With technology growing at a rapid pace, it is easy for someone to become isolated and forget about social interactions. Still, the most important thing to establish is a human connection. Research in psychology support the fact that a “helpers high” is felt when small acts of kindness is performed, and motional social bonding, oxycontin, and dopamine, are released in the giver and the receiver. When someone chooses to ‘step outside the circle’ of their own immediate social needs and contact someone, in addition to acknowledging and touching that person, a social ‘glue’ is being built. Micro social interactions reduce the impact of growing social isolation, and show that a person does not need to be famous or wealthy to give someone a positive and constructive social experience. With small scale social acts, a multitude of positive constructive social experiences can be created.
Changing Spaces Using Words and Actions
Using words to communicate is a great way to show appreciation to others. Offering a compliment, modest and genuine, has the power to change a person’s view of themself for the entire day. Instead of giving an employee a “good job”, a compliment for specific attributes such as “I appreciate the way you demonstrated patience and spoke calmly to the entire team during a difficult meeting” helps a person feel valued. In addition to words, every person has the opportunity to make a positive change by using their body in a public space. Holding the door for someone who has a hard time managing their bags, or giving your spot in line to the person in front of you who has 2 items instead of waiting 2 more minutes, will help that person feel valued and reduce their stress. These gestures show that you respect the person’s time.
Importance of Presence and Active Listening
Today, it seems like people can’t focus on a single task. Like, when somebody focuses on you when you’re talking is a pretty uncommon thing. Listening, as in putting your phone away, making and keeping eye contact, and responding without planning a counter argument, is really rare. It is really the opposite of a jerk move. It shows the speaker that what they are saying is really important, and it allows the speaker to feel the most important. The same is true when a friend is asked how they are doing, and just as a greeting, they get a message saying “no pressure” and it is the most helpful thing in the world when people are struggling in silence. Messages that are sent as “I’m thinking of you” and “no need to reply” take the social pressure away and give a lot to people. People build emotional tendencies when they give that neutral social pressure and remember someone. With this absence of social pressure, the emotional tendencies goes up, and with it the social reliability.
Measurable Effects of Altruism
Although the emotional positives of acts of kindness are really evident, the long lasting positive acts on society can really be measured. Environments that are more kind than other more cruel environments have proven to be more productive and to suffer from burnout a lot less. To lay it out clearly, here are some everyday acts of kindness and the emotional payment they have as a result.
| Act of Kindness | Effort Level | Primary Benefit | Target Audience |
| Sincere Compliment | Low | Boosts Self-Esteem | Strangers / Peers |
| Active Listening | Medium | Strengthens Bonds | Friends / Family |
| Leaving a Positive Review | Low | Supports Livelihood | Small Businesses |
| Helping with a Task | High | Reduces Stress | Neighbors / Co-workers |
| Sending a Gratitude Note | Medium | Increases Long-term Joy | Mentors / Loved ones |
Cultivating a Mindset of Gratitude and Service
Kindness can be a lot of things, but most importantly, it’s acts of kindness that can be considered genuine and true. It is often said that kindness is a series of acts, though, perhaps the best kindness stems from a change of heart or a change of perspective. Instead of thinking, “What can I get?” think instead, “What can I give?” Ways of thinking like this can lead to acts of kindness such as, leaving a positive note in a book at the library, or cleaning up trash that is just lying around at the park, or even just giving a friendly smile to someone walking by. Kindness is the feeling you get when you enjoy and care for your community or society. Kind acts inspire others to do the same. Maintaining a community that lacks the need to take is more about the mental and emotional desire to better the community. It is best to rely on the mental posture that enriches you, instead of hoarding wealth for yourself. This is best kindness that derives from the change in thinking to give instead of take.
Keeping Kindness Going
Everyday kindness is beautiful because it is so easy to keep going. With everyday kindness, you don’t have to wait for a special occasion. All you have to do is a few kindness acts everyday. Compliments, door holding, listening, and donating can be done once a week. Helping with chores, sharing knowledge and being patient with others can be done everyday. You can leave positive feedback and donate items. Kindness can become a habit and, it can change your brain. You may be less stressed and you can see all the wonderful things in the world. Kind things will always be a positive change and add to the ever growing list of kindness acts.
FAQs
Q1 Can being kind improve kindness?
Yes, Kindness can help with blood pressure and reduces your chance to get stressed. You can also live longer with less stress.
Q2 What can I do to be kind if I am really shy or introverted?
There is no need to talk to others to do something kind. You can donate to a food bank. You can leave a big tip. You can even leave a nice review for a store.
Q3 What if someone overlooks or says no to my act of kindness?
The act of kindness is about the act itself and not the response. If the act goes unrecognized, you still put the act of kindness on the universe, and it helps keep your positive values and neurobiology strong.
