A random act of kindness is a non-premeditated, inconsistent action designed to offer goodwill toward the outside world. Examples of random acts of kindness include; calling a friend you have not spoken to in a while, offering to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbour, sending someone a handwritten note, or even something as simple as letting someone go in front of you in a line. In the workplace, random acts of kindness may look slightly different. For instance, they can be in the form of complimenting your co-workers, collaborating with colleagues struggling to complete a task, or giving positive feedback to others for good work. They can encourage positive mental health, a primary focus of our free online courses.
Boost Positive Feelings
Though they may seem relatively insignificant, random acts of kindness can help make the world a happier place for everyone. One of the primary reasons for this is that they can boost positive feelings, including confidence, control, happiness, and optimism. For instance, giving a colleague a compliment regarding how they look or their personality, may increase their self-esteem and confidence they have in connecting with others. In times when negotiation or communication is necessary, it might even help them perform better!
It Feels Good to Give
However, random acts of kindness do not only influence the receiver’s emotions but also the giver’s. Though we are all familiar with the common saying “it’s better to give than receive”, not many of us stop and ask ourselves why. Giving or an act to show that you care about another individual creates a sense of belonging, which reduces isolation and feelings of loneliness. During a time of building economic uncertainty and increasingly alienating jobs, building and enhancing connections where possible is essential to reduce stress levels and maintain good mental health.
Encourage Others to Return the Deed
All actions have consequences, but they are not always negative! By displaying a generous and caring attitude to others by doing them a favour or fetching them a coffee, it encourages them to return the deed, whether that be for you or someone else. This relates to how random acts of kindness can make the world happier for everyone, or even simply contribute to creating a more positive community. A chain reaction of kind acts and making others smile forms!
Help Keep Things in Perspective
A final reason why acts of kindness are so significant is that they help to keep things in perspective. They remind others of what is important and make them happy. In certain situations, it can aid individuals in having a more positive outlook on their circumstances and work life, increasing their optimism for the future and reassuring they can make others feel good.
Do Not Overdo It
When attempting to conduct these random acts, remember to consider ourselves and not overdo it. It is important to focus on our happiness and contentment as much as on someone else’s. It is very easy to give away all our energy, especially if we are finding things hard ourselves and want to focus on others. One tip is to start with small gestures, so you do not give more than you are financially able or become overwhelmed. For instance, simply holding the door open for someone can make them smile. Helping others does not have to cost money or take a lot of time!
Our Free Online Courses
If you would like to learn more about the mental health of others and how you can help those around you, why not visit our free online courses page and discover some of the fully funded learning we offer on topics such as counselling skills, children and young people’s mental health, and mental health first aid. For any questions or queries you may have, contact our friendly team via shortcourses@ctskills.co.uk.