All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
This is a popular monologue from “As You Like It” by Shakespeare where he uses the idea of the world as a stage and the metaphor of human life as a play with actors. He used this to describe the idea that humans have seven stages in their life, they play their part and return back to the dust. But this very idea of the Elizabethan period was questioned when the pandemic rained down on humanity.
The world was affected, everything came to a standstill and moreover, people started losing their loved ones. With their near and dear ones gone, people started questioning their actions and started reflecting on their lives. What they did, how they did it, and does it matter now became a question at par.
With everyone gone, what was left with us was the time to ask the question: Am I a kind soul?
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The Act of Kindness: How To Spread Good Karma Around
Am I a kind soul? As an existential question, it’s right up there with Why do I exist? Moreover, how do I know if I’m on the correct track?
Until a few years ago, the subject of kindness was at the bottom of everyone’s priority list. We had far more important things on our minds, such as climbing the corporate ladder and completing all assignments on time, until things came to a halt and the pandemic made its way into our lives. We started to question ourselves Am I a kind soul?
So what is the act of kindness? Are you a kind soul? Are you spreading good karma around?
Act of kindness is the act of choosing to help others or yourself out of real warm feelings.
Act of kindness, or doing good, frequently entails prioritising the needs of others over our own. It can be a warm embrace, a supportive smile, or a helpful hand when we need it the most – but don’t anticipate it.
It is like a deep cleaning breath in a world full of struggle and grief; it rejuvenates us with its purity, refreshes us with its goodness, and gives us the power to endure despite our difficulties. It not only makes us feel good but giving back and helping others has been shown to boost our own mental health and well-being as well. Let’s find out how.
Random Act of Kindness: Benefits of Doing Random Act of Kindness
Releases Love Hormone – Performing acts of kindness releases oxytocin, sometimes known as the “love hormone,” which helps to decrease blood pressure and improve overall heart health. Oxytocin also boosts our self-confidence and positivity, which is especially beneficial when we’re nervous or bashful in a social setting. (Source)
Increases Energy – In one study, about half of the participants said they felt stronger and more energetic after helping others; many also said they felt calmer and less depressed, with higher sentiments of self-worth. (Source)
Imparts Happiness – Kindness, like most pharmacological antidepressants, boosts serotonin production. This happy-making chemical heals wounds, relaxes you, and makes you happy. Kindness has the capacity to make the world a more pleasant place. An act of kindness can increase feelings of self-assurance, control, contentment, and optimism. People who are altruistic—in this context, people who are helpful monetarily, such as through charity donations—were found to be the happiest overall in a 2010 Harvard Business School survey of happiness in 136 countries. (Source)
Improves Mental Health – Performing random acts of kindness improves our mental health. “Acts of kindness have measurable effects on our mental health because they increase the neurotransmitters in the brain that make us feel satisfied and good: serotonin and dopamine,” says Rachel Slick, LCSW, a behavioural health clinician at UCHealth, which recently launched a health strategy focused on random acts of kindness. (Source)
Act of Kindness Examples – 10 Ways To Be A Better Human Being
Every day brings a new chance to be kind. You’ll never regret showing someone you care, whether it’s a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, or even mother earth. Random Acts of Kindness bring compassion, love, and gratitude into your life and the lives of others around you. Not only this but it gives you a sense of purpose.
Though there can be numerous ways to perform random acts of kindness, there are a few examples of acts of kindness towards others and yourself to help you become a better human being.
- Take an elderly neighbor to the doctor’s office. Getting to and from appointments may seem little to a healthy, young, active person, but it can be a tremendous hassle for an elderly person who lacks convenient access to transportation. Take this moment and help out the elder person by just a random act of kindness like that of taking them for check-in or just getting them medicine.
- Teach how to ride a bicycle to a child. Bike riding is a great way for kids to get some fresh air while having fun. Learning how to do it, on the other hand, might be a frightening experience. Help your child or a neighboring kid learn to ride a bike without training wheels, including how to pedal, steer, and brake. Before you do anything, make sure she’s wearing the right helmet and padding.
- Help those who have been affected by natural disasters. Donate to the most recent natural disaster relief fund through your country’s local or national organisation. Thousands of families whose lives have been turned upside down by a natural disaster can greatly benefit from your donation, whether it be time, food, commodities, or money.
- Thank a coworker with a thank-you note. Show your gratitude the next time he/she assists you with a project or an issue. A simple “thank you” may be enough, but a note to express your gratitude on a whole other level. Write a thank-you note and show your gratitude today.
- Make a book or a toy donation to a school. Check your bookshelf and consider whether you’ll ever reread any of them. Schools can make effective use of worn books by lending them out or by giving them away at a used book sale. Donate your books, pens, and other stationery items that can be a help for other children.
- As a coach, take pro bono coaching. Help people who can’t afford your charges for free. Assist them, with sorting out their lives and be a help to them. Assist one or more students as a mentor. They could benefit enormously from having an older, responsible person leading them, regardless of their age. This may be especially true for children raised by a single parent.
- Demonstrate your disapproval of injustice wherever and whenever you encounter it. Participate in the effort to put a stop to it. If you feel that all humans have an inclination toward compassion and an understanding of our interdependence, then fight for equal justice for all. Just remember just because you have a right does not mean that all the other people are also blessed to enjoy the same rights. Stand for them and show them your kindness.
- Let your employees know how much you value them. Make sure your employees know they’re valued by sending them celebratory emails when they meet their objectives or just a verbal thank you after they’ve had a good week. People are less likely to switch jobs if they believe they are making a valuable contribution.
- Consider a moment when you were unpleasant to someone. Perhaps it had something to do with how you handled a family member, coworker, friend, or stranger. Consider how you might be able to redeem yourself in that past situation and then make a move in that direction.
- Consider one tangible activity you can do to start building a sense of community among your neighbors. It could be as simple as helping in plantation, greeting someone while taking out the garbage and remaining open to where the discussion may lead.
The generosity doesn’t end there—just being kind will create a chain reaction of good deeds. When you go out of your way to make someone else’s day better, you’ll find that you’ll inspire friends, family, and even strangers to do the same for people in their lives. A friend might be inspired to volunteer to read at story hour if she sees you contributing books to a local school.
Whether you only have five minutes to make someone’s day or you want to make a long-term impact, browse through, and get out the door to start spreading kindness.
“What’s your act of kindness for today?”
10 Act of Kindness Quotes
“Nothing is black or white, nothing’s “us or them.” But then there are magical, beautiful things in the world. There are incredible acts of kindness and bravery, and in the most unlikely places, and it gives you hope.” ~Dave Matthews
“Genuine kindness is no ordinary act, but a gift of rare beauty.” ~Sylvia Rossetti
“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” ~Barbara de Angelis
“Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.” ~Og Mandino
“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” – Jackie Chan
“If we all do one random act of kindness daily, we just might set the world in the right direction.” ~Martin Kornfeld
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” ~Scott Adams
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” ~Princess Diana
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.” ~Amelia Earhart
“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” ~Aesop
Frequently Asked Questions
What is act of kindness?
Doing good, or acts of compassion, frequently means putting others’ needs ahead of our own. When we need it the most, it can be a warm hug, a supportive smile, or a helping hand – yet we don’t expect it.
What are the benefits of a random act of kindness?
- Releases Love Hormone
- Increases Energy
- Imparts Happiness
- Improves Mental Health
How does random act of kindness improve our health?
Acts of kindness generate oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” which lowers blood pressure and improves general cardiovascular health. Oxytocin also improves our self-esteem and cheerfulness, which is especially useful when we’re nervous or shy in social situations.
Give some popular act of kindness quotes.
“Genuine kindness is no ordinary act, but a gift of rare beauty.” ~Sylvia Rossetti
“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” ~Barbara de Angelis
“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” – Jackie Chan
What are the act of kindness examples?
- Help those who have been affected by natural disasters.
- Thank a coworker with a thank-you note.
- Make a book donation to a school.
- As a coach, take pro bono coaching.
