“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

There is a new movement upon us. It is a social trend worth becoming. Random acts of kindness are infiltrating our way of being. The act of paying it forward is a concept of paying for a coffee, sandwich, or slice of pizza for another to be used later.

These acts of kindness are seen not only in what is now termed suspended coffee or a pay it forward meal, but it can also be viewed when community members place jackets and scarves in public areas available for anyone in need or when shop owners allow stray dogs or cats inside overnight, as a haven from the weather.

These acts are an indication our consciousness is changing, in contrast to the negative images often dominating the news of the day.

Being the recipient of kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem and improved moods. It provides a sense of connectivity with others, directly impacting loneliness, which is increased in this time of isolation. This elevated mood can be contagious, as it promotes increased interactions with others.

Not only is acting in kindness a way to improve anothers’ reality, but it is also a proactive and effortless way to renew our health, energy, and wellbeing.

Science supports engaging in acts of kindness.

The research behind why kindness makes us feel better has centered around oxytocin, also called the love hormone. It plays a significant role in forming social bonds, trusting other people, and feelings of generosity while at the same time lowering our blood pressure.

If that isn’t enough, kind people have less cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. This is shown to slow aging. Being kind also produces endorphins, the brain’s natural painkiller.

If you need more reasons to be kind, dopamine is a good brain chemical that gives us a euphoric feeling, and it also increases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood.

With all of these benefits, how can we turn away from such simple efforts?

Here’s the caveat: To personally gain from these amazing benefits, we must repeatedly perform acts of kindness because the effects are not lasting. They may last moments or hours and, on occasion, up to a few days.

The good news is for the recipient of kindness, the effects endure.

To change our mindset or a habit only takes the desire to make a plan and carry through.

We can begin by being a good neighbor. The word neighbor comes from the root idea of those near dwellers, those you can touch or impact. Many of us do not live in areas where we are friendly with our adjacent neighbors. However, we do shop in neighborhood stores and function as a community.

Making kindness, a daily ritual begins with our own lives. First, we must be kind to ourselves, taking the necessary time for self-care and monitoring any negative self-talk. Next, our immediate friends, our pets,  and how we make an impact on the environment are all places to implement and practice kindness within our households.

How to infuse your life with kindness happens easily by being kind to everything we come in contact with throughout the day. A smile and a hello to a stranger may be the only acknowledgment they have received in days.

Whether on social media or a chat with a technician, conversations online can end with a salutation and expression of appreciation. Even if they were unable to solve an issue, a thank you goes a long way.

The more we extend a hand or open a door, we create a two-way street of benefit.

Another way to spread kindness is with the words we choose. Speak kindly of others, refrain from gossip, bullying, or harsh words.

The smallest act of kindness allows us to step outside of ourselves with an impact exponentially larger than the effort used.

We have the power to create the worlds we want. The only requirement needed is the desire to envision and the plan to do it. We have a choice to react to life’s twists and turns in a myriad of ways. Choosing kindness is always a good choice.

By doing, we become. Becoming kind is a social trend worth promoting. Be the change you want to see.

Hearts that beat to the tune of kindness can change the rhythm of the world 

~CJ Peterson

 

 

Why kindness matters | John Sweeney | TEDxStPeterPort