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Kindness Makes Us Happier And More Satisfied With Life.

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Observed on February 17th, National Random Acts of Kindness Day has grown in popularity each year.  It is celebrated by individuals, groups and organizations nationwide to encourage acts of kindness.

  • It is a favorite day for many, as people everywhere are enjoying doing these acts of kindness.  Not only is it positive for the receiver, but for the giver, too!
  • “I was a recipient of the kindness but more glad to be a contributor!” (Unknown)
  • In New Zealand, where this day originated, celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Day on September 1st.  It is also recognized by some on other days throughout the year; however, doing random acts of kindness is something that can be done every day of the year.
  • Our research found that the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Week.  The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is an internationally recognized non-profit organization founded upon the powerful belief in kindness and dedicated to providing resources and tools that encourage acts of kindness.  http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/rak-week
  • Random Acts Of Kindness Day was first created in Denver, Colorado in 1995, and nine years later it spread to New Zealand in 2004.
  • Kindness makes us happier and more satisfied with life.  The science bit: On a biochemical level, it is believed that the good feeling we get is due to elevated levels of the brain’s natural versions of morphine and heroin, which we know as endogenous opioids. They cause elevated levels of dopamine in the brain and so we get a natural high, often referred to as ‘Helper’s High’. This is the kinda high we want to promote. 
  • Studies show that being kind makes you more energetic and increases our sense of self-worth.
  • Kindness is good for the heart.  Acts of kindness are often accompanied by emotional warmth. Emotional warmth produces the hormone, oxytocin, in the brain and throughout the body.
  • Kindness Slows Ageing.
  • Kindness improves our mood. 
  • Kindness helps reduce the effects of stressIn the study published in Clinical Psychological Science, researchers found that there is a natural way to help relieve the impact of stress on health, and that is through helping others.
  • Five acts of kindness in a week will increase your happiness for up to three months. {source} 
  • The effects of kindness can be so great you don’t have to be directly linked to a giving chain to get in on the act. By simply witnessing generosity you may be inspired to do something generous of your own, according to new research study. {source}
  • Kindness can be taught. A researcher from the University of Wisconsin says, “It’s kind of like weight training. We found that people can actually build up their compassion ‘muscle’ and respond to others’ suffering with care and a desire to help.” {source}
  • People 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying. That’s after sifting out every other contributing factor, including physical health, exercise, gender, habits like smoking, marital status and many more. This is a stronger effect than exercising four times a week. {source}
  • Teachers and parents care about kindness, and they’re worried children aren’t getting enough of it.  In a survey from Sesame Workshop, 86% of teachers and 70% of parents say they often worry that the world is an unkind place for children.
  • Kindness may be contagious.  Researchers from the Stanford Social Neuroscience Laboratory conducted studies that illustrate that kindness might in fact be “contagious,” and that people are more likely to do kind acts when they see others being kind as well.

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Days of the Year

Good and Kind

The Neat Nook

Medium