Step 8: An Act of Kindness
A simple act of kindness towards another can give pleasure to both the recipient of the act and the person offering the kindness. By now you’ve probably guessed that there is a science supporting this theory. Research indicates that doing something nice for someone releases serotonin -the body’s natural anti-depressant – for both parties involved. Try it – you’ll feel great!
Exercise: Complete an act of kindness towards another.
Simple Suggestion: Call someone to tell them you are thinking about them – make the focus of the call about them and their well being. Perhaps you can call an old friend, parent, or grandparent you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Have more time? Take some food from your pantry to the local food bank. The current state of the economy has led to shortages in soup kitchens and food banks around the country. Help out today.
Even more time? Volunteer at a nursing home for the day. Often this act has a two-fold benefit as the residents generally love having visitors and you’d be surprised what wonderful perspective you can gain from talking to someone who may offer a morsel of wisdom from their life experience.
Do you know from which type of broken heart you suffer? Take the survey.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I volunteer at the Y and it’s the only time I’m not thinking about him. It’s probably because I’m surrounded by 30 crazy kids, but at least it’s a distraction. The rest of the day, I try to keep as busy as possible.
At this moment, I really want to send my regards to him. However, he doesn’t care anymore.
He didn’t answer my phone at the end and said something bad to me. When I think of this, my heart is broken. He will never know his words and his done hurt me deeply. I cry everyday for him. I still think of all his right and hope he will be back.
This is so great. Sometimes we seek to find closure from those who have hurt us when we should be looking for it from those who care about our well being. Firstly if he was worth it I woulnd b crying right now. I don’t regret the past they brought me where I am right now. I love my kids.. It will get better with time. (My story: He left me to marry a woman he knows only for three months!).
Now this I can do
I volunteer at an animal shelter at the weekends and love every second of it. It’s about the only time I feel vaguely at peace
When I try calling my wife, I get yelled at and then I get emails from her to leave her alone. She calls the person who she would rather talk to at the first oppurtunity rather than the person who puts a roof over her head, food on the table and pays all the bills. The provider in this situation is getting the short end of the stick. Hope this stops and she calls me to talk to me to see how I am doing rather than some other guy. God please help me get through this betrayl.
I help out at the local RSPCA, will that help my broken heart I wonder
i work at a nursing home so will that release my bodies natural anti depressant i hope so i need it x
I do something old fashioned to some, If someone drops something, pick it up and give it back to them dont keep it.
If you find someone struggling to do something, just give them a helping hand.
If someone is feeling sick or stressed, give them a break, allow them to give you responsibility of there things- house work, cooking, washing up, hanging clothes out or just taking care of there needs.
Sometimes this is just as good as volenteering.