There seems to be some kind of intrinsic reward for being kind to people. It seems that humanity is built for kindness. More than others realize, there is an intrinsic value to being kind to the others in the world.

If not for any other reason, being kind can create a happier and healthier you.

While the science behind brains is only as advanced as Galileo and his telescope were a few hundred years ago, there are some things that we are beginning to uncover that allow us to make the world a better place. For example, maybe it is ok to be kind to people for an occasional selfish reason?

A kind heart is a loving heart.

Fake it till you make it is often frowned upon for not being genuine and authentic. I would argue there are times when this is still the best course of action. Take working out. It isn’t every day that you are excited to go hit the gym. Often, it’s not until after you push through and complete the workout that you are happy you did it. You had to do the action to then reap the reward. Kindness may have foundations that are similar.

Not everyone wants to be kind all the time. Sometimes we must take action without the emotion behind it.

When we work out, hormones are released and we feel accomplished afterward. The action turned into the benefit, even when we weren’t “in the mood”. Kindness is the same. When we do something altruistic and beneficial for someone else, the hormone Oxytocin is released into the brain. Oxytocin is an important chemical in our bodies, helping to lower blood pressure and improving heart health. Oxytocin also increases our feelings of connectedness to people, being called the love or cuddle hormone.

If we want to love someone better, maybe it’s worth acting it before we ever feel it. When we act altruistically, we can even be happier!

Altruism is an interesting thing for scientists to study from an evolutionary perspective. It often is done at the sacrifice of one individual in order to build another up. The jury is still out on where there is a set of genes specifically responsible for altruism, but there is plenty of data that shows it pays to be altruistic from a health standpoint.

Individuals who are altruistic seem to be happier overall.

In a study conducted in 136 countries, researchers looked at people who were acting altruistically from a financial perspective. After analyzing the data, it appears that people who were generous and gave openly were happiest overall. Feeling down? Maybe its time to give back to others.

There is a direct and measurable benefit to helping people.

Emory University conducted a study where they looked at brain activity during a generous act. The research concluded that when you act kindly towards someone, your brain lights up in the pleasure and reward centers. The same place lights up when you are the recipient of a gift or kindness. “The Gift of Giving” really does have some backing to it. It is often referred to as the “helpers high”.

Altruism is a special attribute that reminds us of our humanity.

While many creatures exhibit “motherly instincts” or protective and sacrificial actions, there is something unique about humanity’s ability to lay down their life for a stranger. Maybe be a little more human today and help someone who needs it.

Check out the video below!

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Source: Relieved, Random Acts of Kindness