A touching news story made headlines last week for its unexpected situation and positive outcome.
A police officer in NYC bought a $70 pair of boots to give to a homeless man with blistered feet. This random act of kindness made news in a world where we usually hear negative or violent stories.
In this season of giving, remember that research shows that acts of altruism (both to friends and strangers) decrease stress and strongly contribute to enhancing mental health.
A leading researcher in this field found that individuals who completed five acts of kindness during the day reported feeling much happier than the control group. And the bonus news is that it lasts for days.
Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage, recommends committing conscious acts of kindness. Try this experiment:
- Proactively choose a day.
- During that day perform five acts of kindness.
- By proactively declaring this day you will be more conscious and aware of your actions.
This police officer reminds us that while we may not be able to walk in someone else’s shoes, we can make their journey a lot more comfortable by consciously committing random acts of kindness.