Performing kind acts cultivates shared happiness, builds relationships, and connects us to the larger world. The benefits of performing acts of kindness are undeniable. Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage, argues that one of the key factors to happiness is participating in acts of kindness. The research behind the benefits of participating in acts of kindness is abundant. Over the years, I have also had the opportunity to see the impact participating in a kind act can have on students and adults alike. When students and staff returned Monday morning to find the lockers, doors, and walls pasted with pink and red hearts it created a sense of happiness and joy that was palpable. The building felt alive and there was a lightness in the school that is hard to put into words.
With the effort of many, it happened over the weekend. Last year, one of the secondary schools in my district planned a mass RAK for every student in my school with the purpose of simply spreading a message of love and kindness. Over the years, I have been on the receiving end of many wonderful acts of kindness. The greatest part of a RAK is that it is hard to know how far the ripples of kindness will extend. Some staff planned their own RAK and some colleagues followed suit with carefully posted notes in their own schools. From this tiny post-it note, the concept spread. Wanting to share the smile, I sent it to friends and colleagues. However, since sometimes the best part of a random act of kindness is in the mystery, no one took ownership. Determined to find out who was responsible for this random act of kindness (RAK), I sent a picture out to staff. It was a simple concept, offering up a smile to anyone needing one. I have no idea how long it had been there, or where it had come from, but seeing all of these little happy faces grinning back at me warmed my heart and made me smile. At the end of last year, stuck to one of our school walls, I came across the small post-it note pictured above. It really can be the smallest of kind acts that can make your heart run over.
#Mindup picture of the brain series
It is a wonderful reminder that every minute of every day holds the opportunity to express gratitude and that gratitude is all around us if we only take a moment to look.Īs in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over so in a series of kindness there is at last one which makes the heart run over. If you need a reminder of just how much there is to be grateful for, take a moment to watch “Moving Art”.
I have included just 10, although the possibilities are endless.
#Mindup picture of the brain full
The internet is full of great ideas and activities. This is likely why people who regularly practice gratitude often report greater levels of happiness.īringing gratitude into the classroom does not have to be difficult. A regular gratitude practice also increases dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness and joy. Alex Korb, in his article “ The Grateful Brain,” also argues that practicing gratitude increases activity in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that is responsible for eating, sleeping, metabolism, and stress. A number of studies have shown that even a small dose of daily gratitude can increase optimism, decrease negative feelings, enhance school connectedness, and improve over all attitudes towards school and learning. If you can bring any aspect of mindfulness into the classroom, introducing your students to the concept of “Gratitude,” and finding opportunities to engage in gratitude daily, can be one of the most beneficial practices for students.
0 kommentar(er)
