Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Adam Navis.
Voice 2
And I’m Katy Blake. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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Voice 1
Imagine a long, dirt road. The country around it is dry. Small, brown plants grow from the dry ground. A man lies on the side of the road. He is very hurt. Thieves have taken his money. They have beaten him very badly. Without help, he will die. Soon, two people from his country walk by. But they do not stop to help. Both believe they are too busy. Then, a third man passes by. He is not from the man’s country. Instead, he is from a foreign country. In fact, these two countries are at war. But instead of passing by, this third man stops. The third man shows kindness. He helps the injured man onto his donkey. He takes him into his home. He cares for the injured man, and nurses him back to health. It does not matter to this third man if the injured man is from a different country. He sees someone who is in trouble, and he helps.
Voice 2
This is a story from the Christian Bible. It is called the story of the Good Samaritan. It tells Christian believers to be kind, even to their enemies. Most religions have stories like this. Most religions tell us to be kind to each other. These may seem like commands given with little reason. But did you know there are also scientific reasons why a person should be kind? Kind people are happier. And they may even live longer! Today’s Spotlight is on the science of being kind.
Voice 1
Most people know that being kind feels good. Helping someone in need makes us feel positive. And giving a gift to a friend feels as good as receiving one. But for most of human history, no one could say why. Giacomo Rizzolatti is an Italian Scientist. He studies how the brain works. In the 1980s, he and his colleagues performed an experiment that showed a lot about kindness. Rizzolatti used electrical scans to examine the brains of monkeys. When a monkey did something, part of the brain would show activity.
Voice 2
Then, Rizzolatti discovered something amazing. Sometimes, the monkeys would watch each other. When watching, their brains were also active. But they were active in the same way the other monkeys were. When one monkey reached out his hand, the other monkey’s brain looked as if it were doing the same. It was not reaching out. But the watching monkey’s brain experienced the event as if it were. Only special parts of the brain acted this way. Rizzolatti called them mirror neurons. Soon, he and his colleagues discovered the same thing in humans.
Voice 1
Mirror neurons are very important to the science of kindness. Mirror neurons are the part of our brain that lets us feel what other people feel. They allow us to empathize. V.S. Ramachandran is a neuroscientist. He studies mirror neurons. He spoke to Greater Good Magazine about why he thinks mirror neurons are important for empathy.
Voice 3
“These mirror neurons are involved in empathy for pain. To really empathize with your pain, I need to experience it myself. That is what the mirror neurons are doing. They help me to feel your pain. I experience the same pain as if someone were to hurt me directly. That is the basis for all empathy.”
Voice 2
Empathy is the first step toward kindness. It lets us know when people are sad or hurt. We know mirror neurons help us feel other people’s pain. But mirror neurons also allow us to feel when other people are happy. When we see others smile, we often smile. In being kind to others, we feel their happiness.
Voice 1
The happiness we get from being kind also may be good for our health. When we are kind, our brain releases chemicals called neurotransmitters. Some neurotransmitters make us frightened, or angry. But the neurotransmitters released in kindness have positive effects. They make us feel good about our relationships, and more confident. But they also help our bodies. Oxytocin is one neurotransmitter released during a kind act. Oxytocin prevents stress. But it also lowers blood pressure. Marcie Hall is a psychiatrist at University Hospitals in Ohio in the United States. She spoke to the Healthy@UH podcast about the benefits of these neurotransmitters.
Voice 4
“Kindness actually protects your heart. It improves your body’s disease fighting system. It improves your energy. It reduces aches and pains. It can lead to a longer life. In the process, you also feel better about yourself.”
Voice 2
Kindness and empathy are also very important to human society. They keep our relationships healthy. The good feelings we get from kindness make us want to help other people. And they encourage different groups of people to work together. Without empathy, our communities would be very different. They might not exist at all!
Voice 1
One well-known theory is described as survival of the fittest. This idea is based on a theory by Charles Darwin. This theory says that the strongest and best people are the ones who will survive and continue. But Helen Riess disagrees with this idea. Riess is the director of a program that teaches people how to use and improve empathy. She wrote a paper called The Science of Empathy. In it, she explained why people have empathy.
Voice 5
“Why is the human brain designed this way? If life were only the result of “survival of the fittest”, we would only fight people. We would not care about responding to suffering. Our ability to see other’s suffering allows us to feel and understand their pain. The personal distress we feel often influences us to show kindness. The survival of humans depends on helping others. Being kind reduces our own distress.”
Voice 2
Kindness is not just something nice you do for someone. Kindness is part of what makes us human. Without it, we would not be able to work together. We would not want to. Henry James was a famous English and American author. He wrote many books that explored the human experience. In 1902, James spoke to a young family member. James told the young man these wise words:
Voice 6
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.”
Voice 1
Do you think kindness is important in your life? Tell us about one time you were kind. How did it feel? You can email us at contact@spotlightenglish.com. You can also find us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Dan Christmann. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. This program is called: Why Being Kind Can Make You Healthy.
Voice 1
Visit our website at www.spotlightenglish.com to download our free official app for Android and Apple devices. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Question:
Is kindness a part of your life? What act of kindness will you do today?
I get good listening for the first day
So far so good for first time
how have you been now ?
Yes, it is important to be kind and help others, it is healthy for you, when you give them anything maybe just a smile, it is good for you .
H
Hello, my name is Minh Nguyen. I’m 8 years old. I help my mom and dad do chores.
see strange someone,say hello with a smiling is kind action that we can easy to do always.
Absolutely yes , it’s necessary in our life especially it is good in mental and physical health , the act of kindness smile to others and say hello them , help people in need , respect others and so on
We should be kind and deal people as a kind regardless of nationality and religion
Yes, a nice message that makes my friend happy
yes.
i think the kindness a part of life because when do something nice to others like help poor People or elderly take any thing can hurts children in ground
its important be kindness to all from humans to animals
Nothing just i learn the english
Windefull
thx it very interesting thing
Good
definitely, Kindness takes place in my life as if am writing this text, in fact, feeling of others is what make us being kind, and people who are experience the empathy the ones with more kindness.
Hi everyone
Humans are members of each other like organs of a body
Because they are same in creation
If an organ hurts any time, other parts of the body will have a sympathy
then One who is not saddened by the suffering of others cannot be called a human
I want listen more and more
Yes it is a part of my life and i like to be a kind mother with my little kids.
I will call my sister and i will let her know that I miss her so much and i want to take her with me to drink cup of coffee
Yes it is, I will talk to people in a good way
Kindness is very important to our and other’s life, so be kind, it helps both you and the one you’ve helped.
Sure, I love this type of style in my live. It’s great, when you try add a happiness for others.
I’ll do what I really want of others do with me when I fall a trouble or without it ,regardless How is it?!
Kindness is very important in my work because my work is direct with clients and the majority of clients are elderly and the required service must be completed in the best way and in the shortest period of time. It requires good treatment with the customer and spreading positive energy
Having empathy, it’ll the first step to built a better world.
Yes kindness is part of our life , I bring to my friends sweet , help my friends and said welcome to the new employees .
I like it
kindness is big part in life
of course the kindness a part of our lives
honestly god make us to helping each other
yes, we humns and this part of lives.kind The world becomes scary without empathy،I think I’m good
Ofcourse, kindness is the most important criteria of humankind. There are alot of situation I wear kind. But one of them touches my deepest haert. It was with a house keeper, she was nice, kind, and so friendly. One time I saw her crying with no stop, she has pain in her tooth. So, she couldn’t get the money or afford it.. she told me how she is in pain After that I took her to hospital and make sure she got a well treatment.
She always thanks me, in every day and thats so kind of her.
The first thing I want to confirm that Kindness is very important part of my life because the feeling of doing kind actions make my life is valuable. I am a teacher, I will support my student to learn how to use some computer softwares.
Yes feravl. It loves my family
Is kindness a part of your life? What act of kindness will you do today?
Yes, today I will help my mom with the housework.
Do you think kindness is important in your life? Tell us about one time you were kind. How did it feel?
If it is important, once my sister and I went to the abarrey, it was cold weather and we saw a person sleeping outside, my sister and I went to the house to get a blanket. It felt nice to be able to help someone.
Angela Echeverria Cardenas – Name
Sometimes yes, I normally a person who loves to buy blankets for homeless people;
yes kindness is important in my life, i remember few times where my dad made me take out a jacket i was wearing and give it to a homeless guy who was asking for food in a blvd, it was on december where usually is cold
Is kindness a part of your life? What act of kindness will you do today?
yes, today I will go to my grandmother’s house to help in her house since she has difficulties
Do you think kindness is important in your life? Tell us about one time you were kind. How did it feel?
Of course yes, kindness has always been part of my life, since it feels very nice to help someone and be thanked
Sure, kindness is part of my life, I usually always try to be kind to everyone, even if it’s just to say “thank you” or “have a nice day”.
I am kind especially when I go to a store or help older adults to lift their bags
Being kind makes you feel better about yourself and makes other people feel helped.
Is kindness a part of your life?
if kindness is part of my life it is like a habitat for me
What act of kindness Will you do today?
help whoever needs me
Do you think kindness is important in your life?
yes because that shows who I am as a person
How did it feel?
very good
Kindness is parte of my life, everytime that i have the oportunity to help someone, i do it, act like help to push a broken car to get out of traffic, help a old person to charge his bags in the súper, or help a losed child to find his parents.
Today i help to my little cousin yo inscribe to the high school.
I feel that it is very important, it is a way of showing respect to people.
yes, once my cell phone was returned to me when I forgot it in the uber.
It felt great that there are still good people
Do you think kindness is important in your life? Tell us about a time you were kind. How did you feel?
Is kindness part of your life? What act of kindness will you do today?
I always try to be kind, I like to think that when you’re kind, karma always comes back, today I paid for a friend’s meal and it felt really good.
Kindness is very important in my life, because I like to treat people like how I like to be treated. My act of kindness today could be give a massage to my aunt because she has back pain
If it is part of my life, from the good values of greeting as in my actions, it is a way of showing that I am a respectful person with people.
I always try to have good deeds daily.
I think kindness is very important. Because in our life especially it is good in mental and sometimes polite.
I’m friendly With my workers, because can you change attitude. They can work better and they are friendly with me.
if kindness and my act of kindness today is part of my life, it would be to help someone on the street
Yes i do. once i helped a senior mom for cross on the street. i felt good after that. yes it is. these acts are not planned.
Is kindness a part of your life? What act of kindness will you do today?
Yes, I will play with my nephew and spend time with him.
Do you think kindness is important in your life? Tell us one time you were kind. How did it fell? Yes is very important to me because you give something with love you receive a lot a blessings. Once me and my friends we did an activicty to colect money for a frind who needed a lot help, because he was very bad at the hospital.
Is kindness part of your life? What act of kindness will you do today?
yes, I treat people as I would like to be treated, help street dogs with a bag of food
Kindness is the best thing that humans can have, from a young age it is what we must instill so that there is respect everywhere, this day I did the kindness of helping the needy in what was in my hands.
1.- Is kindness a part of your life? Yes
2.- What act of kindness will you do today? like all the time, respect people and be a good citizen
3.- Do you think kindness is important in your life? Yes
4.- Tell us about one time you were kind. How did it feel? It felt very good, young people my age lack this gift and it is sad that it is not noted
Is kindness part of your life? Yes, it is.
What act of kindness will you do today? Help my mother to cook
Do you think kindness is important in your life? Yes, because I believe that helping others is a very good thing
Tell us about one time you were kind. How did it feel? In the last semester, I helped my classmates to study for “circuits and machines”, when I saw that they passed the course, I felt happy and relieved
Kindness is part of my life, because that’s how I would like it to be with me, my daily act of kindness is to be a good person with others and help us in whatever way I can.
Kindness is part of my life, because that’s how I would like it to be with me, my daily act of kindness is to be a good person with others and help us in whatever way I can.
thank you for all benefit you learned us !
about Spotlight of today , the kindness is one of the important empathy we feeling of it make the person happy and lovely for the other person or the whole word in all
It is useful for learning english and life.
Of course, I will help my parents
Yes
Your exploration of kindness through the lens of both cultural stories and scientific research is commendable. The blend of relatable storytelling with empirical evidence, like the concept of mirror neurons, effectively underscores the intrinsic and health-related benefits of kindness. However, expanding on how individuals can practically apply this understanding in daily life, with tangible examples or strategies, might enhance the impact of your message. Additionally, incorporating diverse cultural perspectives could further enrich the narrative, making the profound message of kindness even more universal.
Thank you for your comment!
A few years ago I was walking in a large city, in a street lined with old buildings, when I saw, in front of a huge and heavy wooden door, a little old lady trying to enter, but she didn’t have the strength to move the door. I approached and, with one hand, pushed the door which opened and the old lady was able to enter. I felt like the gentle giant. On another occasion I helped a child who had climbed a low wall, a couple of meters high, but then he didn’t know how to get down and was scared. I took it with both hands and placed it on the ground. In this case I felt like a fireman.
Yeah of course , the kindness is important part of my life .
I will give time to my cat to see her and play with her and hers children.
yes. boy kind
Kindness is an important thing for us,we can’t live without it.a smile can make day of someone amazing.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34.
Islam religion taught us how to be kind as our prophet Mohammed pace be Upon him told us. Kindness is part of our values as Muslims.An example of kindness put water for birds
Yes sure , i work in tourism company and I contact with our climates in work and help them if they need help but l face some problems with them because they are so arrogant with me but l’m not want to make problems with them because l hate problems and I still deal with them well.
In my opinion kindness is very important ,due to it makes love between us.
Today , i helped my mum in cleaning and i felt very happy.
I am reading now. lt looks good! Thanks for sharing this.
Kindness is part of our Islamic religion …
The simble thing I can do to be kind is smile