Essay on Kindness

500 words essay on kindness.

The world we live in today has been through a lot of things from world wars to epidemics, but one thing which remained constant throughout was resilience and kindness. Moreover, it was the spirit to fight back and help out each other. Kindness must be an essential and universal quality to make the world a better place. Through an essay on kindness, we will go through it in detail.

essay on kindness

Importance of Kindness

Kindness towards nature, animals and other people has the ability to transform the world and make it a beautiful place for living. But, it is also important to remember that kindness towards you is also essential for personal growth.

Kindness is basically being polite, compassionate and thoughtful. Every religion and faith teaches its followers to be kind. Most importantly, kindness must not limit to humans but also to every living creature.

Even nature has its own way of showing kindness. For instance, the trees grow fruits for us and provide us with shade. One must not see kindness as a core value but as a fundamental behavioural element. When you are kind to your loved ones, you create a stable base.

As people are becoming more self-centred today, we must learn kindness. We must try to integrate it into ourselves. You might not know how a small act of kindness can bring about a change in someone’s life. So, be kind always.

Kindness Always Wins

There is no doubt that kindness always wins and it has been proven time and again by people. Sid is a greedy man who does not share his wealth with anyone, not even his family members.

He also does not pay his workers well. One day, he loses his bag of gold coins and loses his temper. Everyone helps him out to search for it but no one finds it. Finally, his worker’s little son finds the bag.

Upon checking the bag, he sees all the coins are there. But, his greed makes him play a trick on the poor worker. He claims that there were more coins in the bag and the worker stole them.

The issue goes to the court and the judge confirms from Sid whether his bag had more coins to which he agrees. So, the judge rules out that as Sid’s bag had more coins , the bag which the worker’s son found is not his.

Therefore, the bag gets handed to the worker as no one else claims it. Consequently, you see how the worker’s son act of kindness won and paid him well. On the other hand, how Sid’s greediness resulted in his loss only.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Kindness

It is essential for all of us to understand the value of kindness. Always remember, it does not cost anything to be kind. It may be a little compliment or it can be a grand gesture, no matter how big or small, kindness always matters. Therefore, try your best to be kind to everyone around you.

FAQ of Essay on Kindness

Question 1: Why is it important to be kind?

Answer 1: It is important to be kind because it makes one feel good about oneself. When you do things for other people and help them with anything, it makes you feel warm and that you have accomplished something. Moreover, you also get respect in return.

Question 2: Why is kindness so powerful?

Answer 2: Kindness has a lot of benefits which includes increased happiness and a healthy heart . It slows down the ageing process and also enhances relationships and connections, which will indirectly boost your health.

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It Costs Nothing To Be Kind. Does it really?

Nerissa J. Persaud

Nerissa J. Persaud

Spread kindness

Being kind, “expressing kindness, are actions that should not feel like a cost or a chore, but to many, it is a significant effort outside of its euphoric chemical reaction. Listening in on a recent lecture, the speaker reiterates,  ‘it costs nothing to be kind.’ —  A thought I have carried for most of my adult life, yet thinking about the statement itself, is not without grey areas. This made me start thinking about what we become in the pursuit of kindness. Moreover, how we can become more aware of ‘kindness’ beyond loosely held perceptions and choose to embed it as a core function to how we live, learn and listen.

Is kindness something we are born with?   We are indeed born with the ‘capacity to be kind; this, however, is open to development as we grow and learn. Like a blank canvas ready to be painted on. What colours end up on that innocent canvas becomes our perception, interpretation and response to the world.

Dr Lera Boroditsky,  a Cognitive Scientist and one of the main contributors to the theory of linguistic relativity, made an interesting point when putting forward the question in a 2017 TEDWomen Talk:  “Does the language we speak shape the way we think?”  The compelling research and evidence not only suggest but prove — if your language and your culture ‘ trains ‘ you to do it,  yes, you can do it. 

Could it then not be possible to suggest:  “Does the system we live within shape the level of kindness we give?” Over the years, we’ve heard many speak of kindness in the context of an act inborn; yet, the expression of ‘kindness’ is, at best, an emotional skill that is highly trainable, developed and learned through many channels and experiences stemming from parenting, society and culture.  How  we interpret kindness is an engagement to all our senses. The varied array of perceptions surrounding kindness can also falsify the beliefs and values on the usefulness of kindness if one has embraced attitudes of ‘ no good deed goes unpunished, or repeated misfortune.  Perhaps you’ve had a bad experience with a coworker that results in mistrust; this mistrust based on validated societal responses tells you, that person is not worthy of your kindness. Is this really kindness at all?

The reality  is  “kindness” isn’t cut and dry and often a complex process for many who cannot see clearly beyond the premise of their immediate situation. You may have heard the phrase “that’s not in  his or her  nature”, so imagine rewiring your primary consciousness to develop a nature of kindness. What might that look like? 

Research studies compound the idea that kindness is a chemical reaction.  Linking ‘random acts of kindness’ to releasing dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain that can give us a feeling of euphoria. This feel-good brain chemical is credited with what’s known as  helper’s high— positive emotions following selfless service to others . In addition to boosting oxytocin and dopamine, being kind can also increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. Why then aren’t we all striving to be more kind? Actively seeking out ways to make kindness a core and manifesting art to our lives? The benefits clearly indicate happier, healthier communities, yet it remains a distant reality.

The truth lies in awakening to the realities of our environment and our world. The system on which it is built and governed. The ecosystem within which you coexist. Kindness quickly becomes a currency and can be a highly-priced one for many. The unfortunate truth is that most people that can afford kindness live beyond the typical means that govern much of the ordinary world. Do you need to be wealthy to be kind? Absolutely not, but does it become less of a priority to a person deciding between rent or food? Consider a family or person struggling to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck, within the conformity of what is societally accepted only to be constantly beatdown and washed into a never-ending cycle of red tape and corporate language. Does kindness become more expensive for these people or less? Coincidently, some of my most heartfelt moments of ‘kindness’ stemmed from the most unexpected places where wealth was the least of factors and became more impactful when it was unattached to personal gain.

When we judge another person’s harshness compared to our own accepted realities of ‘what constitutes kindness’, should we judge less and consider more on the experiences that lead to certain shaped reactions? If kindness is as basic a human reaction, why would it be so difficult for anyone to consider another’s reality? Perhaps the question isn’t whether a person’s nature is kind or not, but rather: does the system they live in allow them only a certain degree of kindness to give?

Developing a consciousness of kindness and extending kindness are two separate acts.

Forcing ourselves to see beyond the neatly packed paragons around kindness allow us to disrupt the very nature and  string of attachments’  kindness’ is often time— resourced. Kindness should be at best: unattached from personal gain, unrewarding and unflattering of self.

The degree of kindness we share, engage, and amplify is heavily rooted in our culture and society’s values and beliefs. In other words, kindness in society is widely quantified, yet in the purest of forms, kindness is priceless and a bedrock to evolving and igniting togetherness and positive change.

In the famous words of  Og Mandino  —”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.”

Is kindness subjective, then?  In mapping a diverse group of interactions, experiences and opinions on kindness, this is what I found: while we view kindness as a public show of affection, consideration and understanding; the acts themselves are differently perceived by our own state of being, needs, wants and where we are in our particular moment in life. For some kindness means, extending money. For some, it is time, and for others, it is acknowledgement. We show varying levels of kindness in a series of tangible and intangible acts. All shaped by what we’ve been taught as important, taught as worthy, taught as righteous and “accepted” as true. 

The science of kindness tells us that it is just about the only thing in the world that doubles when you share it, from the random act of helping an elderly person across the street, a warm hug, to an anonymous donation for a worthy cause. In which case—kindness is at best, unattached, unflattering and unrewarding of self, unbiased of personal gain and can grow into infinite potential when we become aware.

So if you were to consider this—Would kindness still cost nothing, or is it really the greatest currency of them all? Spend it well. Spend it thoroughly.

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D.

Why Kindness Matters

Boosts to life satisfaction and physical and mental well-being..

Posted March 8, 2023 | Reviewed by Vanessa Lancaster

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Kindness is about showing up in the world with compassion and acting for the greater good of all. While being nice is about being polite, pleasant, and agreeable and doing what we think we should, kindness goes a step beyond.

Kind humans know that life is hard, messy, and complex. Yet they understand that people are doing their best with the tools, resources, and experience they carry. Charles Glassman captured this by saying, “Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.”

Many people view kindness as a weakness, but it's quite the opposite. It is a sign of strength. It is moving from "me" to "we," seeing the bigger picture, and loaning someone your strength and support. Supporting someone by doing whatever you can, wherever you are, with whatever you have is a sign of who you are—a kind human.

Kindness is doing the things that may go without acknowledgment and thanks. Authentic and intentional kindness doesn’t expect anything in return. We can practice kindness for kindness’ sake, not for the personal gain or the approval of others.

Kindness is a universal language that can bring people together regardless of age, race, ethnicity , religion, status, and identity . The good news is that it’s completely free too! I don’t think the saying “kindness makes the world go ‘round” came about without reason.

Benefits of Kindness

Most of us will have heard that "doing good is good for you" or "it’s better to give than to receive." It may be a surprise to learn that the research genuinely supports this. When we show up for others kindly, the benefits go both ways. Practicing kindness for the sake of kindness is one of the greatest gifts we can give to others and ourselves.

Research shows that being kind boosts the production of the feel-good hormones (serotonin and dopamine ), which give feelings of satisfaction and well-being, and activate the pleasure and reward areas in the brain of the givers and receivers. Endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller, can also be released and contribute to a "helper’s high." Kindness also fosters our sense of belonging and helps us build and strengthen our relationships (Hamilton, 2017).

Research shows that performing acts of kindness and helping others improves the happiness of the helper (Curry et al., 2018; Hamilton, 2017). A study by Rowland and Curry (2019) found that people who performed kindness activities for seven days experienced greater happiness. The increase in happiness was true whether the social tie was a friend, family member, stranger, or themselves. As you might expect, the more kind activities one does, the greater the boost in happiness. Even just observing acts of kindness had positive effects on one’s happiness.

In his book, The Five Side Effects of Kindness , David Hamilton discusses how we experience the effects of kindness throughout our entire nervous system . He suggests that kindness is good for the heart because the warm feelings we get help to generate oxytocin , which can reduce our blood pressure and stress hormone, cortisol. He also supports the idea that kindness is contagious and how acting kindly can create a ripple effect and inspire others to do the same.

Ways to Practice Kindness

Here are some ways you can practice kindness:

  • Be kind to yourself. In my last post , I talked about how we could all use a gentle reminder about being a little kinder to ourselves. For many of us, showing up kindly starts with repairing the relationship we have with ourselves. I provided some restorative and practical ideas for how we can start to show up kindly for ourselves. When we are kinder with ourselves, we are kinder to others.
  • Practice the kindergarten basics. Manners, turn-taking, including others, and comforting that friend who fell and scraped their knee. A kind environment is the compound of many small, kind acts.
  • Show gratitude . When we feel grateful, we need to share this with others. Recognize and bring attention to what uplifts you. Tell someone they are doing a great job. End your work week by emailing someone who helped you out that week. Text or call a loved one to tell them they make a difference in your life.
  • Listen to understand, not respond or problem-solve . So often, when others are talking, we think about how we will reply or what solutions we will provide. The truth is that being present, and listening, is a form of showing the kindness that can make another feel heard, understood, and truly felt. Next time you ask someone how they are, hold space and really listen to what they have to say.

Being kind is about showing up as your true self and inviting others to come as they are, too. It is meeting yourself and others with compassion and understanding in the present moment. Each of us can be why someone believes there are good people in this world.

So, kindness might not make the world go 'round (we have momentum and gravity to thank for that), but kindness does certainly make the world a better place.

a random act of kindness costs nothing essay

Think about the power that a kind gesture, a kind hand, a kind word, or a listening ear can have on someone in a moment when they feel like their world is crumbling. Think about the way that it can make an already-good day that much better. Now think about the positive impact on the giver’s physical and mental health. The power of kindness is remarkable.

We may never know just how big of an impact our small acts of kindness have on someone else. But we know that kind humans doing kind things are exactly what this unwell world needs more of.

Although it may not be your first time hearing this one, I will leave you with this final ask:

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” —Unknown

Facebook image: Aloha Hawaii/Shutterstock

LinkedIn image: Dmytro Zinkevych/Shutterstock

Curry, O. S., Rowland, L. A., Van Lissa, C. J., Zlotowitz, S., McAlaney, J., & Whitehouse, H. (2018). Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 76 , 320-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2018.02.014

Hamilton, D. (2017). The five side effects of kindness: This book will make you feel better, be happier & live longer . Hay House UK.

Rowland, L., & Curry, O. S. (2019). A range of kindness activities boost happiness. The Journal of Social Psychology, 159 (3), 340-343. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2018.1469461

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D.

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, Ed.D. , is a resiliency and wellness scholar and speaker, author of Calm Within the Storm and Stress Wisely , and award-winning instructor and adjunct professor at Trent University.

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a random act of kindness costs nothing essay

The Unexpected Power of Random Acts of Kindness

New research shows small gestures matter even more than we may think.

Credit... Shuhua Xiong

Supported by

By Catherine Pearson

  • Sept. 2, 2022

In late August, Erin Alexander, 57, sat in the parking lot of a Target store in Fairfield, Calif., and wept. Her sister-in-law had recently died, and Ms. Alexander was having a hard day.

A barista working at the Starbucks inside the Target was too. The espresso machine had broken down and she was clearly stressed. Ms. Alexander — who’d stopped crying and gone inside for some caffeine — smiled, ordered an iced green tea, and told her to hang in there. After picking up her order, she noticed a message on the cup: “Erin,” the barista had scrawled next to a heart, “your soul is golden.”

“I’m not sure I even necessarily know what ‘your soul is golden’ means,” said Ms. Alexander, who laughed and cried while recalling the incident.

But the warmth of that small and unexpected gesture, from a stranger who had no inkling of what she was going through, moved her deeply.

“Of course, I was still really sad,” Ms. Alexander said. “But that little thing made the rest of my day.”

New findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology in August, corroborate just how powerful experiences like Ms. Alexander’s can be. Researchers found that people who perform a random act of kindness tend to underestimate how much the recipient will appreciate it. And they believe that miscalculation could hold many of us back from doing nice things for others more often.

“We have this negativity bias when it comes to social connection. We just don’t think the positive impact of our behaviors is as positive as it is,” said Marisa Franco, a psychologist and author of “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make — and Keep — Friends,” who did not work on the recent research.

“With a study like this, I hope it will inspire more people to actually commit random acts of kindness,” she said.

Underestimating the power of small gestures

The recent study comprised eight small experiments that varied in design and participants. In one, for example, graduate students were asked to perform thoughtful acts of their own choosing, like giving a classmate a ride home from campus, baking cookies or buying someone a cup of coffee.

In another, researchers recruited 84 participants on two cold weekends at the ice skating rink at Maggie Daley Park in Chicago. They were given a hot chocolate from the snack kiosk and were told they could keep it or give it to a stranger as a deliberate act of kindness. The 75 participants who gave away their hot chocolate were asked to guess how “big” the act of kindness would feel to the recipient on a scale from 0 (very small) to 10 (very large), and to predict how the recipient would rate their mood (ranging from much more negative than normal to much more positive than normal) upon receiving the drink. The recipients were then asked to report how they actually felt using the same scales.

In that experiment — and across all others — the people doing the kind thing consistently underestimated how much it was actually appreciated, said one of the study’s authors, Amit Kumar, an assistant professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas, Austin.

“We believe these miscalibrated expectations matter for behavior,” he said. “Not knowing one’s positive impact can stand in the way of people engaging in these sorts of acts of kindness in daily life.”

Another experiment in the study was devised to help researchers better understand this tendency to underestimate the power of our own kind acts. In it, Dr. Kumar and his team recruited 200 participants in Maggie Daley Park. A control group of 50 participants received a cupcake simply for participating in the study and rated their mood. Another 50 people who did not receive a cupcake rated how they thought the receivers would feel after getting a cupcake.

A third group of 50 people were told they could give a cupcake away to strangers, and were asked to rate their own mood as well as how they believed the recipients would feel. Once again, the researchers found that those who got a cupcake as a result of a random act of kindness felt better than the person on the giving end thought they would.

Also, people who got a cupcake because of an act of kindness rated themselves higher on a happiness scale than those who got one simply for participating in the study, suggesting they got an emotional boost from the gesture, in addition to the cupcake itself.

“People tend to think that what they are giving is kind of little, maybe it’s relatively inconsequential,” Dr. Kumar said. “But recipients are less likely to think along those lines. They consider the gesture to be significantly more meaningful because they are also thinking about the fact that someone did something nice for them.”

How to show others you care

The notion that kindness can boost well-being is hardly new. Studies have shown that prosocial behavior — basically, voluntarily helping others — can help lower people’s daily stress levels, and that simple acts of connection, like texting a friend, mean more than many of us realize . But researchers who study kindness and friendship say they hope the new findings strengthen the scientific case for making these types of gestures more often.

“I have found that kindness can be a really hard sell,” said Tara Cousineau, a clinical psychologist, meditation teacher and author of “The Kindness Cure: How The Science of Compassion Can Heal Your Heart and Your World.” “People desire kindness yet often feel inconvenienced by the thought of being kind.”

Stress can also keep people from being kind to others, she said, as can the “little judgy voice” in people’s heads that causes them to question whether their gesture or gift will be misinterpreted, or whether it will make the recipient feel pressured to pay it back.

“When the kindness impulse arises,” Dr. Cousineau said, “we totally overthink it.”

But an act of kindness is unlikely to backfire, she said, and in some instances it can beget even more kindness. Jennifer Oldham, 36, who lost her 9-year-old daughter, Hallie, in July after a tree fell on the car she was in during a storm, recently created a Facebook group — Keeping Kindness for Hallie — that encourages participants to engage in random acts of kindness. People have bought groceries and baby formula for others in Hallie’s honor. They’ve donated school supplies and given hydrangeas to strangers.

“No small act goes unnoticed,” Ms. Oldham said. “It will help your own heart, maybe even more than the recipients.”

Sometimes, it is something much sillier. When Kimberly Britt, president of Phoenix College in Arizona, left for a week of vacation in July, her vice president of student affairs hid 60 rubber chickens in her office.

“She did it so I wouldn’t find them all immediately, and it did take me a while,” she said. “But it was meant to bring a smile to my day when I returned.”

It did, and has since inspired Dr. Britt to begin a random acts of kindness challenge on campus. They have recorded 200 acts of kindness so far: a teacher who went above and beyond to spend time with a student who was struggling emotionally, a staff member who brought food to the office, another who made coffee for all of their colleagues.

If you are not already in the habit of performing random kind acts — or if it does not come naturally to you — Dr. Franco said to start by thinking about what you like to do.

“It’s not about you being like, ‘Oh man, now I have to learn how to bake cookies in order to be nice,’” she said. “It’s about: What skills and talents do you already have? And how can you turn that into an offering for other people?”

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Being a good friend means offering your support in times of need. Just remember: Sometimes less is better than more .

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Essay on Random Act Of Kindness

Students are often asked to write an essay on Random Act Of Kindness in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Random Act Of Kindness

What is a random act of kindness.

A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person wishing to either help or cheer up an individual person or people. They may be done secretly or in person. They are small gestures that brighten someone’s day.

Why are Random Acts of Kindness Important?

Random acts of kindness are important because they remind us of the goodness in the world. They make us feel good and inspire others to do the same. It’s like a chain of positivity that spreads happiness.

Examples of Random Acts of Kindness

Examples can be as simple as holding the door open for someone, helping an elderly person cross the street, or sharing your lunch with a friend. These acts, though small, can make a big difference.

Benefits of Random Acts of Kindness

Doing random acts of kindness can make you feel happy and satisfied. It can also improve your relationships with others. Plus, it creates a positive environment where everyone feels loved and cared for.

Encouraging Random Acts of Kindness

We can encourage more random acts of kindness by leading by example. When we do kind things for others, they are more likely to do the same. Let’s make the world a kinder place, one act at a time.

250 Words Essay on Random Act Of Kindness

A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person wishing to either help or cheer up an individual person or people. The phrase is ‘random’ because it refers to acts that are not planned in advance or have an expected reward.

These acts can be big or small, and they often come in many forms. For example, you might help an old lady cross the road, or you might share your lunch with a friend who forgot theirs. Sometimes, even a simple smile can make someone’s day better.

The Impact of Random Acts of Kindness

These small acts can make a big difference. They can make someone feel happy, loved, and important. Plus, they can inspire others to do the same. This is called the ‘ripple effect’. It’s like when you throw a stone in a pond. The ripples spread out and reach far.

Why We Should Practice Random Acts of Kindness

Practicing random acts of kindness can make our world a better place. It teaches us to be kind, caring, and understanding. It also makes us feel good about ourselves. Plus, it can make someone else’s day a little bit brighter.

In conclusion, a random act of kindness is a simple but powerful way to show kindness to others. It’s a small thing that can make a big difference. So, let’s all try to do one random act of kindness each day. It’s a small step that can lead to a big change.

500 Words Essay on Random Act Of Kindness

A random act of kindness is a selfless act done by a person to either help or cheer up a random stranger, for no reason other than to make people happier. It could be small, like giving up your seat on a bus to someone else, or big, like helping someone with their groceries. The idea is to be kind without expecting anything in return.

Random acts of kindness are important because they remind us of our shared humanity. They show us that even in our busy lives, we can still make a positive impact on others. They make our world a better place by creating a chain of good deeds. When we do something kind for someone, they might feel inspired to do the same for others. This way, the kindness spreads.

There are many ways to perform random acts of kindness. You can pay for the meal of the person behind you in a fast-food line. You can send a thank you note to your teacher or coach. You can help an elderly person cross the street. You can donate your old books to a local library. You can even simply smile at a stranger. These acts, no matter how small, can make someone’s day better.

Doing random acts of kindness benefits not just the receiver, but the giver too. When we do something kind for someone else, it makes us feel good about ourselves. It boosts our self-esteem and makes us feel happier. It also helps us feel more connected to others, which can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Encouraging Random Acts of Kindness in Schools

Schools can play a big role in encouraging random acts of kindness. They can start a ‘kindness week’ where students are encouraged to do kind things for each other. They can also have a ‘kindness tree’ where students can write down their acts of kindness and hang them on the tree. This not only promotes kindness, but also creates a positive and supportive school environment.

In conclusion, random acts of kindness are small actions that can make a big difference in our world. They can help spread positivity, make people feel good, and create a sense of community. So, the next time you have the chance, do a random act of kindness. You never know how much it might mean to someone.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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a random act of kindness costs nothing essay

Can Random Acts of Kindness Increase Wellbeing? (+ 22 Ideas)

random acts of kindness

When you consider the times when you’ve practice random acts of kindness, what past practices come to mind?

I found myself thinking of this question as I wrote this blog because it’s a good question to ask, “ When did I give of myself without expecting anything in return? ”.

This piece has some really great resources and explanations of RAK’s and how to live it throughout your days.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains

What is a random act of kindness, a look at the psychology and science of kindness, can kindness impact our wellbeing, positive psychology and kindness, how unexpected acts of kindness can make a difference, the random acts of kindness foundation, putting theory into practice, lesson plans for teachers, 9 apps to help practice kindness, 4 books on the topic, 7 recommended youtube videos, a take-home message.

A Random Act of Kindness is giving your best self to others without requests or promise of return on investment. It’s simply doing something nice for someone else, without them asking and without you doing it for anything in return.

Kindness is interesting, in that unlike an emotion such as happiness , or a feeling and action like gratitude, kindness is mostly a behavior or action.

Through years of experience, we each have been trained in our thoughts and perspectives of what kindness is, what it means, what the intention behind someone’s kindness is, so that it is often lost what the kind act is.

People are more likely (and it may be something in our genetic code that we’ve learned over the years) to give more to those with whom they have a closer relationship with than those that are of an acquaintance level (Burnstein, Crandall, & Kitayama, 1994; Cialdini, Brown, Lewis, Luce, & Neuberg, 1997).

People with certain job titles and duties or even roles in their social environment at home like helping professionals or parents may be expected to offer acts of kindness (Bryan, 2009; Davey & Eggebeen, 1998).

Gift-giving seems to induce expectation of reciprocity, or in other words, a social exchange and equity in a relationship are valued with gifts (Gouldner, 1960; Uehara, 1995; Clark & Mills, 1979; Thibaut & Kely, 1959; Walster, Berscheid, & Walster, 1973).

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First, let’s define each of these terms. Kindness means being nice or offering the best of yourself to someone whether it be a minute, second, or longer.

Wellbeing is a bit trickier to define but in the simplest terms, it means “ the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy ” (Google Dictionary). If we look at the research side of things, the CDC has a definition of wellbeing that is all-inclusive (CDC, n.d.).

In the most general sense, wellbeing is a positive outcome that is a determinant for people throughout all societies of how their lives are going (Frey & Stutzer, 2002; Andrews & Withey, 1976; Diener, 2000; Ryff & Keyes, 1995; Diener, Suh & Oishi, 1997; Veenhoven, 2008).

At a minimum, the fundamentals for wellbeing are adequate living conditions (e.g., housing, employment) (Frey & Stutzer, 2002; Andrews & Withey, 1976; Diener, 2000; Ryff & Keyes, 1995; Diener, Suh & Oishi, 1997; Veenhoven, 2008).

As the term “wellbeing” is used across disciplines, there is no consensus on the definition of wellbeing. At a minimum, there is an agreement across disciplines that wellbeing includes

  • the presence of positive emotions and moods (e.g., contentment, happiness);
  • the absence of negative emotions (e.g., depression, anxiety);
  • satisfaction with life;
  • fulfillment and,
  • positive functioning.

(Frey & Stutzer, 2002; Andrews & Withey, 1976; Diener, 2000; Ryff & Keyes, 1995; Diener, Suh, Oishi, 1997; Veenhoven, 2008)

14 Proven Benefits

The wonderful part of random acts of kindness is that there are not only benefits to the receiver but also to the giver. When we break down the benefits, we need to first look at the emotions that are associated with random acts of kindness. An important note is that emotional responses are based on whether they are normative or non-normative distinction (Exline, Lisan, & Lisan, 2012).

  • Recipients of kindness can feel loved.
  • Recipients and givers of kindness can experience a sense of awe when they think about profound acts of love or virtue.
  • Whether you are recipient or giver or merely just a witness you can feel the benefits of an increase in oxytocin. Oxytocin is commonly called the “love hormone” and this helps to lower blood pressure, improve overall heart health, increase self-esteem and optimism.
  • Kindness can increase the feeling of strength and energy due to helping others.
  • Kindness can also make one feel calmer.
  • Less depressed.
  • Increased feelings of self-worth.
  • For those that volunteer their time or money for charitable causes, they often have fewer aches and pains.
  • Kindness is most similar to a medical anti-depressant. Kindness pushes your body to produce serotonin, which is commonly known as the “feel-good” chemical that provides healing and calming feelings.
  • Kindness decreases pain, by generating endorphins (the brain’s natural painkiller).
  • Stress, it has been shown that people that are more kind have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the average population.
  • Anxiety, the University of British Columbia did a study on a group of highly anxious individuals in which they performed at least 6 acts of kindness a week. After one month, there was a significant increase in positive moods, relationship satisfaction and a decrease in social avoidance in socially anxious individuals.
  • Depression is reduced, mortality is delayed, and wellbeing and good fortune are improved when we give of ourselves.
  • Lowering blood pressure from giving acts of kindness, creates emotional warmth, which releases a hormone known as oxytocin. Oxytocin causes the release of a chemical called nitric oxide, which dilates the blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure, and therefore, oxytocin is known as a “cardioprotective” hormone. It protects the heart by lowering blood pressure.

Sources: Cassidy & Shaver, 2008; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007; Keltner & Haidt, 2003; The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, n.d; Stephen Post, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Research and Studies

Research is just at the precipice of trying to understand the positive effects that random acts of kindness can give.

I have highlighted two studies I have found while researching this topic. Hopefully, this will give you more insight into the current understanding of kindness as an intervention and the multiple modalities it can be used in.

Reflecting on acts of kindness toward the self: Emotions, generosity, and the role of social norms (Exline, Lisan, & Lisan, 2012)

Researchers, Exline, Morck Lisan, and Lisan, looked at how reflecting on acts of kindness toward the self could affect emotions, generosity, and the role of social norms. For example, they asked, “ How do people respond, in terms of emotion and behavior, when prompted to recall an act of kindness from another person? ”

By carrying out two studies, these researchers were able to gather responses based on whether kindness was seen as normative – meaning based on past experience, and what behavior does that act of kindness fall in line. Their results showed that normative kindnesses were linked with more positiv e emotion and less negati ve emotion than non-normative kindnesses.

On the whole, these findings suggest that recalling normative kindnesses will increase mood or generosity.

Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: Potential for psychological interventions (Hofmann, Grossman & Hinton, 2011)

Contemporary psychology is researching more and more on the impact that mindful ness meditation can have on a person. In this study, Hoffman, Grossman, and Hinton look at loving-kindness and compassion meditations to see how impactful they would be as an intervention.

There is evidence to show that using LKM and CM have an associated effect of an increase in positive affect and a decrease in negative affect.

In neuroendocrine studies, preliminary results are showing that CM may decrease stress-induced subjective suffering and immune response. “Neuroimaging studies insinuate that LKM and CM may improve activation of brain areas that are involved in emotional processing and empathy” (Hofmann et al. 2011).

Interesting Statistics

The research and science on common outcomes, behaviors, emotions in positive psychology are increasing by the year. In 2010, the Harvard Business School conducted a survey on happiness in 136 countries. Through this study , they found evidence that people who were generous financially, like with charitable donations, were the happiest overall.

Christine Carter’s “ Raising Happiness: In Pursuit of Joyful Kids and Happier Parents ,” has found that giving of yourself to others can help protect your heart, literally. Giving can decrease your risk of heart disease.

In addition, it has been found that for people who are 55 years or older and volunteer, have their risk for dying early cut in half.

So, they have a “ 44% lower likelihood of dying early, and that’s after sifting out every other contributing factor, including physical health, exercise, gender, habits like smoking, marital status, and many more. This is a stronger effect than exercising four times a week or going to church ” (Carter, 2011).

An example of how, just by thinking, our body will react physically to these impulses is by the idea of moving our right arm. When you physically do so, new connections are created in a part of the brain called the motor cortex. Now, just thinking about moving your right arm, and imagining moving it over and over again can actually make the muscles in this same arm stronger.

Because of thoughts about the arm, cellular changes can happen. This reinforces the belief that no matter what one is thinking about, chemical reactions occur in the brain and can, therefore, lead to structural changes. We can create millions of new connections in our brains just by thinking compassionate thoughts.

The structure of our brains can be formed by our emotions. All your inspirations, motivations, loves, fears, hopes and dreams, and even your typical body language are wired into your brain in the form of connections between cells. These connections become so extensive over time that they even wire into 3-D networks, or circuits, as they are often called.

Acts of kindness, then, find their way into the chemistry and structure of our brain. If kindness becomes a habit, we can significantly alter the wiring of our brain. In fact, as we will examine later the brain is already wired for kindness. But we are always adding to and changing that wiring.

Throughout life, as we learn new things, grow, change our minds and even change our habits, new networks of new brain connections are laid down and old networks unravel.

This neuroplasticity occurs right up until the very last seconds of our lives. One of the benefits of it is that it actually allows the brain to get over injury and disease, as healthy brain cells compensate for damaged ones by sprouting new connections to take over some of their communications or pass the information through the brain by a slightly different route. (Hamilton, 2010).

Your brain is wired in the form of connections between cells where over time all of your feelings, emotions, and body language is wired extensively into these circuits. Therefore we can change the wiring of our brain through simple acts of kindness becoming a habit in our everyday lives.

Our brains seem to be initially set up for kindness, but we alter and change that wiring by learning, growing, and modifying our minds and habits over time. As this happens, new connections are made and the ones that were already there can be reformed. This actually allows for healthy brain cells to overcome the damaged ones by passing information throughout the brain in different ways when we are injured or fallen ill.

Numerous studies have indicated that people tend to be kinder and more compassionate toward others than themselves.

Yet random acts of kindness should also include being kind and compassionate toward yourself.

Practicing warmth and understanding toward ourselves, rather than self-criticism, can significantly enhance our resilience and overall wellbeing (Neff & McGehee, 2010). 

If you are motivated to develop self-compassion, follow these four steps. During this exercise, imagine a hypothetical scenario or reflect on a  situation from your life. Pay close attention to the tone of your inner voice in each scenario, and write down your responses to these self-reflection questions.

With continued practice in showing compassion to yourself, it will gradually become more natural and ingrained in your behavior. So, the next time things don’t go as planned in your life, try treating yourself as you would treat a good friend and observe the positive outcomes that may arise.

a random act of kindness costs nothing essay

Unexpected Acts of Kindness can make ALL of the difference to everyone around. Included in kindness is not only compassion but acknowledgment.

At the root of every issue and every emotion is the need for acknowledgment, and it is what makes being human and living so beautiful.

We each are able to acknowledge one another in the simplest of ways that we are human, we are in need, and we are in awe of all that there is to appreciate amongst us.

The Random Acts of Kindness foundation offers ideas, inspiration, posters, videos, quotes, calendars, printables all centered on random acts of kindness. It is headed by its president, Gary Dixon; Vice President – Brooke Jones; Rachel Stubby is the Director of Digital Strategy; and Karina Delaney is the Director of Strategic Partnerships.

RAK foundation’s goal is to make kindness a standard in all aspects of life.

When is Random Acts of Kindness Day?

Random Acts of Kindness day is February 17.

Do 20 Random Acts of Kindness to celebrate.

Check out our lists below for inspiration.

As you’re reading the science behind kindness and living a positive life, make sure to think of your own daily routine. In your day to day, whom do you see or interact with? Spouse? Family? Friends? Co-workers? Or fellow bus or train riders?

Make the effort to reach out and show kindness to them as you have read throughout the article and/or will finish reading you can see there are emotional, physical and neurological benefits to kindness for anyone who puts this into practice.

5 Examples of Random Acts of Kindness

Here are six great examples of Random Acts of Kindness. It’s so interesting to see how each of them are so different.

  • Ikea in Catania, Italy is letting stray dogs sleep on its rugs this winter.
  • 250 people form a human chain to help their local bookshop, October Books in Southampton, move its stock 150 meters to the new shop.
  • Eli Goldstone, took to Twitter after seeing a book that greatly appealed to her. She asked her followers sincerely but not seriously if they could help track the book for her. A fellow Twitter user saw her post and offered to send the book to her.
  • A group of girls was taking classic bathroom “selfies” on their night out at a casino in Canada when a woman noticed and offered to take their pictures for them. The lady said that she remembered when she and her friends used to go out, and how much fun it was. The girls offered for her to come with them .
  • A woman and her family were dining out at a Chinese restaurant in late 2016. The woman had recently lost her hair due to chemotherapy treatment. A fellow diner paid for her and her family’s dinner and wrote a note to explain: The note says, “I lost my wife to cancer 5 years ago. I know how tough it can be going through this. Your meal is on me. Merry Christmas .”

6 Random Acts of Kindness Ideas

Check out this quick list of 6 Random Acts of Kindness Ideas I pulled together after searching the Internet for some of the most meaningful ones that you can do easily throughout your week.

  • When in line to get your morning coffee, pay for the person behind you.
  • Whoever you interact with today, if it’s 3-50, compliment the first two people.
  • Pick up your phone and open your text-messaging app – send a positive text to 4 people.
  • Donate items in your home that you haven’t used in the past year.
  • Leave some spare quarters at the laundromat for someone to find.
  • When at the store, leave any extra not-used coupons next to the products for someone to find that could really use them.

6 Ideas Specifically for Strangers

Check out this list of 5 ideas for random acts of kindness

  • When parking your car, take out a piece of paper and pen. Leave a note to a fellow car (driver ☺) to let them know that they did an amazing job at parking.
  • Smile genuinely at 5 strangers throughout your day.
  • Take some flowers or sweet treats to a nurse’s station at a nearby hospital.
  • Give up your seat so someone else can sit on the train or bus.
  • Hold the door open for someone.
  • Make a goodie bag of treats, canned food, and warm gloves, socks or a hat and give it to a homeless person.

RAK at Work: 5 Ideas for Employees and Co-Workers

  • Send an out-of-the-blue gratitude email to a co-worker and let them know how grateful you are for them.
  • When on a team call, do a heartfelt shout-out to one of your co-workers that did an awesome job on a project
  • Get your workplace in on the action, and organize a fundraiser or charity drive.
  • Help others connect by using your personal network and share with a co-worker.
  • Let your boss know that you appreciate them and the way they _______ (you fill in the blank).

Random Acts of Kindness to Practice with Kids

There are many ways to teach kids how to be kind and how to do it randomly. A great way of learning about kindness and the benefits for both the recipient and the giver is to practice it.

Here are ten ways that kids can practice random acts of kindness as stated from “100 Acts of Kindness for Kids” from the Cups and Crayons website.

  • Leave change in the vending machine, for someone to use when they are hungry.
  • Sit with a new kid at school.
  • Introduce the new kid at school to your friends.
  • At the end of the school day, tell your teacher thank you for a great day of learning.
  • When you get home from school, tell your parents or guardian how much you missed them.

6 Ideas for High School Students to ‘Pay it Forward’

  • Write a thank-you note to the cafeteria staff.
  • Sit with a classmate that is not sitting with anyone at lunchtime.
  • Offer to tutor a fellow classmate on a subject that you excel at.
  • Tell a teacher how much you appreciate them and their style of teaching.
  • Tell your parents thank you.
  • Genuinely compliment 1 person every day.

Check out these awesome lesson plans for teachers. Included are great ways to integrate random acts of kindness into their student’s learning.

First, check out the Random Acts of Kindness official website to see all the great lesson plans they have for kindergarten to 8th grade. Each of the lessons teaches kids Social Emotional (SEL) skills.

Next check out Edutopia’s website , by Rebecca Alber. This is a great place to find classroom activities and resources for developing a vital character trait.

To get you started, scroll down a little bit to see the Kick-Start Kindness Activities. It provides students with prompts to share kindness to friends and family, and writing prompts, as well as how to do shout-outs, appreciation boxes, temperature checks, the buddy-system, and community circle.

RAK Activities and Worksheets

I’ve collated some RAK activities and worksheets that you can share with your children or students.

This Worksheet Place has some fun Acts of Kindness worksheets , ideally used for First to Third Graders. There’s even a fun worksheet where the student can create a Kindness Poem.

Teachers Pay Teachers is a really fun site to find resources made by fellow teachers for other teachers. There is an option to digitally download free content. You can download worksheets, games, RAK calendars, and RAK challenges.

Other Resources and Printables (PDF)

Here are some other resources to have fun with while learning and being kind:

The Doing Good Together site has some awesome resources . Some of the resources are Feelings flashcards and games, ways to include kindness into your family routine, and how to advocate for animals.

The Random Acts of Kindness website has some cool posters for your classroom, calendars, coloring pages, bookmarks, and even an award certificate for the student that shows kindness.

Random Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar

So many children have fun with this Kindness Advent Calendar , print it out and use when it’s Advent.

Check out these 12 apps recommended helping you practice kindness (Theifels, 2016; Goodnet.org, 2014).

1. Toca Pet Doctor

Students take care of pets that are ailing from different diagnoses. They could be suffering from physical or emotional pain, and each needs help with tasks. Some of the tasks include feeding, or overcoming sadness. Ages 2-6.

You can get the app here .

2. The Great Kindness Challenge: School Edition

Provides the kids with ideas for random acts of kindness like smile at 25 people, or pick up 10 pieces of trash. The students can do them together or individually, and set goals as they go. Ages 4-18.

Available at iTunes .

3. Avokiddo Emotions

This app has a variety of animals with a wide range of personalities. Kids can play dress up, feed the animals and share toys. The animals “react appropriately” to the choices that the child makes in the game, teaching kids how to recognize facial expressions. Ages 5 and under.

4. Four Little Corners

Four Little Corners is an interactive storybook app that teaches lessons on tolerance, equality, and compassion by integrating geometry. Ages 5 and under.

5. Peek-a-Zoo

Peek-a-Zoo is a multilingual app that is based on the peek-a-boo game. It teaches the child about faces and facial expressions. Ages 5 and under.

6. Wee You-Things

Wee You-Things shares interesting stories on diversity, empathy, and confidence. It shows how it’s great to be unique, and “you”. Ages 5 and under.

Available here at iTunes .

7. DPS from the Social Express

DPS from the Social Express is for elementary-aged kids and helps kids identify and label emotions. DPS stands for My Digital Problem Solver. Ages 6+.

8. Middle School Confidential 1 and 2

This app teaches healthy ways to handle issues unique to middle school. As you open the app you can see that 6 characters are with you to navigate throughout different social situations. There are quizzes, resources, and tips from other kids. Ages 8-14.

Apps for Adults

1. pay it forward.

Is from the official app of the Global Pay it Forward movement that was designed to make the world a better place to live (5 Apps that will increase our kindness quotient).

1. The Little Book of Kindness: Everyday actions to change your life and the world around you – Bernadette Russell

The Little Book of Kindness

Prompted by the seeming hopelessness of the world around her, Bernadette Russell undertook a pledge to be kind to a stranger every day for a year. The experience left her wanting to inspire others.

The Little Book of Kindness is packed with fun ideas, practical tips and interactive exercises that encourage you to ‘be kind’ in every area of life – online, to strangers, to the environment, in your community, to yourself – and change the world, one act of kindness at a time.

Available from Amazon .

2. The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity – Sally Kohn

The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity

Her viral TED Talk on the need to practice emotional—rather than political—correctness sparked a new way of considering how often we amplify our differences and diminish our connections.

Available from  Amazon .

3. Each Kindness (Jane Addams Award Book (Awards)) – Jacqueline Woodson

Each Kindness

Chloe and her friends won’t play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually, Maya stops coming to school.

When Chloe’s teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship and thinks about how much better it could have been if she’d shown a little kindness toward Maya.

4. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness: 101 Stories of Compassion and Paying it Forward – Amy Newark

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness

From random acts of kindness to doing what’s right, this book shows how positive attitudes and good deeds can change the world.

This book shines a bright light on the widespread goodwill in our world as everyday heroes demonstrate acts of kindness, compassion, and commitment to others.

The stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Random Acts of Kindness will uplift you, inspire you, and brighten your day.

When one person sets in motion an act of kindness that is passed along to others.

Orly Wahba takes us through a personal journey of changing the world through the power of kindness.

Acts of Kindness that have made the world a better place.

A guided relaxation meditation using loving-kindness.

How you treat others is ultimately who you are. Motivation for being kind.

The scientifically-proven benefits of being kind to others.

Mark Kelly encourages us to complete one act of kindness each day to change lives.

No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. 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, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

Audrey Hepburn

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
Goodness is about character – integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.

Dennis Prager

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.

John Ruskin

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.

William Arthur Ward

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.

Saint Basil

Here are the values that I stand for: honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated and helping those in need. To me, those are traditional values.

Ellen DeGeneres

My religion is simple. My religion is kindness.
Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

Scott Adams

Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.

Samuel Johnson

To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.
Whether one believes in religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.
In Asian languages, the word for ‘mind’ and the word for ‘heart’ are same. So, if you’re not hearing mindfulness in some deep way as heartfulness, you’re not really understanding it. Compassion and kindness towards oneself are intrinsically woven into it. You could think of mindfulness as wise and affectionate attention.

Jon Kabat-Zinn

a random act of kindness costs nothing essay

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I hope that you got some great ideas and actionable items that you can integrate into your life. This article was a true refresher in what it means to be human sharing our lives with one another – even if we don’t know each other.

If you are a teacher, I hope you were able to capture all the wonderful resources we provided to show your students.

If you are just a searcher for ways to be inspired, there are some incredibly helpful tips, resources (apps, books) that can further you on your journey of being kind.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

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Amy

This article helped me a lot! It changed my mind about a few people!

Hartley

I love this, its sweet, and more people should be this kind because a lot of people are very bad and rude, we need to be more kind to others

:)

Guys just less your depression. its simple <3

Jessica Romero

This is great

Jose Romero

Dear friends, Thanks a lot to make me reading this article in full. 1. What’s the based of kindness ? 2. What’s the power to take action of kindness? Thanks.

Nicole Celestine

Hi Suryadarma,

Thank you for your questions. I’m not sure I understand your second question — could you please phrase this differently? But regarding the first, which I assume is about drivers of kindness 🙂 there are a few theories about why we are motivated to be kind. The Wikipedia page on ‘Helping Behaviors’ actually offers a pretty good summary of these. Among the theories there are perspectives based in evolutionary perspectives, boosting our own egos, and social exchange. It’s an interesting read!

– Nicole | Community Manager

Tucker Albright

It is a great article for studying.

Tim Bramwell

Hello, I finally had a chance to read this article in full, and especially liked the the suggested acts of kindness for your readers. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I became part of a team that realised that kindness was going to be part of the recovery process and decided to build a web application. We are building Seekindness.org as a social engagement to encourage and recognise random acts of kindness on regular (daily) basis. Not being medical people, we don’t understand the “stages of kindness” that an individual goes through to regularly recognise kindness. My thoughts that some RAK’s are very small, and yet provide the same benefits as larger, more publically recognisable ones. If you have the inclination, I would appreciate your views on that question. Thanks.

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Kindness — Acts of Kindness: Importance of Being Kind

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Acts of Kindness: Importance of Being Kind

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Words: 792 |

Updated: 30 November, 2023

Words: 792 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Works Cited:

  • Elliot, A. J., Maier, M. A., Moller, A. C., Friedman, R., & Meinhardt, J. (2007). Color and psychological functioning: The effect of red on performance attainment. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 136(1), 154-168.
  • Foulsham, T., Walker, E., & Kingstone, A. (2011). The where, what, and when of gaze allocation in the lab and the natural environment. Vision Research, 51(17), 1920-1931.
  • Hemphill, M. A. (1996). A note on adults' color-emotion associations. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 157(3), 275-280.
  • Jacobs, K. W., & Hustmyer Jr, F. E. (1974). Effects of four psychological primary colors on GSR, heart rate and respiration rate. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 38(3), 763-766.
  • Johnson, K. K., & Lennon, S. J. (2015). The role of color in marketing. Journal of Business Research, 68(2), 243-249.
  • Kuehni, R. G. (2013). Color: An introduction to practice and principles (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
  • Morton, J. L., & Johnson, M. H. (2011). Consistency of color emotion. Color Research & Application, 36(1), 41-52.
  • Palmer, S. E., & Schloss, K. B. (2010). An ecological valence theory of human color preference. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(19), 8877-8882.
  • Smith, K. C., & Crenshaw, S. (2019). Color theory: An essential guide to color-from basic principles to practical applications. Rockport Publishers.
  • Valdez, P., & Mehrabian, A. (1994). Effects of color on emotions. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 123(4), 394-409.

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A Random Act of Kindness: Experiencing the Goodness of Humanity

Table of contents, an unexpected encounter, the ripple effect, the lesson learned.

  • Fowler, S. B., & Dell, D. M. (2004). Acts of Kindness and Acts of Novelty Affect Life Satisfaction. The Journal of Social Psychology, 144 (5), 493-495.
  • Lyubomirsky, S., Tkach, C., & DiMatteo, M. R. (2006). What are the Differences Between Happiness and Self-esteem? Social Indicators Research, 78 (3), 363-404.
  • Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, Happiness, and Health: It’s Good to Be Good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12 (2), 66-77.
  • Seligman, M. E., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions. American Psychologist, 60 (5), 410-421.
  • Spencer, J., & Pahl, S. (2006). Giving it Away: Exploring the Psychological Benefits of Charitable Giving for the Donor. Psychology and Health, 21 (3), 335-349.

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Changing the world one random act of kindness at a time.

a random act of kindness costs nothing essay

Spreading Kindness and Spending Donations

by Karyl Anne Fischer | Nov 9, 2020 | Kindness Stories

Random Acts’ mission is changing the world through small acts of kindness. While some kindness acts cost nothing — smiling at a stranger, holding a door for someone whose hands are full — other acts of kindness require funding. That’s where Random Acts comes in. 

How are donations spent?

Random Acts is primarily funded by donations. Donations, according to Director of Finance David Antonelli , come from a variety of sources such as PayPal, GoFundMe, Facebook, employer matching programs, and checks. Some Amazon shoppers also donate through the AmazonSmile program . The majority of donations go into the general fund, from where kindness acts are funded. David says that “ For every dollar we take in, about 92 cents is spent directly on the cause — either via small random acts or awards and grants for Haiti, Nicaragua, Childhood Hunger,” or other causes. 

Aside from the general fund, Random Acts has ten restricted funds. These are special accounts where the money was raised for a specific cause and can therefore only be spent on items related to that cause. The ten restricted funds are causes you may be familiar with: Hope for Haiti and the Jacmel Children’s Center ; The Free High School in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua ; Childhood Hunger ; the COVID-19 Support Network ; Feed Hero Nurses ; Stronger Than Storms ; and  GISH fundraisers : Change a Life Syria , Change a Life Dancescape South Africa , Change a Life Rwanda and Change a Life Laos .

The main reason Random Acts is able to spend such a high percentage of donations on kindness acts is that Random Acts, unlike many other organizations, is run entirely by a volunteer staff. That means that every one of us is here because we are committed to spending our free time making the world a kinder, better place.

Funding Kindness Around the Globe 

a random act of kindness costs nothing essay

David explains, “We do accept donations from all over the world but cannot offer tax deduction receipts for those donating outside the USA. When we spend money outside the U.S. we try to find another nonprofit or NGO (non-governmental organization) to partner with. That is one reason we do a lot [of work] with Giles Duley’s foundation, Legacy of War , that is based out of the UK. Our next big project, which will be announced soon, we are going to focus on both inside the U.S. as well as outside the U.S.”

He continues, “We spent funds in various countries as part of the Childhood Hunger campaign. We sent money to Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. We actually just got our first Regional Rep in Africa so we now have reps on every continent but Antartica. And with PayPal being accepted in more countries, we are actually able to send funds in the local currency, so there is no need for them to worry about trying to convert amounts to USD.”

If you would like to know more about Random Acts’ financial activities, more in-depth details and our tax returns are available for supporters on our website or by request. 

Interested in getting involved with Random Acts’ mission of spreading kindness? Participate in fundraisers , reach out to your regional representative , or check our open volunteer positions . Together, we can change the world, one random act of kindness at a time. 

The Kind Blog

a random act of kindness costs nothing essay

February 16, 2017

50 Kindness Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness Day

Want to celebrate random acts of kindness day today here are 50 fun ideas to do anywhere., february 17th is random acts of kindness day.

Quick! Pick a number 1-50.

Now scroll down to that random act of kindness idea and do it to celebrate #RandomActsofKindnessDay and #RAKWeek2017

50 Fun Kindness Ideas to Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day:

  • Pay it Backward: buy coffee for the person behind you in line.
  • Compliment the first three people you talk to today.
  • Send a positive text message to five different people right now.
  • Post inspirational sticky notes around your neighborhood, office, school, etc.
  • Tell someone they dropped a dollar (even though they didn’t). Then give them a dollar.
  • Donate old towels or blankets to an animal shelter.
  • Say hi to the person next to you on the elevator.
  • Surprise a neighbor with freshly baked cookies or treats!
  • Let someone go in front of you in line who only has a few items.
  • Leave a gas gift card at a gas pump.
  • Throw a party to celebrate someone just for being who they are, which is awesome.
  • Have a LinkedIn account? Write a recommendation for coworker or connection.
  • Leave quarters at the laundromat.
  • Encounter someone in customer service who is especially kind? Take an extra five minutes to tell their manager.
  • Leave unused coupons next to corresponding products in the grocery store.
  • Leave a note on someone’s car telling them how awesome they parked.
  • Try to make sure every person in a group conversation feels included.
  • Write a kind message on your mirror with a dry erase marker for yourself, your significant other or a family member.
  • Place a positive body image notes in jean pockets at a department store.
  • Smile at five strangers.
  • Set an alarm on your phone to go off at three different times during the day. In those moments, do something kind for someone else.
  • Send a gratitude email to a coworker who deserves more recognition.
  • Practice self-kindness and spend 30 minutes doing something you love today.
  • Give away stuff for free on Craig’s List.
  • Write a gratitude list in the morning and again in the evening.
  • Know parents who could use a night out? Offer to babysit for free.
  • Hold up positive signs for traffic or in a park for people exercising outside!
  • Return shopping carts for people at the grocery store.
  • Buy a plant. Put it in a terracotta pot. Write positive words that describe a friend on the pot. Give it to that friend!
  • Write a positive comment on your favorite blog, website, or a friend’s social media account.
  • Have a clean up party at a beach or park.
  • While you’re out, compliment a parent on how well-behaved their child is.
  • Leave a kind server the biggest tip you can afford.
  • When you’re throwing something away on the street, pick up any litter around you and put that in the trash too.
  • Pay the toll for the person behind you.
  • Put 50 paper hearts in a box. On each cutout write something that is special about your partner or a friend. Give them the box and tell them to pull out a heart anytime they need a pick-me-up.
  • Everyone is important. Learn the names of your office security guard, the person at the front desk and other people you see every day. Greet them by name. Also say “hello” to strangers and smile. These acts of kindness are so easy, and they almost always make people smile.
  • Write your partner a list of things you love about them.
  • Purchase extra dog or cat food and bring it to an animal shelter.
  • Find opportunities to give compliments. It costs nothing, takes no time, and could make someone’s entire day. Don’t just think it. Say it.
  • Take flowers or treats to the nurses’ station at your nearest hospital.
  • Keep an extra umbrella at work, so you can lend it out when it rains.
  • Send a ‘Thank you’ card or note to the officers at your local police or fire station.
  • Take muffins or cookies to your local librarians.
  • Run an errand for a family member who is busy.
  • Leave a box of goodies in your mailbox for your mail carrier.
  • Tape coins around a playground for kids to find.
  • Put your phone away while in the company of others.
  • Email or write to a former teacher who made a difference in your life.
  • When you hear that discouraging voice in your head, tell yourself something positive — you deserve kindness too!

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Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

26 Inexpensive Acts of Kindness

Shared by Mrs. Weber 17 Comments

You want to do acts of kindness, but where to begin when you’re on a budget? Here are some simple ideas that cost $5 or less!

Ideas for Acts of Kindness

1. Many charitable organizations are outside asking for change this time of year. Why don’t you buy them a warm drink to enjoy while standing in the cold? Or how about some toe warmers? {A stranger bought me a hot chocolate when I was ringing bells last year, and I think about it all the time. It was SO kind!}

2.  Leave a cup of pennies by Sandy the Pony at Meijer. It’s one of the few things that costs a penny, and yet it brings so much joy to the lives of kids. If you’re not near a Meijer location, leave quarters in candy/toy machines. {Or, if you shop Aldi, leave quarters in the carts!}

3. Burn a CD with inspirational music {or Christmas music} and drop it off anonymously to neighbors with a nice note.

4. Buy a $5 gift card for a store you’re shopping in. Empower a cashier to give it to someone who looks like they need some cheering up.

5. Visit a nursing home. Purchase inexpensive carnations and walk around, wishing the elderly a Merry Christmas.

6. Help someone load groceries into their car.

7. Offer to put the cart away for someone with their hands full at the store.

8.  Babysit a friend’s children so they can run errands and finish up Christmas shopping.

9. Donate used books to a library. These can often go toward used book sales, which help keep our libraries open.

10. Leave a nice note to a waiter/waitress that did a great job or made you smile. Sure, big tips are great too, but encouraging words have the power to last a lifetime.

11. Leave a coupon next to a product at the store. It will make the next person who needs that item smile.

12. Let someone go ahead of you when in line somewhere — at the store, post office, or even in traffic.

13. Write a nice note or have your child draw a picture for your local police or firefighter station. Remind them of why they do the work they do…even on Christmas day.

14. If you’re going through the drive-thru, buy a meal/coffee for the person behind you.

15. Did you have an outstanding teacher or mentor that made a difference in your life? Write them a note telling them how much they meant to you.

16. We can’t forget to treat mother nature with kindness. Pick up trash when out and about.

17. Donate blood. I know it’s scary for many, but did you know you could save up to 3 lives with your one pint? And to more rare blood types {like myself, a B- gal}, it truly can make such a difference.

18. Join a group such a Freecycle, and give away items you aren’t using. This time of year, many families cannot afford things like Christmas lights or trees. Offer up ones you are not using {but are working, of course}.

19. Make a meal and give it to someone. Know of a neighbor or friend going through a rough time? Create a dish they can easily heat up and eat.

20. Write down inspiring quotes about kindness on sticky notes and leave them in public places, like the bathroom in a shopping mall. Here’s a good list of ideas to get you started.

21. If you use Pinterest and have discovered a great recipe, craft or idea from it, go comment on that person’s blog post. It makes a difference for bloggers to hear that their idea is loved 😉

22. Don’t forget about our furry friends. Go to a dollar store and purchase some inexpensive toys or treats and drop them off to a local animal shelter.

23. If you’re at the store, add a treat, like a candy bar, onto your order for the cashier.

24. Sign up to be an organ donor. Click here to determine how to sign-up in your state.

25. Since I know many of my readers are bloggers, and therefore decent photographers, offer to take photos of families in need {or just your neighbors/friends}. Photo sessions are expensive, so capturing a family for free is surely something that will be cherished for years to come.

26.  Give a smile, a kiss, or a simple hug to all those you encounter. Let them know you love them and count each day as a blessing because of them.

What ideas can you add?

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December 17, 2012 at 2:47 pm

Love these Lauren. So excited to do this, and not just 26 things, I want to do it beyond that. There is nothing better then brightening up somebody’s day!!!

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December 17, 2012 at 2:53 pm

Thanks for the list, Lauren! Great ideas!

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December 17, 2012 at 3:50 pm

Great list, Lauren! I am going to strive to do things like this, not just for the 26 acts, but for all year long.

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December 18, 2012 at 9:13 pm

I love this list and this idea. And like Kimberly said I want to strive to do these things all year long. The world needs more random acts of kindness!

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December 31, 2012 at 8:42 am

Thank you for sharing this wonderful list of budget-friendly ideas – it’s good to be reminded that being kind doesn’t have to cost a penny! I’ve posted a link to your page on my Facebook page. Keep spreading the love!

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November 20, 2015 at 2:46 pm

Love this list! Thank you! You’ve inspired me to donate blood for the first time.

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November 20, 2015 at 3:33 pm

It is such a great thing to do! It literally can save a life. Thank you!

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January 11, 2018 at 11:02 am

How about planting tulip or daffodil bulbs in the park? (with permission, of course)

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February 2, 2022 at 7:42 pm

Thank you so much for this list of ideas! This year for my birthday I want to do random acts of kindness and your list gave me lots of ideas to try! 🙂

February 6, 2022 at 8:22 am

That is such a great birthday idea, Ami!

[…] you need some ideas, check out my list of inexpensive random acts of kindness […]

[…] for more ideas? Check out this post of 26 ideas from my archives. I’m looking forward to performing some acts myself and […]

[…] you’d rather stay close to home, try these inexpensive random acts of kindness or hit up the library! There are so many amazing books highlighting Dr. King’s work. My […]

[…] you’d rather stay close to home, visit here to find a volunteer opportunity, try these inexpensive random acts of kindness, or hit up the library! There are so many amazing books highlighting Dr. King’s work. My […]

[…] More inexpensive ways to give back can be found here. […]

[…] you’d rather stay close to home, visit here to find a volunteer opportunity, try these inexpensive random acts of kindness, or hit up the library! There are so many amazing books highlighting Dr. King’s […]

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