Acts of kindness involve selflessly helping others, making a positive impact and creating real connections through small, thoughtful actions.
good deeds, altruism, charitable acts
Acts of kindness involve selflessly helping others, making a positive impact and creating real connections through small, thoughtful actions.
Check out our safety recommendations.
Remember that acts of kindness can be small gestures.
When you're out and about, be attentive to what's happening around you.
Always ask for permission to help before stepping in.
When you are ready, head to our Practice Guides and get started.
Looking for detailed practice guides? Hang tight, they are coming soon!
Acts of kindness are about more than just being nice – they’re about making real, meaningful connections and being a kind person in your community. Whether it’s helping a neighbour, offering a few encouraging words or supporting a cause you care about, these small, thoughtful actions can truly make a difference. Each act of kindness has the power to lift someone’s spirits, foster a sense of community and even bring a bit of light to someone’s hard day. Ready to start making a difference, one small act at a time? Let’s explore how you can begin your journey of kindness today.
Incorporating acts of kindness into your daily life can enhance your wellbeing, offering benefits such as feelings of connection and empathy. These benefits not only improve your own mental and emotional health but also positively impact the well-being of those around you, fostering a more compassionate and supportive environment.
Improved emotional health
Emotional well-being
Reduced stress levels
Emotional well-being
Strengthened social connections
Social well-being
Increased life satisfaction
Self well-being
Enhanced physical health
Physical well-being
Mahatma Gandhi
Person
Keanu Reeves
Actor
Marcus Rashford
Sports
Pay It Forward (Movie)
Movie
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1 experiences
We bet you’re itching to get some kindness out into the world, but it’s worth thinking about it a bit more deeply first and considering how you might go about it. Acts of kindness can be done in different ways, allowing you to choose a style that aligns with your personality and resources. To get the most out of this activity, these tips will help ensure you're set up for success.
Random acts of kindness
Anonymous kindness
Online kindness
⚠️
Avoid situations where performing an act of kindness could put you or others in harm's way.
🤔
"Will this really make a difference?"
😬
"What if they don’t react well?"
😊
"That felt surprisingly good!"
😊
"I didn’t expect this to brighten my own day!"
💡
"I could do this more often!"
Are you ready to try acts of kindness?
We are busy working on detailed getting started guides and individual practice guides to follow.
Let's compare the different ways to start acts of kindness for the first time: self-led (using online guided sources) or in a group.
Compare
Recommendation for first-timer
2nd pick
Not picked
Availability
Widely
Moderately
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Average cost per session
Free or low cost
Free or low cost
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Special equipment required
None or minimal
None or minimal
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Potential for socialisation & community
Social potential
Highly social
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Safety & skill building
Safe & fast
Safe & fast
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Space or privacy required
Minimal
Some required
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Ease of scheduling
Very flexible
Need to plan
-
Setup time
Little to none
Up to 30 mins
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Active practice time
Under 20 mins
Up to an hour
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Unexpected advantages
Wholesome
Wholesome
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In Star Trek, Spock’s catchphrase "Live long and prosper" is seen as a wish for kindness and goodwill.
Keanu Reeves is known for secretly funding hospitals and children's charities.
World Kindness Day was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement.
Mr. Rogers’ kindness was so influential that he was given a Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 1997.
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3 facts
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9 memes
Practicing Other-Focused Kindness and Self-Focused Kindness Among Those at Risk for Mental Illness: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Nelson-Coffey, S. K., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & Schotanus-Dijkstra, M. (2021). Practicing Other-Focused Kindness and Self-Focused Kindness Among Those at Risk for Mental Illness: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.741546
Comparing the effects of performing and recalling acts of kindness
Ko, K., Margolis, S., Revord, J., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2019). Comparing the effects of performing and recalling acts of kindness. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(1), 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1663252
Rewards of kindness? A meta-analysis of the link between prosociality and well-being.
Hui, B. P. H., Ng, J. C. K., Berzaghi, E., Cunningham-Amos, L. A., & Kogan, A. (2020). Rewards of kindness? A meta-analysis of the link between prosociality and well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 146(12), 1084–1116. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000298
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7 research pieces
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