There’s More Kindness In This World Than People Expect
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———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-We are surrounded by people who are ready to be kind, even though media reports might tell us otherwise. This is what I suggested in my last Loving Leaders email on kindness.
Good news! Now there's evidence that the people around us are more kind than we likely perceive!
The World Happiness Report released by Gallup recently points out that while “people are much too pessimistic about the benevolence of others” researchers have shown that actual caring behavior of others is much higher than people predict. (In studies, strangers return dropped wallets MORE than people expect.)
But here’s the clincher, according to Gallup, “our wellbeing depends on our perceptions of others’ benevolence, as well as their actual benevolence.”
It matters what we believe about other people’s inclination to be kind and caring. It is better for our happiness if we sense that others are kind and caring rather than doubting this.
To this end, we need more examples, more stories, more sharing about the good we are all doing for and with each other every day. Intentionally being on the lookout for examples and share these stories with each other can help shift perceptions and improve happiness. Notice and name them. Talk about them. Post about them. Amplify them.
Your team and workplace can be a source of such goodness
Loving Leader, be watching for and sharing of examples of care and kindness on your team. Invite others to notice and name as well. Spread the attention across the team so that everyone is “seen” for their caring, helping behaviors. By pointing these out, you contribute to the sense that your team, where you all spend so much time, is a safe place. You'll build trust and support the happiness of team members.
And of course, such trust and care are good for business results. In fact, these are essential for business results!
Finding Balance
We can seek examples of human goodness and compassion from news sources too. By doing this, I am not suggesting that we ignore the bad, challenging, or tragic news. If we are to be loving people who take informed, loving actions responding to the needs of others, if we are to be informed citizens and co-create the society we want, we need to know what’s going on.
It is certainly a lot right now. Many manage the trauma to their nervous systems by managing how and when they get the news.
Those challenges and turmoil are not the only things happening. Being informed also means knowing about the good as well. The Good News Network (GGN) points this out on their website (emphasis added):
“Thomas Jefferson said the job of journalists was to portray accurately what was happening in society. GNN was founded because the media was failing to report the positive news. In the 1990’s while homicide rates in the U.S. plummeted by 42 percent, television news coverage of murders surged more than 700%, according to the Center for Media and Public Affairs.”
Seeking out valid news sources that support balance, reminding us of the kindness and care of people provides a more accurate view of the world and a more favorable perception of those around us. And THAT will make us happier.
Consider sources like Upworthy and the Good New Network. And to learn more about research and practices for a happy life follow the Greater Good Science Center.
To bring it back to this community, to you who are committed to more loving and human ways of working, what good have you experienced or done in the world today? What care or kindness have you witnessed?
