An act of kindness can make someone’s day, build or repair relationships, and bring us closer to family, friends and our community. All of these have a positive impact on our mental health and well-being. Think about it: Simply knowing that we are supported, cared for and loved can reduce anxiety and depression and make us feel as though we belong. 

Kindness is contagious and lies deep within the spirit of our sisterhood. We often think about actions of kindness toward others. But it’s important to remember to be kind to ourselves as well. 

For Mental Health Awareness month, Kappa is excited to launch our new Lives Fully Lived series. We’re kicking off the series with the topic of kindness, made possible by Christina Eichler Bullock, UC Davis. 

Christina, like many of us, has observed that women can be hard on each other, whether it’s on social media, reality TV or in the corporate boardroom. Kappas can join together to break this cycle and lead the way to uplift one another with kindness. We can inspire positive change.

Tune in every Wednesday this May to hear from a dynamic lineup of speakers. Register for the Lives Fully Lived – Kindness virtual events below.

Whisper Out Loud

Jessica Gendron Williams

May 4 at 3 p.m. ET

When Jessica Gendron Williams began sharing her cancer journey, she didn’t anticipate how many people would be impacted. Her narrative helps others learn more about breast cancer, but Gendron Williams realized there’s so much more to share. She is striving to help women live fuller lives, not by becoming perfect versions of themselves, but instead by becoming their favorite versions of themselves. Throughout her journey, Gendron Williams not only learned about the power of kindness to others but also the power of granting ourselves kindness, grace and self-acceptance. Whisper Out Loud aims to empower women to talk about and do all the things they should but often don’t.

Missed the live session? You can find the recording under the Commit section in Minerva, Kappa’s online learning portal. 

Better Fraternity, Better You

Dr. Lori Hart

May 11 at 3 p.m. ET

Using research from esteemed establishments such as Yale and Harvard, Dr. Lori Hart relies on research on kindness and connection to show how these are the keys to living a happy life. Focusing on the importance of positive connections with one another, Dr. Hart speaks of the intersection between connection and kindness, and making the most out of the fraternity experience.

Missed the live session? You can find the recording under the Commit section in Minerva, Kappa’s online learning portal. 

Kind to Whom?

Tina VanSteenbergen

May 18 at 3 p.m. ET

How old were you when you were taught to be kind to others? Pretty young, right? Now, think about how old you were when you were taught the importance of being kind to yourself. Was the answer “today years old”? For so many of us, the value of kindness stops at our interactions with others. We are often our harshest critics, speaking to ourselves in ways we would never speak to friends or family members. Why is that? Can we fix it? How? Join VanSteenbergen to discuss practical strategies for showing yourself the kindness and respect you show others because you deserve it.

Missed the live session? You can find the recording under the Commit section in Minerva, Kappa’s online learning portal. 

Because I Said I Would…

Alex Sheen

May 25 at 3 p.m. ET

Because I Said I Would is a social movement and nonprofit dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept. Alex Sheen founded this nonprofit to honor his father, who passed away from small-cell lung cancer. During the delivery of his father’s eulogy, Sheen shared his father’s commitment to following through and impacting others through action. A lot of people don’t keep their promises these days. This might just seem like social commentary, but think about how many people promise to quit smoking, graduate, recycle or volunteer but then don’t. The consequences of broken promises plague the world. Sheen will inspire us to commit to bettering the lives of others through kindness and passion simply because we said we would.

Missed the live session? You can find the recording under the Commit section in Minerva, Kappa’s online learning portal. 

Due to her personal journey, Christina was inspired to sponsor the Lives Fully Lived – Kindness series through the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation. You too can help inspire positive change. If you’d like to support Kappas mental health and well-being efforts, consider making a gift the Kappa Foundation.