18 Reasons Why Kindness Is Pure Magic (and Backed by Science)
I’ve been speaking and writing about kindness for years now – in fact, I’ve written four books on the subject (see My Books if you’re curious). But the more I learn, the more I realise this: kindness isn’t just something we do – it’s something that transforms us from the inside out.
It’s like a kind of magic dust. It can lift someone when they’re feeling down. It can ease stress, connect us, even support our immune systems. It’s deeply biological, as much as it is emotional. And best of all? It spreads.
Small acts matter most. A kind word, a text to check in, buying someone a coffee, even just listening without judgment – these moments ripple out. You never know whose day (or life) you might be changing.
So here it is – 18 of my favourite facts and benefits of kindness, drawn from years of research and experience. Please feel free to pass them on. The world needs this.
1. Kindness counteracts stress
Physiologically, kindness is the opposite of stress. It soothes stress-related regions of the brain and brings calming effects throughout the body.
2. Kindness makes people smile
Not just emotionally – physically. Acts of kindness activate the zygomaticus major muscles: the ones that pull the corners of the mouth into a smile.
3. Kindness boosts happiness
Kindness triggers feel-good chemicals like oxytocin and dopamine and lights up happiness regions in the brain. The more genuine kind acts you do, the more it helps your baseline happiness to rise.
4. Kindness is contagious
One kind act can ripple through hundreds of people – like a pebble dropped in a pond. A smile, a gesture, a helping hand… it spreads.
5. Kindness supports mental health
Regular kindness, like volunteering, has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety – especially over the long term.
6. Kindness can lower blood pressure
In one study, people with high blood pressure who spent money on others showed significant drops in their blood pressure – compared to those who spent it on themselves.
7. Kindness reduces social anxiety
Socially anxious people felt less anxious when they were encouraged to be kind. Kindness shifts attention from self to other – a powerful psychological switch.
8. Kindness slows ageing
From reducing inflammation and blood pressure to slowing telomere shortening, kindness can help us age more gracefully – right down to the cellular level.
9. Kindness brings relief
Especially when someone is overwhelmed or in pain. A gesture of support or care can be the emotional equivalent of an exhale.
10. Kindness creates ‘kindness hormones’
Stress gives us cortisol and adrenaline. Kindness gives us oxytocin and dopamine – nature’s built-in antidotes.
11. A kind attitude makes kindness easier
You never know what someone is carrying behind the scenes. A kind mindset helps us respond with patience and understanding instead of judgment.
12. Kind cultures keep good people
In workplaces where kindness flows through leadership and culture, people feel valued – and they’re more likely to stay.
13. Kindness supports your immune system
Kindness calms the nervous system, which reduces strain on the immune system. Even watching kind acts has been shown to boost immune markers!
14. Sharing in joy boosts your joy
The word is confelicity – the happiness we feel when we celebrate someone else’s joy. And science says it’s good for our own wellbeing too.
15. Kindness brings meaning and purpose
Helping others reconnects us with what really matters. It grounds us. And often, it gives our lives a deeper sense of purpose.
16. Kindness strengthens relationships
Kindness is glue. It builds trust, deepens emotional connection, and helps navigate the rough patches – in every kind of relationship.
17. Kindness makes you more attractive
In a study of 10,000+ young people across 33 countries, kindness ranked as the #1 most desirable trait in a partner – above looks, humour, or income.
18. Kindness creates connection
It dissolves barriers – the ones between us and others, and sometimes even within ourselves. Kindness helps us feel like we belong.
And Finally…
You don’t need to change the world in one grand act.
It’s the small, consistent acts that matter most – the kind word, the listening ear, the gentle nudge of encouragement. Do those, often. That’s how we change the world.
For references to the science behind these points, see my books The Joy of Actually Giving a F*ck, The Five Side Effects of Kindness, and The Little Book of Kindness.
Want to get more from me? Subscribe to my free Better You, Backed by Science weekly email (sends every Wednesday).
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Thank you SO much David, this timely message has lifted me so much. It means so much to have your daily inspirations. They are all so gratefully received.
Lovely read for a Friday afternoon. Thankyou David!
Thank you, this helped me process a lot today
Wonderful reminders – Thank you David!