Why Kindness Is Good For You

This post was featured on Parent Co., a digital publication for people who are as curious about the world as they are committed to raising great kids.

Why do you help others? Yes, it is the right thing to do. But did you know that it also makes you happier and healthier?

I know it may be a bit selfish to look at how being kind to others is beneficial to us personally, but the recent science surrounding kindness is so fascinating that we can’t ignore it. Plus, it is important for parents to understand why we want to instill kindness in our children so that we can provide all the reasons to them when they question it.

Kindness is a win-win for both the giver and receiver. In searching for ways to reduce my own stress, I started participating in more volunteer activities in my community. I recently worked with an under-privileged six year old boy on his reading skills. It was so rewarding when he read the word “different” on his own since it was very challenging for him. His teacher was so excited for that accomplishment, and it gave him a confidence boost. I experienced so much joy from helping him and can’t wait to go back in a couple weeks.

What Happens When We Are Kind?

Our brain chemistry actually changes when we do something nice for another person. Studies show that thinking about, watching, or practicing kindness stimulates the vagus nerve, which is linked to the production of oxytocin in our brain. Oxytocin is a hormone that soothes us, making us feel calmer and happier. Kindness also triggers the production of dopamine, the hormone responsible for positive emotions and that natural high feeling we get. As a result, we experience positive health changes including:

• Increased life expectancy
• Feeling less lonely
• Stronger immune system
• Fewer aches and pains
• Decrease in stress and anxiety
• Less depression

How Kindness And Stress Are Connected

How can helping someone else reduce our stress level? A study published just last year at UCLA and Yale University School of Medicine linked acts of kindness to stress reduction. For 14 days, a group of adults was asked to report stressful events they experienced each day from several categories (e.g., interpersonal, work/education, home, finance, health/accident). They were also asked to report whether they participated in various helpful behaviors (e.g., held open a door, helped with schoolwork, asked someone if they needed help) that day.

Results showed that on any given day, helping others controlled the effects of stress on overall health. Researchers concluded that volunteerism can be an important way of coping with stress. According to the Association for Psychological Science, study author Emily Ansell of the Yale University School of Medicine said, “Stressful days usually lead us to have a worse mood and poorer mental health, but our findings suggest that if we do small things for others, such as holding a door open for someone, we won’t feel as poorly on stressful days.”

Ways To Expand Kindness In Your Family’s Life

Now that you know all the amazing benefits of kindness, don’t  you just want to get out there and make someone smile? There are so many simple ways you can incorporate kindness into your family’s daily routine.

• Find a local volunteer project to do as a family.
• Do random acts of kindness with your kids and talk to them about the experience. How did it make them feel? Some ideas include leaving a treat on a neighbor’s doorstep, giving a very generous tip to restaurant staff, opening a door for a stranger, and helping the elderly with groceries.
• Send a thank you note to someone who has done something special for you.
• Join a kindness challenge. I encourage everyone to sign up with KindSpring. The site offers kindness challenges and an online community of people who practice small acts of kindness, share stories, and support each other.
• Bring kindness programs to your child’s school. Check out the following wonderful resources:
  • Ripple Kindness Project: Provides a kindness school curriculum and an interactive community with stories and inspiration. They also offer kindness cards and other products.
  • Random Acts of Kindness Foundation: Encourages the spread of kindness in schools, communities, and homes through inspiration, ideas, stories, and school curriculum.
  • Samaritans 365: This after school program in my local community teaches children what it means to be a good Samaritan by organizing programs about acts of charity and kindness. Check out Growing Up Glad to see how one amazing mom has become involved in bringing kindness to her daughters’ school through Samaritans 365.

How has kindness made you or your children feel better?