What’s Trending Now – Kindness
As seen in social media
Rod, a friend of mine, invited me to participate in a “Pay it forward initiative.” Part of the message read:
“… so we can form a web connection of kindness. Let’s do more nice and loving things in 2014, without any reason other than to make each other smile and to show that we think of each other. Here’s to a more enjoyable, more friendly, and love filled year!”
The first 5 people to reply to his post would make it on his pay it forward list. This means that within the year − for those 5 people − Rod would do something kind or something that would make the person happy… and it would be a surprise.
I liked the idea, and it sounded like fun…so I joined in. By signing up, I would get up to 5 people on my list and do something kind for them (and so it continues with this pay it forward initiative).
It was fun to see who signed up with me. I enjoyed thinking about what would make them happy. It was also a pleasure to plan (or more like, to plot) what I could do for them, and how to make it a surprise.
The importance of being kind
Why
Does being kind sound “soft” or “fluffy?” To some, it probably does. However, topics such as kindness, happiness, and positivity are now the focus of research.
For one thing, it turns out that being kind benefits the giver as well as the receiver. When we act in generous ways (including giving our time, energy, or money) we can receive many rewards. We are rewarded with:
- decreased anxiety. [1]
- becoming happier. [2]
- reduced symptoms of depression, improved health and longevity, and even a natural high. This high has been called “helper’s high.” It happens when the body releases dopamine, a feel-good chemical, into our body. [3]
It just takes a minute to be kind
How
The other day I went out to get something to eat. The person who took my order − I will call him “James” − wanted me to know that my order came with a certain sauce. It was an unusual sauce, and not one you’d expect to go with this item.
Just then, someone else behind the counter chimed in, “But, you can order whatever sauce you want to go with it.”
Then I heard James almost sigh, “Oh never mind.” He looked completely defeated. What was happening here? James told me that he got “chewed out” by a customer because of the sauce confusion.
I felt for him. He looked like he was in high school and perhaps he just had his first encounter with an irritable customer. Maybe the customer was having a bad day… maybe James was having a bad day…who knows.
What I do know is this… that day with James I deliberately chose kindness. Yes, even in this fast paced world, even when picking up “take-out.” I took a moment to listen, to understand, to be kind. Over the years I’ve seen people in service roles get “chewed out” by customers… so I let him know that I understood his situation. As I walked out with my food, I felt good and hoped that in some way what I did was helpful.
Talkin’ about a Revolution
More
Dacher Keltner, the Director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, believes that we are in the midst of a social revolution, and kindness is viewed as a way to solve some of our biggest challenges. [4]
For more information on becoming a part of the kindness revolution you can check out the resource information below. [5,6]
Hoping your year is filled with love, generosity, and kindness.
References:
- http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/emotional-health/doing-kind-acts-reduces-anxiety-study
- http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/kindness_makes_you_happy_and_happiness_makes_you_kind
- http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/raising-happiness/201002/what-we-get-when-we-give
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-c-smith/good-virus-kindness-is-contagious_b_3601942.htmlResources
- http://kindness-is-contagious.com
- http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-ideas
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