness and physical health was supported by a study published in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2001, which found that helping others can lower blood pressure and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Kindness was also linked to better cardiovascular health.
• Source: "The Influence of Helping Others on Health: A Review of the Literature," Psychosomatic Medicine, 2001.
4. Increases Longevity
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2001 found that people who volunteer or engage in acts of kindness are more likely to live longer. The study concluded that individuals who help others have a reduced risk of death, possibly due to the stress-reducing effects of kindness.
• Source: "Volunteerism and Mortality Among Older Adults," American Journal of Public Health, 2001.
5. Creates a Ripple Effect
The "ripple effect" of kindness has been studied by psychologists at Harvard University and Stanford University. Their research has shown that witnessing acts of kindness can inspire people to engage in similar behaviors, which creates a cascading effect of positivity throughout a community.
• Source: "The Ripple Effect of Kindness," Harvard Business Review, 2017.
6. Enhances Self-Esteem
A study published in The Journal of Happiness Studies found that people who engage in acts of kindness report higher levels of self-esteem and self-worth. The study showed that the more people performed altruistic acts, the greater their feelings of personal fulfillment and well-being.
• Source: "Self-esteem and Altruistic Behavior: The Effects of Kindness on the Self,"
Journal of Happiness Studies, 2005.
7. Increases Empathy
Research from Michigan State University demonstrated that practicing kindness increases empathy. When participants performed acts of kindness, they showed greater empathy and understanding toward others, which led to improved social interactions and emotional well-being.
• Source: "Kindness and Empathy," Michigan State University, 2014.
These studies and articles show the scientifically supported benefits of kindness for mental, emotional, and physical well-being. If you'd like further reading on any of these sources, I can help!
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If your practice-building efforts aren’t taking you to your goals, there are reasons -- many of which are hidden from you.
Find out what they are and how to sail to your next level by getting and implementing my book, The Goal Driven Business.