Written By: Anuradha Varanasi | Updated: February 18, 2016, 2:37 PM
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Now-a-days, kind people tend to be seen as 'weak' or 'naive' for going out of their way to help others. However, being a kind and giving person can benefit you and your general well-being as much as the opposite party. Psychologists say these are the four reasons why it's a good idea not to be a jaded and bitter person and instead, do a random act of kindness at least once a week!
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Increases life satisfaction: Researchers from the University of Kent assigned participants between the ages of 18-60 to perform random acts of kindness on a daily basis for 10 days. Following that, they found that all participants reported an increase in life satisfaction [1].
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It can lead to happiness: A study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies in 2006 found that there was an increase in subjective happiness among 175 Japanese students who carried out one act of kindness per week [2]. They also became more grateful about their life in general.
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Being kind will help you in gaining peer acceptance: By doing three acts of kindness thrice a week for four weeks, psychologists claim that in can help in boosting peer acceptance and also your general well-being [3]. Who doesn’t want to be liked and accepted by their peers and colleagues? This proves that by being kind to someone, you can also gain other people’s respect.
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Kindness can increase your life expectancy: Psychologists from the University of Michigan conducted a study where it was observed that people who performed acts of kindness towards others were less likely to die over a five years long period as compared to those who didn’t [4].
