Random acts of kindness has many benefits

By Rachel Zhang, Editor-in-Chief

February is National Random Acts of Kindness Month.

Life is hard and everyone is dealing with different struggles and scenarios. However, a smile or a compliment can really light up someone’s day.

While February 17th was Random Acts of Kindness day, other days also allow the opportunity to bring some kindness into the world.

Being kind to someone can boost feelings, can help you live longer, and can help your mental health.

Being kind to someone can cause you to have positive feelings.

According to SSM Health, “Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction and well-being and cause the pleasure/reward centers in your brain to light up. Endorphins, which are your body's natural pain killer, also can be released.”

Physiologically, kindness can positively change your brain by boosting levels of serotonin and dopamine. This will have a positive health effect on your body because endorphins will help you relieve pain.

Doing acts of kindness can help you to live longer.

According to science.org, “Large study finds association between positive attitude and extended life span. Here's a good reason to turn that frown upside down: Optimistic people live as much as 15% longer than pessimists, according to a new study spanning thousands of people and 3 decades.”

Being kind doesn’t take much, but it gives you a big reward - a longer life.

Finally, it can help your mental health.

According to psychiatry.org, “New research looks at the mental health benefits, finding that performing acts of kindness may help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.”

Being kind to someone else can boost you and the other person’s feelings, can help you live 15% longer, and can help with your mental health. It doesn’t take much to be kind, just a simple compliment or a smile can have many benefits to both people involved.