Kindness – a Powerful Tool to Live Happier and Longer ~via @KindWorksAI
Thinking about kindness is the way I want to head into the New Year. Let's make 2022 the YEAR OF KINDNESS. /Ted
Written by: Beatriz Helena Vallejo Reyes
One of the things I’ve enjoyed the most about working at KindWorks.AI has been diving deep into the fascinating findings of Kindness research. All the tools we offer here at KindWorks.AI are fully supported by science, and therefore, without a doubt, have the capacity to help people improve their lives in multiple ways. In my deep dives, I have discovered a vast world of academic research, showing the various benefits of conducting Acts of Kindness towards ourselves, specific others, and our communities at large. Today, a growing body of research demonstrates that regularly performing even the smallest Acts of Kindness make us live longer, happier, and more productive lives. In our relationships with others, it makes us more likely and trustworthy. These studies are part of a broader group of literature aiming to understand the pathways through which social interactions impact disease risk. Interestingly, prosocial behavior has been constantly associated with long-term health outcomes [1].
One of the discoveries I have found most interesting is the influence that Acts of Kindness have on our physical health. Through the current pandemic, we have all become (some once more, some maybe for the first time) keenly aware of how vulnerable our health can be. This realization has made many of us wonder what tools we might have at hand to strengthen our bodies and minds. I was amazed to learn that studies have found that just by performing one Act of Kindness towards someone else once a week for five consecutive weeks has the power to positively change one’s immune expression profiles [1]. In other words, performing small Acts of Kindness for others generates positive changes in our biology, which reduces the risk for disease. Just imagine how much impact it would have to do this for several months (or even years) and maybe also more than once a week? And what if we also accounted for the positive effects that regularly doing Acts of Kindness would have on our happiness, general well-being and also the lives of those who experience our Kindness?
It is our mission at KindWorks.AI to encourage our users to do one daily Act of Kindness in order to live a happier, healthier and more fulfilled life – while also making this world a Kinder place. If this sounds great to you and you haven’t already, head here to sign up for our free 10DaysOfKindness Challenge and experience the amazing benefits of Kindness yourself!
[1] Nelson-Coffey, S. K., Fritz, M. M., Lyubomirsky, S., & Cole, S. W. (2017). Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 81, 8-13.
