The Impact Of Kind Actions
Why are people so akin to being kind? Besides the obvious effects, being kind can actually have some pretty selfish benefits. Kindness for the gaining of something is without a question a bad practice. Kindness should be done from the bottom of your heart and the back of your mind. But, there are some inherently positive effects of kindness. As well as selfish effects, kindness generally makes the environment of a community much better. We’ve researched the way kindness affects us on a factual basis, then applied that in interviews with community leaders in Reynoldsburg.
“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?”
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“Helper’s high”
It’s been noted in several disciplines of science that acts of altruism can most notably cause a release of endorphins. You might’ve heard of endorphins when experts speak on things like addiction or working out. That’s because, generally, endorphins trigger a process that results in feeling satisfied and happy. Helper’s high is just another term for the release of endorphins caused by acts of kindness we carry out. So in context, the feeling you get when you commit to an act of kindness is a tangible physiological effect. But, endorphins aren’t the only thing in that process.
Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, causes a calm and healthy feeling in those that find themselves helping others. Numerous studies have shown that humans are naturally attuned to want to help others. In exchange for giving our time, belongings, or thoughts to others our brains make us feel rewarded. Many scientists say this process is simply encouraging a sense of communal growth, and therefore increasing the likeliness of survival, a useful trait for our ancestors. In modern society, these psychiatric processes are the foundations of creating a healthy community. It’s no secret that kindness can exponentially help a city be a better place. However, I was surprised to find out that kindness, above all things, is the driving force in the city of Reynoldsburg’s steady growth.
Reynoldsburg and Kindness
Instead of speaking from a disconnected body of research, let’s take a look at our own community. As I started working for what is now #ThisisReynoldsburg, and subsequently for Cotner Funeral Home, I immediately noticed something incredible in the people I interviewed. Whether it was Barth Cotner himself, mayor Brad Mccould, or leaders of nonprofits like Heart Food Pantry and Helping Hands; Reynoldsburg citizens are driven and inspired by kindness. It wasn’t just these leaders, many others I’ve interacted with in a brief year long span of interviews, had that common trait of kindness for the community of Reynoldsburg.
It’s evident in the way our leaders speak about the programs they’ve sponsored, in organizations they support, and in the many people they interact with throughout our city. What they do in their daily life is impacted greatly by a sense of kindness and empathy. When I asked questions geared towards my interviewees, they immediately reflected on how others were instrumental in their successes. When I begged to know more about the objectives of a given project I was let down by an undramatic, albeit positive message; “it’s not about me, it’s for them”. But something I’ve also uncovered about the people of Reynoldbsurg is that they don’t do anything solely for their own benefit.
This is evident by how difficult and stressful their careers are, and how passionate and happy they are doing them. I’ve seen Reynoldsburg citizens put all of their effort into activities which might not directly affect them. They deal with massive problems affecting our community and don’t bat an eye when someone adds more to their plate. This is a group of leaders that put into action what they preach. Whether it’s for the “helpers high” we talked about before or not, they are the example by which Reynoldsburg follows. In fifteen years of living here, and in my brief time exploring the community in depth, I’ve learned that Reynoldsburg is a beacon of kindness, a beacon strengthened by the leaders it creates every day.
