Why Do Good?
It sounds a bit backwards, but it's TRUE!
Doing good isn't only good for the people in your life (AND randos), but it's also good for you.
Here's why:
When you do something nice for someone else, your brain pretty much sees them as an extension as yourself and fills you with warm fuzzy feelings. It reduces your stress, improves your mood AND improves your self esteem.
It's also contagious - your kindness makes OTHER people happy, so they're more likely to make other people happy.
You guys, it is honestly like a super power.
It doesn’t need to take a lot of time, or cost money.
You can give someone else your seat on the bus, or make your mum a cup of tea. It gives you a dose of positive feeling that lasts for a long time afterwards.
Doing good makes you feel like you're good at stuff, and like you're worthwhile, not worthless. Uh-mazeing.
It also distracts us from our own problems. It’s easy to get bogged down in our own stuff, but helping someone else helps us out of that bog. Helping your little brother with his homework can help you not be so worried about whatever drama Sarah has started at your school. Volunteering for the homeless helps us feel grateful for the house over our heads.. etc.
What if it doesn’t feel good?!
Sometimes people will advantage of your kindness, - it's SO important to trust your gut and shut that kindness DOWN if you feel like someone's using you.
Doing something for someone else should feel good for both of you, like making someone a cookie or helping an old lady cross the road. It DOES NOT mean keeping someone’s secret for them, or doing something you don’t want to do.
Kindness includes kindness to YOU and shouldn't come at the expense of your needs, so check in – does this feel good, then it is good! If it doesn’t, it isn’t!
Get started TODAY!
Join the RandEMactsofkindness #DearEm challenge!
Check out @dearem_nz on Instagram for our RandEMactsofkindness #DearEm daily challenge. It's a week long, costs nothing, and a great way to start small.
Other things you can do:
Volunteer – hit up your favourite cause (the spca? Rainbow youth?) and see if they have a volunteer program. Follow them on facebook and connect that way.
Mentor – help someone out at school who needs help, your counselling department at school might have a mentor program you could join. Or start at home with your brother or sister, they will remember it always.
Fundraise – you can hold an event at your school, join a 5K run for charity, bakesale outside your house on the weekend and then donate the money you make to your fave charity (like US, haha!)!
But again it’s OK to start small, like just holding the door open for someone, or sharing your morning tea. It doesn’t have to be a big deal to make you both feel big good.
