Did you know that being kind to others not only makes those around you feel good, but it can also have a positive impact on your own happiness and emotional well-being? In this article, we’ll explore the relationship between kindness and happiness, and how small acts of kindness can make a big difference in our lives and the lives of others.
The relationship between kindness and happiness
Kindness is a core value in most cultures, and refers to a willingness to do good and show compassion towards others. Research suggests that being kind to others can have a positive effect on our own emotional well-being and happiness.
Social psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, of the University of California, Riverside, has extensively researched the relationship between kindness and happiness. In her book “The How of Happiness,” Lyubomirsky points out that being kind to others can improve our mood, increase our satisfaction with life, and reduce symptoms of depression.
Kindness can also have a positive impact on our interpersonal relationships. Research has shown that people are more likely to be attracted to people who are kind, and that relationships in which there is a high level of kindness and compassion are longer lasting and more fulfilling.
The benefits of being kind to strangers
Most of the time, when we think of kindness, we think of actions towards our loved ones or close friends. However, being kind to strangers or strangers can also have a significant impact on our happiness and emotional well-being.
In a study published in the journal “Emotion,” participants who performed daily acts of kindness toward strangers for a week reported feeling significantly happier than those who did not. Acts of kindness included simple things like smiling, paying a compliment, or helping someone cross the street.
Additionally, research has found that showing kindness to strangers can reduce social anxiety and increase self-esteem. When we interact with strangers in a kind and positive way, our perception of ourselves as social beings can improve, which in turn can improve our ability to interact with others and increase our happiness and emotional well-being.
How to be kinder
Being kind is something that can be learned and improved with practice. Here are some suggestions to help you be kinder in your daily life:
- Smile: A smile is a simple but powerful way to show kindness and make others feel more welcome and comfortable.
- Practice empathy: try to put yourself in the place of others and see things from their perspective. This can help you better understand their needs and feelings.
- Active Listening: When someone talks to you, pay attention to what they are saying and let them know that you are interested in what they have to say. Ask questions and provide feedback to show you’re engaged in the conversation.
- Be courteous: use good manners and show respect for others at all times. Thank people for their time and consideration, and show appreciation for the things they do for you.
- Do small kind actions: Simple gestures, like opening the door for someone, letting someone go first, or bringing a coffee to a coworker, can make a big difference in someone’s day.
- Show interest: If you know someone who is having a difficult time, ask how they are doing and offer to help in some way. Sometimes just showing you care can make a big difference in someone’s emotional well-being.
- Be compassionate: When someone makes a mistake or is having a bad day, show compassion and support rather than judge or criticize. We all make mistakes and we all go through difficult times, and sometimes we just need a little support and understanding.
External sources
Here are three scientific articles that talk about the happiness and emotional well-being that comes from showing kindness even with strangers:
1. “Using prosocial behavior to safeguard mental health and foster emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: A registered report of a randomized trial”
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of prosocial activity on emotional well-being (happiness, belief that one’s life is valuable) and mental health (anxiety, depression). They found that prosocial acts reduced anxiety regarding control over neutral acts and increased the belief that one’s life is valuable. These effects persisted throughout the intervention and during follow-up. They concluded that prosocial acts may provide small, long-lasting benefits for emotional well-being and mental health.
Enlace: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9333215/
2. “Happy people become happier through kindness: a counting kindnesses intervention”.
Abstract: This article examines the relationship between goodness character strength and subjective happiness and the effects of a goodness count intervention on subjective happiness. The results showed that: (a) Happy people scored higher on their motivation to perform and their recognition and enactment of kind behaviors. (b) Happy people have more happy memories in daily life in terms of quantity and quality. (c) Subjective happiness increased simply by counting one’s own acts of kindness for a week. (d) Happy people became kinder and more appreciative through the bounty counting intervention. The discussion centers on the importance of kindness in producing subjective happiness.
Enlace: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17356687/
3. “A range of kindness activities boost happiness”.
This study was designed to test whether engaging in different types of kindness activities had differential effects on happiness. The results indicated that doing kindness activities for seven days increased happiness. In addition, they determined a positive correlation between the number of kind acts and increased happiness, and that kindness towards strong ties, weak ties and oneself, as well as observing acts of kindness, have equally positive effects on happiness. .