Like rockets, good kindness and happiness is supported by science and research. This page will share a bit of basic information, a couple of video's dealing with research and then links to research, as this is a fairly new area of study, the links could be added to often.
The Very Basics
While negative emotions such as depression have been an area of research and study for many years, the idea of applying the same scientific rigor to positive emotions is a far more recent trend, and one that is bearing a lot of fruit that can help make human life better.
People who are passionate about creating a better world will always struggle with happiness as we see injustice, greed, and brutality. The good news is that science and research shows us ways to create more happiness in ourselves and others. And that the primary way is acts of kindness, the very thing that can help create the better world that we want to see!
According to research done by Sonja Lyubomirsky at UC Riverside
As she points out these numbers are not set in stone, but they are very consistent. And the best news of the research is that 40% is a nice big chunk. And that nice big chunk is totally within our control! Acts of kindness are a huge part of that, thus the focus of this site.
NOTE: There are several other things that contribute to happiness, our thinking, our fitness, meditation, etc. I highly recommend pursuing more information on those topics with other sources, the specialty or focus of this site is on how kindness affects happiness.
From what I have seen kindness with it's focus on others rather than self is one of the most important key to both personal AND societal happiness.
Here is a sort 5 minute video of Sonja talking about her research:
People who are passionate about creating a better world will always struggle with happiness as we see injustice, greed, and brutality. The good news is that science and research shows us ways to create more happiness in ourselves and others. And that the primary way is acts of kindness, the very thing that can help create the better world that we want to see!
According to research done by Sonja Lyubomirsky at UC Riverside
- 50% of our happiness is genetic. In other words some of us are just naturally happier, and others of us have to work at it harder.
- 10% of our happiness is based on our circumstances, where we live, our job, our friends and family, our financial situation. But...
- 40% of our happiness is based on actions that we can do on a daily basis.
As she points out these numbers are not set in stone, but they are very consistent. And the best news of the research is that 40% is a nice big chunk. And that nice big chunk is totally within our control! Acts of kindness are a huge part of that, thus the focus of this site.
NOTE: There are several other things that contribute to happiness, our thinking, our fitness, meditation, etc. I highly recommend pursuing more information on those topics with other sources, the specialty or focus of this site is on how kindness affects happiness.
From what I have seen kindness with it's focus on others rather than self is one of the most important key to both personal AND societal happiness.
Here is a sort 5 minute video of Sonja talking about her research:
It was actually the research talked about in this video that got me started on thinking that science and evidence could show us ways to become happier. This video talks to the subject of does money buy happiness? Perhaps it does, perhaps not, OR perhaps it does BUT not in the way most people commonly think! Watch the video to find out and you'll see that although he never uses the word, it is directly related to kindness.
Research Links
Here are some great links to research, articles and other sources, as this is a fairly new field of scientific study I expect the research to expand greatly with time.
Sonja Lyubomirsky selected publications
The Greater Good Science Center - Berkeley - Studies
The Compassionate Mind
Random Acts of Kindness – Kindness Research
The Psychology of Kindness in the Workplace
Forget Survival of the Fittest: It Is Kindness That Counts
Good Think Inc.
And of course I highly recommend watching The Happy Movie!
Sonja Lyubomirsky selected publications
The Greater Good Science Center - Berkeley - Studies
The Compassionate Mind
Random Acts of Kindness – Kindness Research
The Psychology of Kindness in the Workplace
Forget Survival of the Fittest: It Is Kindness That Counts
Good Think Inc.
And of course I highly recommend watching The Happy Movie!