Life From Different Perspectives: Kindness is Contagious

Part 7 of 20: Random Acts of Kindness Benefit Both Giver and Receiver

This article is part of a series of articles written from the perspective of two very different minds.

My name is Kingsley Asuamah. I am a 36-year-old Nigerian living in Ireland. I am writing about the 20 self-improvement facts in this article:

Chris Compton is a 59-year-old American living in Atlanta, GA. He has written about the same topics.

You can follow along by clicking the link below and see how two strangers, separated by age, geography, and circumstance, view the world and the opportunity to develop as human beings.

Random Acts of Kindness Benefit Both Giver and Receiver

Yesterday I got an appointment to view a property I was interested in. It has been a very hectic week, having to juggle hospital visits and work deadlines. My wife was on admission and my team at work had a client project that was due by midweek.

The only way I could make the 6:30 PM viewing appointment was to take the 5:15 PM train. Driving wasn’t an option due to rush hour traffic. Now the 5:15 PM train is usually too crowded because that’s when most people get off work. You will be lucky to get a standing space!

I got a seat near the door because I joined from the first station. Two stations later, I watched this petite old lady come on board. Although a little bent, fragile and wobbly now, I could tell she’d lived a good life. One could see the effort she’d put into her make-up as evident on her ruby-red lips and pinkish blush cheeks. I was busy admiring her fashion sense when the doors closed.

I swiftly got up and gently shoved about two or three people aside to create space for her to come through and take my seat. She protested at first but I insisted. “Are you sure?”, she questioned, and I said an absolute yes.

I still had almost an hour left on the journey, and yes I was seriously exhausted from life and work, but this was an act of kindness I would do over and over again.

I stood right there beside her and a conversation ensued. It turns out Mrs Aoife (pronounced e-far) lost her husband of 54 years during COVID, so every other week she travels towards the city to visit one of her very few surviving friends who lives in a care home.

When it was time for her to alight, she got up, dropped her handbag on the seat, hugged me and said thank you. I could hear the genuineness in her voice.

I probably have gotten hundreds of hugs in my life but this was probably one of my most cherished. It felt well deserved, it felt so good that for a moment I completely forgot about my stress, exhaustion and the long journey I had to make back home. For a second, nothing else mattered. All it took was a random act of kindness and the embrace of a stranger.

You see, kindness is a universal language. It transcends age, borders, cultures, and languages. It’s a language that everyone understands, and it’s a language that makes the world a better place.

We all know the heartwarming feeling of receiving an unexpected act of kindness. Maybe a stranger holds the door open for you, a friend offers to help with errands when you’re feeling overwhelmed, a colleague brings in coffee for the entire team or someone offers you their seat like I did. These small gestures brighten our day and restore our faith in humanity.

The surprising secret is that random acts of kindness aren’t just good for the receiver; they benefit the giver in powerful ways too! Let’s see the science.

The Science of Kindness

When you perform an act of kindness, your brain releases a delightful cocktail of chemicals. Dopamine, often associated with reward and motivation, surges, giving you a sense of accomplishment and pleasure.

Endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, also get a boost, leading to a warm, happy feeling. It’s basically a mini-party in your brain, all because you chose to be kind!

Kindness is Contagious (in a Good Way!)

Random acts of kindness have a ripple effect. Witnessing someone perform a kind deed can inspire others to do the same. It’s psychological.

This creates a chain reaction of positivity that can uplift the mood of an entire community. Imagine a world where holding the door open becomes the norm, not the exception — pretty awesome, right?

Humans are social creatures, and kindness strengthens our connections with others. Helping someone feels good because it reinforces our sense of belonging and community.

A small act of kindness can build trust, foster empathy, and create lasting friendships.

Don’t get intimidated by the idea of grand gestures. Kindness Doesn’t Have to Be Grand. The beauty of random acts of kindness is that they can be simple and spontaneous. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Pay for the coffee of the person behind you in line.
• Offer to help someone struggling with groceries.
• Write a kind note to a friend or colleague.
• Leave a positive online review for a business you enjoyed.
• Volunteer your time to a cause you care about.
• Simply smile and offer a genuine greeting to those you encounter.

Every act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to brighten someone’s day and create a more positive world.

You Should Start Your Kindness ‘Adventure’ Today!

Being kind doesn’t require a cape or a superhero suit. It’s choosing to make the world a little brighter, one small gesture at a time. So, why not start your kindness adventure today?

Actionable: Every day you wake, tell yourself you will do an act of kindness. Be deliberate about it. Add it to your to-do list for every day!