NEWS COPY
Being able to admit you are wrong, asking for help when you need it – and being kind even when someone is rude or aggressive are among the signs you are a ‘strong’ person, a study has found.
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed the traits which define true strength, and includes being supportive, putting your problems aside to help others and speaking up when someone is being mistreated.
Volunteering for tasks no one else wants to do and not judging others are also among the indications of strength.
But Brits value compassion over physicality when it comes to defining a ‘strong person’, with 43 per cent considering an act of kindness to be a sign of strength compared to just 10 per cent who said ‘having big muscles’.
The study, commissioned by deodorant and antiperspirant maker Soft & Gentle, also found almost three quarters of Brits believe being kind makes you stronger as a person.
Clinical psychologist Dr Emma Gray said: “It’s promising to see that these Brits do value characteristics of kindness when defining strength.
“Humans are programmed for emotional connection so showing compassion and performing acts of kindness should not be overlooked.
“When we’re kind, it releases oxytocin hormones which is why we feel better about being kind.
“Kindness, like exercise, releases endorphins, a phenomenon known as 'The Helper's High".
“It also boosts serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness and well-being.”
The study also found half of adults believe there’s strength in honesty, by telling the truth even when it’s tough.
And another 48 per cent think being willing to apologies for a mistake is a sign of strength.
Patience, putting others first, being willing to try new things and not giving in to peer pressure also feature in the top 40.
The study also found Brits are nine times more likely to consider someone ‘strong’ based on their character, rather than physicality.
And 68 per cent believe it takes personal strength to be a kind person.
Four in 10 Brits believe they carry out a random act of kindness at least once a day, with eight in 10 saying being kind to others makes themselves feel much happier.
Assisting a stranger across a road leaves us feeling good for around two-and-a-half hours, while buying food or drink for a homeless person gives us a glow for an hour longer.
Helping a friend move to a new house, however, leaves us feel good about ourselves for a whopping five hours – the same as donating blood.
Sadly, nearly six in 10 of those polled via OnePoll, believe it’s getting harder to stay kind, as the world seems to become a crueller place.
And a quarter think that rather than being seen as a sign of strength, kindness has only held them back in life.
But 45 per cent say being kind makes a leader stronger, with just one in 10 believing kindness makes a leader appear weak.
Morgane Salin, head of marketing at Soft & Gentle said: “We’re on a mission to prove that a certain type of strength comes from being kind to one another – a strength that can be incredibly powerful, so it’s interesting to see that these results prove that being kind is hugely beneficial.
“Our brand lives and breathes kindness – with our new S&G Skin Protect range we carefully selected our ingredients and use organic oils to make sure our formula is gentle for skin but is one that works, time and time again.
“Our new range of antiperspirant deodorants have been designed with delicate fragrances for delicate skin, to keep you feeling fresh and dry all day long.”
TOP 40 SIGNS OF STRENGTH
1. Being able to admit you’re wrong
2. Having a positive attitude
3. Being honest, even when it’s tough
4. Speaking up when you think someone is being unjust
5. Standing up when people are being mistreated
6. Apologising when you are in the wrong
7. Being supportive
8. Being willing to ask for help
9. Putting your problems aside to help others
10. Being patient
11. Being committed to your loved ones
12. Being kind when you know you won’t get anything in return
13. Being hard-working
14. Not easily peer pressured
15. Encouraging others to be the best they can be
16. Non-judgmental
17. Being forgiving
18. Putting others first
19. Feeling confident in yourself
20. Able to deal with your own issues
21. Being kind even when you have personal issues to deal with
22. Having your own opinion
23. Being able to open up
24. Empowering others
25. Being kind when someone is being rude or aggressive
26. Being generous
27. Volunteering for tasks no one else wants to do
28. Being willing to try new things
29. Looking for ways to be kind for no reason
30. Being passionate
31. Knowing what you want
32. Being unapologetically yourself
33. Never complaining
34. Having ambition
35. Being physically strong
36. Never losing your temper
37. Being vulnerable with others
38. Being athletic
39. Having big muscles
40. Being stubborn
ENDS
