Random Acts of Kindness

Source: Serani

Kindness can best be described as a prosocial behavior involving intentional acts of goodwill, generosity and benevolence. Prosocial behavior is clinically defined as “a broad set of behavioral, motivational, cognitive, affective, and social processes that contribute to, and/or are focused on, the welfare of others.” When we help, share, comfort, cooperate or support others, we're being prosocial. And when we engage in a simple spontaneous gesture, like holding open a door for another or smiling as one walks by another - or more planned exchanges, like volunteering or donating, we're practicing kindness.

The Rewards of Kindness

Evidenced based studies on kindness report kind acts don't just benefit the other (the recipient of the kindness), but also the person being kind (the actor). The kindness exchange surges feel-good hormones dopamine and serotonin in both the giver and the receiver. Other benefits from research report:

• Being kind fosters compassion.
• Being kind spurs feelings of happiness.
• Being kind promotes a sense of connection and community with others.
• Being kind deepens gratitude.
• Being kind connects us to hope and optimism.
• Being kind allows us to use our strengths in meaningful ways.
• Being kind improves physical well-being, lowers blood pressure, and eases pain.
• Being kind surges the dopamine pleasure-reward center of the brain, leading to what's known as the helper's high.
• Being kind produces oxytocin that helps us, and others, feel safe and comforted.
• Being kind offers feelings of increased energy.
• Being kind decreases loneliness.
• Being kind reduces anxiety and eases depression.
• Being kind increases our own self-worth.
• Being kind promotes longevity.

How to Be Kind

While Random Acts of Kindness Week highlights the importance of kindness at this time of year, we can all benefit from the simple acts of kindness every day. Making small, thoughtful gestures to others, as well as practicing self-kindness, transcends us from the challenging times and fractured discord of the world.

When it comes to practicing kindness:

1. Make it simple. In our fast paced world, it can feel as if you don't have time to give to others. Kindness need not be an overture or a grand gesture. If you reflect momentarily on others as you go about your busy day, you'll likely be able to engage in simple acts of kindness.
2. Make it a habit. For some of us, kindness comes easy because of our temperament, personality and genetics. For others, it may be harder. When it comes to being kind, kindness expert Houston Kraft invites us to create a "To-Be List" each day. By making a mental note of what you wish to be—kind, grateful, patient with others or generous—you set into motion the mechanics for this to become a reflexive habit.
3. Practice self-kindness. Tending to your own self with compassion and kindness is vital to well-being. The way you think, feel or talk to yourself matters. Approach your own self with gentleness, compassion and understanding instead of with harsh criticism. When you can be kind to yourself, it becomes easier to be kind to others.