According to Cambridge Dictionary, kindness is the quality of being generous, helpful, and caring about other people. We always think that the receiver of kindness acts will be happier than the giver. But this is not true.
People often think being kind and generous will only make the receiver happy. This is not true. Studies suggest that kindness can make both the receiver and the giver happy.
How can being kind make us, the giver, happy? When we are kind to others in need promotes empathy and compassion, it leads us to have a sense of connection with others. When we feel we are connected with others, we feel less lonely. It makes us understand that we all have different problems, and it a can also make us appreciate little things around us.
According to research, kindness can affect us not only mentally, but physically. When we practice random acts of kindness, it releases positivity, it can release neuro-chemicals, which can reduce pain and enhances both physical & mental health and many more. Being kind will produce a lot of hormones and chemicals in our body which will make us happy and less stressed.
Witnessing kindness can produce Oxycontin, a love hormone, which can make us more optimistic, confident and lower blood pressure. As a result, bonds between those who are kind to one another are strengthened.
Kindness can also stimulate the production of serotonin which can help to calm us down and make us feel happy.
A random act of kindness can also reduce pain. Dopamine, serotonin and endogenous opioids are released by kind behavior, this can help minimize the pain and stress that you have.
Sometimes some people hesitate to find different ways to show kindness. Random acts of kindness are acts of kindness that could help people on a day to day basis. For example, buying someone a drink, helping someone hold the door, etc. And random act of kindness can improve our physical and mental health. Researches in Great Britain did a study on life satisfaction. The experiment involved three groups of people. The first group was told to preform a daily act of kindness everyday, the second group was told to do something new each day and the third group received no instructions. Results showed that the first group experienced a significant happiness boost whilst the third group didn't get happier. The findings suggests good deeds do in fact make people feel better, even if it was done over as little as 10 days.
Many people say what we benefit from kindness is also being happy yourself, that is correct but there's actually more. We can change the world. These acts of kindness can really make someone's day better, and there is also a chance that the kindness you gave to someone will spread. That act of kindness can motivate other people to spread kindness, creating a "positive feedback loop" which promotes lasting happiness and altruism. With this cycle, slowly but surely it will make the world a better place.
Be kind & be happy!
Keaton & Kenson
Source:
“Why Random Acts of Kindness Matter to Your Well-Being.” Psychology Today, 2017, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-nourishment/201711/why-random-acts-kindness-matter-your-well-being. Accessed 15 Jan. 2021.
Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 1045–1062. DOI: 10.1037/a0013262
Hamilton, D. R. (2010). Why Kindness is Good for You. United Kingdom: Hay House.
Luks, A., & Payne, P. (2001). The Healing Power of Doing Good. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.com, Inc.
Kindness Makes You Happy… and Happiness Makes You Kind.” Greater Good, 2011, greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/kindness_makes_you_happy_and_happiness_makes_you_kind. Accessed 15 Jan. 2021.
“Happiness.com.” Happiness.com, happiness.com, 12 Nov. 2020, www.happiness.com/magazine/science-psychology/benefits-of-kindness/. Accessed 15 Jan. 2021.
