Did you know that you get a boost when you give or receive kindness or show gratitude? According to research, performing random acts of kindness helps to boost your psychological health. Research has found that being kind activates the release of dopamine, which is a feel-good neurotransmitter in the brain. We often hear that it’s good to help others, and we are taught from an early age that it is polite to show gratitude and give thanks. We know now that it is more than politeness and propriety, it really does have a positive effect on us and on our wellbeing. I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying, It’s better to give than to receive'. Being motivated by generosity can benefit you as much as it does those receiving your help.
Here are a few tips to think about:-
- Be mindful about the small, thoughtful acts of others towards you, that you might say thank you for.
- Doing things for other people is a large part of forming and developing healthy social connections. Make time to do things for others and be on the watch for opportunities to offer to help someone or do something kind for a friend.
- Being with likeminded friends who are all helpful and grateful to one another is a wonderful position to be in. Life isn’t always that way though. There are those of us who might struggle or be afraid to ask for help. There are those who find it hard to offer help because of a lack of confidence or low self-worth. Sometimes people can isolate themselves through lack of confidence.
- Looking out for people who might be on their own especially at break times and lunchtimes, and asking them to come and join your group of friends for lunch. You could be making such a difference to their day and help change their perspective in many ways through one act of kindness.
Start the term with habits that show your kindness and try to get into the habit of saying thanks for the smallest gestures shown by others.
Often we can find it easier to focus on the negative, and criticisms of others can sometimes come too easily. We are often good at highlighting when things aren’t as we would like them to be. Looking for the ‘good’ in things can sometimes be hard, but when we start making that effort there is a whole ‘other’ perspective to be experienced. Gratitude and kindness are somehow enabling and when we receive these qualities it triggers us to adopt them and pass them on. At first we may have to remind ourselves often to be grateful, but if we put in a bit of extra effort and also take notice when others do the same, we will open up our perception to another way of being that is far better for us all in every way. We will soon find that it comes more naturally. We can start to enjoy the ‘helper's high’ which is natural, organic and food for the soul.
