The Contagion of Kindness

There are many reasons to be anxious and stressed, and to see the world through the lenses of fear and uncertainty. But changing that lens to one of kindness can be the perfect antidote—a medicine for body and soul. And the good news? It’s part of who we are, and it’s contagious.

Agrowing body of work from researchers around the world shows that not only are we hard-wired to be kind, but that being kind is good for you. In a study on the genetics of kindness, at the University of Jerusalem, researchers found more selfless people had particular variations in the receptors of hormones such as oxytocin and dopamine.

When we do a kind act, four feel-good chemicals are released in our bodies that also impact our health:

Serotonin heals wounds, stabilizes mood, eases depression, and maintains bone health. Endorphins reduce pain and enhance pleasure. Oxytocin reduces blood pressure and inflammation, and makes us feel more connected. Dopamine boosts pleasure. All these contribute to feeling calmer and more energized, to helping the body fight disease and, potentially, to living longer. Scientists have also discovered that the person receiving a kindness and others who witness the act also receive an infusion of those chemicals. Sounds like the perfect elixir, for everyone.

Kindness = Survival

Kindness became an evolutionary necessity. We needed to cooperate and to be kind to one other to survive—to provide food, shelter, and protection from predators (animal and human) and other dangers. We formed beneficial alliances with other tribes and bonded with our babies to ensure their survival. Kindness minimized conflict and brought rewards of biological, personal, and societal pleasure. As a result, the ‘kindness’ gene has been hard-wired into us and passed down through the generations.

Today, the dangers may be different, but we need kindness more than ever. Most of us no longer live in supportive extended family and tribal groups. Many of us face loneliness, and we’re all challenged to navigate exponential changes in technology and society.

Life just isn’t easy, and the kindness of friends and strangers is needed to help us feel more connected—seen, heard, and appreciated.

Challenge yourself to do one mindful, thoughtful act a day and watch how it changes your outlook, your health, and your feeling of connection to others.

Be Random

Everyone can be kind simply with a smile, patience, or a helping hand extended to a person, to an animal, or to the environment.

Random Acts of Kindness, a non-profit organization, began in the ‘90s with the belief that everyone can connect through kindness and that kindness can be taught— at home, in school, in the workplace, and for the environment. Inspired stories from around the world continue to be shared of these random, often anonymous, acts—from buying a coffee for the next person in line, to cleaning up a neighbourhood, or helping someone in trouble.

Be Kind to Yourself

Very often we can be kind and gentle to others, but critical and judgemental when it comes to our own perceived shortcomings or mistakes (Hey! We’re all human.) By extending compassion, care, and comfort to ourselves—as we would an upset friend— we can feel better faster, and raise our level of empathy for others.

Take the Challenge

Whether a strategy for your own health and well-being or the outside world, little acts go a long way. Challenge yourself to do one mindful, thoughtful act a day and watch how it changes your outlook, your health, and your feeling of connection to others.

Hold the elevator for a stranger. Pick up garbage in the park, on the beach, or a street.

Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbour. Share a bench and conversation with someone sitting alone.

Plant a tree.

Grow a garden. Make eye contact and smile.

KINDNES� COUNT�

2–4 hrs

Regularly volunteering about two to four hours a week, at any age, increases happiness, life satisfaction, selfesteem, and sense of control over life.

Being unkind to ourselves is connected to depression and low psychological well-being.

95%

of people feel good when they help someone.

Kindness is more attractive than good looks.

Kindness strengthens our immune system, reduces aches and pains, improves our cardiovascular profile, and boosts energy and strength in elderly people.

53%

of people feel happier and more optimistic. For 81% of those people, those feelings last hours or even days.

Sources https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-kindness/201901/the-sciencekindness-101 https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/the-science-of-kindness

Kindness can help people fighting disease, chronic pain, and emotional trauma to cope better and combat negative emotions.

40%

sober rate for alcoholics who help other alcoholics, compared to 22% among alcoholics who didn’t help others.

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/about-us https://positivepsychlopedia.com/year-of-happy/the-benefits-of-kindness/