Simple Acts Of Kindness. We have all heard of the person in the drive-thru that paid for the order of the people behind him. What about the child who took her teacher flowers as a way of saying thank-you for the supportive words before her test? Or the manager who brought in popsicles as a way of breaking up the stress of the day?
So often we get focused on all of the negative things that are happening around us – in our workplaces, our families and in the global village that we live in, that we forget to notice the good things that are happening or the acts of kindness offered by others.
Research suggests that kindness improves mental health by promoting feelings of happiness.
Receiving, giving, or even witnessing acts of kindness increases the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. Acts of kindness help build support systems which are crucial during challenging times and further boost our resiliency. Kindness fosters a caring community and the sharing of resources, as well as bringing purpose and meaning to life.
Little acts of kindness can mean big things for your mental health.
Beverly’s Hot Tip for Building Resiliency and Promoting Random Acts Of Kindness Week:
- Be more attentive to the positives: the great and awesome things that are happening around you
- Say thank you to those you count on. It helps to put a smile on someone’s face as well as your own
- Put together “the perfect surprise” for someone special
- Hold the door for a stranger
- Send a hello email or text to a family member or friend you hardly ever see
- Do a task for someone who needs help
- Donate
- Volunteer
- Listen to a friend.
Finally, during this week, find ways to be a kinder yourself: talk positively, acknowledge your accomplishments and forgive your mistakes.
Giving, receiving and seeing these simple acts of kindness has a huge impact on your mental health.
If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!
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