February is the shortest month but it’s packed full of holidays. From Valentine’s Day to Presidents’ Day, there is a lot to celebrate for lovers and history buffs alike! But have you heard about National Random Acts of Kindness Day? It happens on February 17th- and it is your chance to show others that they matter and help spread a bit more kindness in the world.

We all know that when we are kind and help others, it makes us feel better. But did you also realize how this affects your body? A major way we can boost our well-being is by being kind to others. Kindness can increase our life satisfaction, decrease pain, and even affect our bodies at a cellular level. Studies have shown that if you perform at least just one act of kindness a day- you’ll not only reduce your stress, anxiety, and depression but your body is flooded with the same hormones that make you and the person you’ve helped calmer, healthier, happier. Here are the feel-good hormones that are released:

• Serotonin- which heals your wounds, helps you relax, and makes you feel good.
• Endorphins- which reduce pain.
• Oxytocin- which reduces blood pressure, and makes you feel more loving and loved.

The after-effects don’t stop at how positive everything feels internally either; If other people see you helping someone else, they’ll be filled with those same feel-good hormones. Meaning they’re significantly more likely to pay it forward. Those people you’ve helped will help other people, and those other people will help even more people. The ripple effect of being kind is immeasurable, often echoing to greater heights and lengths than we can imagine. Spreading kindness has a much greater impact than you might think! So, go ahead and make some new friends, or expand your kindness and compassion to the ones you already have.