Today we will discuss about the last task - Random Acts of Kindness which includes a Gratitude Letter to a new person each day
The reason why both gratitude and kindness are clubbed together in this task is because of the following reasons...
Recent studies have shown that generosity and gratitude go hand in hand both at a psychological and neurobiological level. Generosity and gratitude are separate sides of the same coin. They are symbiotic. Fortunately, each of us has the free will to kickstart the neurobiological feedback loop—and upward spiral of well-being—that is triggered by small acts of generosity and gratitude each and every day of our lives.
Researchers have found that "when the brain feels gratitude, it activates areas responsible for feelings of reward, moral cognition, subjective value judgments, fairness, economic decision-making and self-reference. These areas include the ventral- and dorsal- medial pre-frontal cortex, as well as the anterior cingulate cortex."
Practicing love and kindness to others actually benefits you, your family, your social network and your community at large. Even if you are feeling ‘selfish’, behaving selflessly may be the wisest ‘self-serving’ thing to do. If you want to have a competitive advantage in the long-run, science confirms that altruism, compassion and cooperation are all key ingredients for your success.
Giving to others releases endorphins, activating the parts of our brains that are associated with trust, pleasure, and social connection. Our happiness depends on the happiness of those we are connected to. Science shows that through practicing happiness, we make those we come into contact with happier. In other words, happiness is contagious! This extends to the 3rd degree of contact (a friend of a friend of a friend).
I am sure you all must have experienced this viral effect of happiness when genuinely sharing your gratitude letter with another person. This in turn would have created a ripple effect in them too as seen in the following video about random Acts of Kindness. 😄
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