kindness

I lost it the other day. My elder daughter was being horribly mean to her younger sister. When I came downstairs to see what the commotion was, she was taunting and teasing her. The trauma of the interaction was written all over her four-year-old sister’s face. I realize that this is relatively common among kids but I had been watching the news just prior and was feeling overwhelmed by the inhumanity and intolerance that seems to be bubbling over everywhere, so to see my offspring taking pleasure in another person's pain was simply too much to bear.

A new study shows that doing kind things for others is an important path to happiness.

When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he assured Americans of their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This idea seems to lead many Americans to chase after new gadgets and hedonistic pleasures. But what if that approach is wrong? What if happiness comes from aiming to make others happy, instead of doing nice things for yourself?

The other day I fell flat on my face. Literally. I was rushing across a street in an unfamiliar neighborhood and BAM!

As I peeled myself off the pavement, I noticed 2 things:

Blood was dripping from my lip.
My mind began flooding with negative thoughts.

Some of the thoughts shocked me.

You’re old.
You’re too fat.
What a clumsy idiot!

by Emiliana R. Simon-Thomas | Greater Good Science Center

What’s behind your choice to help another human being? Are you motivated by sheer, unadulterated benevolence? Do you do it only if the cost is minimal, or the benefits great? Or are you hoping for a favor in return? Or is it about image—are you trying to avoid being tagged as selfish? Maybe you’re motivated by a higher sense of principle, trying to restore fairness?