Who woulda thunk doing something nice for someone else could make you feel better?
And yes, I’m being sarcastic…
You already know doing nice things for others makes you feel good.
But did you know there’s actually proof to back it up?
Enter Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, and author of The How of Happiness.
In a 2005 study, she instructed participants to perform five acts of kindness per week for six weeks. One group carried out the five acts in a single day. Another performed them throughout the week, and another served as the control.
What did she find?
The group who carried out the five acts in a single day experienced a significant increase in well-being compared to the other two groups.
Why did the first group feel so happy?
Well — they felt good about themselves! And they felt a growing sense of appreciation with each new act of kindness they performed.
Professor Martin Seligman, the “father of positive psychology,” takes this further by saying:
“We scientists have found that doing a kindness produces the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being of any exercise we have tested.”
Talk about powerful stuff!
Your challenge:
Do as Seligman suggests and perform one random act of kindness as soon as you can. Then see how you feel.
Take this a step further by performing five acts of kindness in a single day once a week for the next two weeks.
If you commit to the task, I have no doubt you’ll experience a significant boost in your sense of well-being.
Now get out there and spread some love — you deserve it!
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And when you’re ready 👇👇