Recently, I listened to Dan Pink and Gautum Makunda talk about leading with empathy on the podcast “World Re-imagined”. They noted that practicing empathy and kindness feeds our souls. Plus, experiencing and giving kindness stimulates the production of dopamine and serotonin, the feel-good hormones.

That got me thinking about leaving a trail of “kindness crumbs.” These are low-stakes but intentional pay-it-forward interactions.

Many of us talk about paying it forward and then fall short.

Perhaps you grew up in an environment where kindness got rationed as if it were a finite, scarce resource. In my house, we heard: “They need to do that on their own.” “Why do we need to recognize that achievement? It’s nothing.” “Don’t give them a swelled head.”

These days, I hear it from some clients: “Well, it’s no big deal. They’re just doing their job.”

That may be true. And we all feel better after getting a compliment. Our happiness hormones (dopamine and serotonin) kick in.

Studies have shown acts of kindness have two measurable benefits. First, you make the recipient feel better. Second, Greater Good at UC Berkeley cites a large study showing that people who practice kindness feel better about their life’s meaning, purpose, and general happiness.

So why not just pay it forward? What’s your resistance?

As the Dalai Lama said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

When you’d like to chat about paying it forward, Contact Us.