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Kindness is magic: How to get happy by giving
Is kindness magic? Can you really get happy by giving? Are people happier when they give to others and perform random acts of kindness?
The answer to all of these questions is: hell yeah! It’s true, putting good out into the world creates a ripple effect of positive emotions.
Acts of kindness can make you feel better and make someone else’s day. Your selfless act will give you both a hit of oxytocin, which is the hormone that helps social bonding.
Giving also turns on the parts of your brain that are responsible for pleasure, rewards, and trust. That means your brain is producing all the warm, fuzzy feelings you usually have when YOU are the receiver of a gift.
Check out this study on altruism and brain activity for more about the science behind it.
Yeah, but what about money?
Giving doesn’t have to cost much or anything at all. Sure, you can buy coffee for the next person in line or give someone a fancy gift, but expense has nothing to do with how happy you will feel when you give. Make another person’s day a little brighter without spending a penny.
You can volunteer your time with an organization in your community, leave a note with a compliment on someone’s desk, or just ask a stranger how…
