As the saying goes – ‘a good deed a day; keeps the doctor away’….ok, so that’s not quite right…BUT doing random acts of kindness, does makes us feel better!
In today’s blog we are going to look at what good deeds are, and why random acts of kindness give us a better sense of wellbeing.
What are good deeds?
The word ‘deed’ in the English dictionary means:
“…something that is done, especially something that is very good or very bad”
and the word good means:
“…pleasant or enjoyable”
Good deeds (sometimes also called random acts of kindness, or paying it forward) are very powerful. They form part of our cultural and moral values and we do them for a variety of reasons – this can include:
- To help someone
- To help yourself
- To show values
- To lead by example
- To make the world a better place
For example, as a volunteer in the Scouts, I know that doing good deeds can make a difference to someone else. Whether it’s helping someone who is lost, or chatting with a lonely person, these are things that do not cost a thing, but may mean a great deal to the person you’re helping.
One of the best reasons to do good deeds is to return the favour. Has someone ever done a really nice thing for you? The ‘pay it forward’ principle is that you will want to return the favour. However, it doesn’t have to be for the same person – you can do something to help another person, who then does a favour for the third, who passes it on to another and so on. In fact, just like a smile or yawning – good deeds can be infectious!
When you do someone a good turn, it feels good in return. Feeling good about yourself is beneficial (but we will look more about the science behind that a little later).
Doing good deeds is not about making extravagant gestures, the smallest thing can really brighten someone’s day. Offering to walk the neighbours dog, get in some shopping, or even thanking a shop assistant, can really help.
The science bit…
Let’s start by looking at the classic Charles Dickens tale “A Christmas Carol” (1843).
In this story, we see the miserly character of Ebenezer Scrooge (some may say the epitome of selfishness), a man who is mean-spirited and narcissistic, who is visited by four ghosts (his partner Jacob Marley, and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future). They show him the error of his ways, and at the end (spoiler alert for anyone who has not read the book or seen the various dramatizations!), he discovers the joy of kindness and ‘a merrier man had never been seen’.
This is something that has been coined as the ‘helpers high’. And scientists have been researching this, to see the effects that it has on the human body.
The research shows that when we engage in random acts of kindness, we reduce our own stress (including the physiological changes that occur when we’re stressed).
When we are stressed, hormones like cortisol are released, our heart and breathing rate increases to create the fight or flight response. If the stress response is there for a long time – then this can lead to our immune and cardiovascular systems being affected, leading to a weakening of the body’s defences, and can even cause premature ageing!
Whilst more research is still being conducted – the helpers high points to lowered stress response and improved immunity. The pre-fontal lobe (the care and connection part of the brain), helps us to reap the benefits from altruistic love (the profound sense of joy and delight that comes from giving to others). Brain chemicals such as the bonding hormone oxytocin has been found in high levels in people who are very generous towards other people. Studies have shown that this hormone helps us to establish trusting relationships, and may also be connected to helping our physical and emotional wellbeing – the opposite of the fight/flight stress response.
…Being kind is also about ensuring that we take time for ourselves and not just for others.
Action for Happiness
Action for Happiness is a movement that brings people together and provides practical resources. They help people to learn evidence-based skills for happier living, feel a sense of belonging and commit to personal action to create more happiness for ourselves and for others. This is done through things such as group forums, talks and the action for happiness calendars.
These monthly resources include a ‘deed a day’ that you can do individually (or even as a team) – why not see how many you can complete in the month?
Free download from People Lab
You can also download our free booklet on random acts of kindness – where you’ll find 30 simple ideas to make the world a better (and kinder place!)
World kindness day 2022
World Kindness Day is Sunday 13th November. Have a think about ways that you can make kindness the norm – here are a few ways to get you started:
- Send a thank you text to a friend or family member
- Let someone go in front of you in the queue at the supermarket
- Include intentional moments of kindness, laughter, and joy into your daily routine
- Come outside of your comfort zone, just a little, once a day to make someone smile
- Share a compliment with a colleague or friend
- Reach out to someone you haven’t spoke to in a while
- Treat someone to a cup of coffee (a friend, a stranger or even yourself).
We’d love to hear about some of your random acts of kindness…tag us in your posts and we’ll share with our followers and friends
@Karen
