I do not go to church regularly but this morning I decided to go and pray for kindness. One of the choir members performed a solo that was so beautiful it could have melted the frost off the eves. After the service (it ended with Joy to the World, which seemed relevant to my quest) I told the soloist, Lauren, that I thought her voice was beautiful. She smiled, put her hand to her heart and thanked me.
The science of kindness: Complimenting others can elevate your mood, reduce stress, strengthen your self-esteem, and build deeper social connections. One study found that receiving a compliment is just as thrilling to the brain as receiving cash. So giving compliments is like handing out cash. Cost: I think I actually came out ahead because they gave me a newcomer mug, pen and chocolate!