All of the work I have done in my 45 years of writing, consulting, coaching, and teaching with individuals from six continents has been focused on helping them have a positive impact. This year has been completely focused on helping to make that happen in the mid-term elections. Now that is winding down I will be shifting to writing regularly about how readers of my posts can have their own personal non-politics related positive impact.
There have been many posts on social media recently about the importance of kindness which makes perfect sense with the large number of holidays in the last quarter of the calendar year.
So I am going to begin my non-political writing at this time providing facts about how very brief interactions with individuals can have a positive impact on all involved including yourself.
The phrase “random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” is attributed to Anne Herbert. The book Random Act of Kindness was published in February 1993 by The Editors of Conari Press. That book was updated in 2013 as Random Acts of Kindness Then and Now: The 20th Anniversary of a Simple Idea That Changes Lives. Both books provide many examples of these kinds of acts.
The idea of acting kind is not some squishy do-gooder way of looking at life. It is a way of life that has benefits for many. It has also become a global movement.
The Australian Kindness Movement – www.kindness.org/au – provides information about the World Kindness Movement that was formed during a conference in Tokyo in 1997 hosted by the Small Kindness Movement of Japan. “The ‘declaration of kindness,’ signed by representatives of the countries present at the 1997 conference, reads as follows:
“In acknowledgment of the fundamental importance of simple human kindness as a basic condition of a satisfying and meaningful life, we hereby declare the establishment of the World Kindness Movement.”
The Kindness Organization concludes with the following, “Kindness is a ‘heart to heart’ communication, and experience that many people hunger for. Mother Theresa pointed out that ‘there is hunger for ordinary bread, and there is hunger for love, for kindness, for thoughtfulness; and this is the great poverty that makes people suffer so much.’ As the reality of being kinder to each other spreads throughout the world under the auspices of the World Kindness Movement and other kindness organizations, the character of people will change to express a more friendly and positive relationship.”
Here are some of the many research examples supporting the positive impact provided by random acts of kindness:
-Stephen Post of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine found that “When we give of ourselves, everything from life satisfaction to self-realization and physical health is significantly improved. Mortality is delayed, depression is reduced and well-being and good fortune are increased.”
-In a study from Summa Health in 2022 titled “How Random Acts of Kindness Can Benefit Your Health” it was reported that “these acts of kindness relieved stress and helped with depression and anxiety, helped to maintain better physical health, and aiding in times of physical crisis… Witnessing acts of kindness produces Oxytocin, which aids in lowering blood pressure and improving our overall heart-health. Oxytocin also increases our self-esteem and optimism, which is extra helpful when we’re anxious or shy in a social situation.”
-A 2020 study by the American Psychological Association found that their results “contribute to a growing literature supporting the benefits of prosocial behavior and challenge the popular perception that focusing on oneself is an optimal strategy to boost one’s mood. People striving for happiness may be tempted to treat themselves. Our results, however, suggest that they may be more successful if they opt to treat someone else instead.”
-Studies suggest individuals who witness or receive a random act of kindness are much more likely to perform their own act of giving back. It can also build a stronger community and family experience. Here are a few ideas on how to play it forward:
• Let someone go in front of you during a long wait
• Volunteer at an animal shelter or with a rescue organization
• Insert coins into someone’s parking meter
• Pick up the tab of the table next to you at a restaurant or tickets for the people behind you at the movies
• Volunteer to shovel snow or perform yard work for friends and neighbors
• Plant a tree or volunteer in your local community cleanup
• During spring cleaning this year, make it a point to donate your still usable goods to a local charity.
In conclusion, if you are currently or decide in the future to open yourself to the power of a brief, spontaneous act of kindness as those opportunities present themselves, that way of acting has the potential to help you, the recipient and those who witness the random act of kindness to feel better and possibly be healthier.
All of the information I have pulled together about how to have a positive impact is in my Amazon #1 International Bestseller “Have a Positive Impact During Uncertain Times” that was also the recipient of the 5 Star Rating from “Readers’ Favorite’s Book Review and Award Contest”. It is available on Amazon. 100% of the revenue from my books goes to the causes I support: lessening instances of sexual assault…bullying…deaths from tobacco products and supporting our democracy.
Have a wonderful holiday season and New Year. Peter