IT’S THE KINDNESS THAT COUNTS
Compassion is universally good, writes our kindness tsar, scientist and author David Hamilton
KINDNESS BOOSTS HAPPINESS – that much is established in science. But researchers at the University of Oxford wanted to know whether it mattered who you were kind to – in other words, does it boost happiness more if you are kind to people you know well or love, people you know a little or complete strangers?
In their study* of almost 700 people over seven days, they found that it really doesn’t matter! It only matters that you are kind. Compassion boosts contentment regardless of whether you help a friend, a family member, a work colleague or a random person in the street.
The scientists also found that the number of acts of compassion mattered. More kindness translated to more happiness and that is also true even if you only witness kindness. In addition, acts of kindness to self also contributed to overall happiness, so don’t omit that one. When it comes to happiness, kindness is the common denominator.
Join David Hamilton live on Facebook @Psychologiesmagazine for his 30-day kindness challenge, next on 15 December at 1pm. Catch up on Psychologies TV at tinyurl.com/psykind. For more, join the ‘Psychologies’ Life Leap Club, free when you subscribe to the magazine.‘the Little Book Of Kindness’ (Octopus, £6.99) and ‘The Five Side Effects Of Kindness’ (Hay House, £12.99) by David Hamilton are out now