Why Acts of Kindness Matter

Studies show that small acts of kindness can have many positive effects towards better physical and mental health.  Kindness can contribute to increases in self-esteem, empathy, compassion while working towards decreasing loneliness and combatting low mood. For more information on specific studies, please see the references at the bottom of the article. Read on for information on how to incorporate more acts of kindness into your life, and some examples to get you started.

Incorporating Kindness into Your Life

Kindness is a habit that is incredibly contagious, and easy to incorporate into your life. Once you start, it becomes easier to continue.  Before you begin, reflect on your why.  What areas of your life can benefit from kindness and giving?  By beginning this journey, what are you giving to yourself and others?  Setting your intentions is beneficial as it gives you a starting point.  

New habits take time and it can be overwhelming if you start too big.  Starting with giving small compliments to family and friends and then working your way up to complimenting strangers is one example of how to grow the habit.

Most importantly, focus on giving without expecting anything in return.  You gain the most benefits from giving and random acts of kindness when going into it with the mindset of no expectations.

Examples of Random Acts of Kindness:

(All of these examples came from randomactsofkindness.org. See their website for many more ideas)

  1. Donate used books to a library
  2. Leave quarters at the laundromat or vending machine
  3. Let somebody merge while in traffic
  4. Reach out to someone who is having a tough time
  5. Send an encouraging email to a colleague
  6. Write a handwritten letter and mail it
  7. Write positive messages on sticky notes and leave for others to find
  8. Challenge yourself to only write positive comments online
  9. Compliment with reckless abandon
  10.  Donate used towels or blankets to a shelter

Ready to start your kindness journey? You can reach us through our Contact Us page or by calling 513-846-5283 to get matched with one of our licensed therapists.  We look forward to working with you soon!

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