Aarya Patil Week 12: The Power of Small Acts
We live in a world that glorifies grand gestures and large displays of power, it can be easy to forget the great impact that small acts of kindness can have. However, it is normally these somewhat insignificant actions that have the power to make a great difference in the lives of others. From simply listening to a friend speak a offering a helping hand, small acts of kindness have the power to brighten someone's day. My dad used to always tell me “You give a smile, and you’ll get back a smile.” However, as I’ve grown up I realized that this isn’t always true. Even if we do our best to spread kindness and positivity, we may come across people who are unwilling to reciprocate the same kindness. Whether it may be because of personal challenges, different perspectives, or other negative circumstances, not everyone responds to kindness with kindness. Ultimately, while the reciprocity of smiles may not always hold, but the intrinsic value of spreading positivity will always remain strong.
One example of this power that small acts hold can be seen in the theory of "paying it forward." It’s in “which individuals such as employees and business partners give something of value to a third party because they have previously received something of value themselves.” Whether it's buying a stranger's coffee or leaving a kind note for a coworker, these simple gestures have the power to uplift spirits and foster a sense of connection and goodwill. While this may seem like a simple thing to do, something like this can have a profound impact on the receiver.
Additionally, the power of small acts goes past just the interaction we have with other people daily, we can also impact broader social and environmental issues. Whether it's volunteering at a local food bank or participating in a park clean-up, people can come together to make a positive change on a small scale which can then have a transformative impact on larger social issues. By utilizing the power of collective action, we can address pressing challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, one small act at a time.
Overall, the power of small acts should not be underestimated. While big gestures may get more attention, it is the effect of countless small acts of kindness that have the power to change the world. By embracing the power of small acts, we can create a brighter, more compassionate world for all. As Maya Angelou wisely put it,“...people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/kindness/kindness-matters-guide
Hi Aarya! I really enjoyed reading your blog about the importance of small acts as I believe it provided me with a much-needed moment of self reflection on how I can make a difference in the lives of other people. Your opening paragraphs was comprehensive and intriguing; the anecdote you shared of your father provided a relatable experience that gave the blog a more personal feel. I appreciate how you highlighted the multiple impacts of small acts, ranging from simply making one person's day better all the way to addressing some of our most pressing problems, including climate change and poverty.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to take this chance to reflect on why small acts could have a power greater than larger ones. In my experience, small acts have a more personal relationship to the beneficiary than a larger act. For example, someone paying forward a meal would likely make someone feel more satisfied and joyful than receiving a voucher for a free meal from a corporation that makes an effort to donate to their community. This personal relationship is important and creates a sense of unity, which in general allows people to feel more accepted and generally happy. Moreover, this sense of unity created from engaging in small acts can make way for larger action like you mentioned in your blog. I believe the sense of satisfaction in taking a small act and making a large impact is what makes small acts so powerful.
Thank you once again for sharing this joyful read. The conclusion of your blog provided an excellent "finished feel," but also provided an important moment for reflection. After reading your blog, I took a few minutes to reflect on how I could make someone feel better or satisfied tomorrow. It was a calming experience, so I thank you for giving us to opportunity to take a couple minutes to reflect on how we will better ourselves and others.
Hey Aarya! I couldn't agree more with the idea you talked about in your blog about the immense power of small acts of kindness. It really is incredible to see how these seemingly insignificant gestures can accumulate in the long run and create a giant, positive impact on the world around us. Additionally, what’s even more amazing is the emotional impact an action can have. It is never just about the end result or doing something just to gain some sort of benefit from it; it's about the profound sense of satisfaction and joy a person can experience when they do something nice for another. Take something as simple as holding the door open, for example. This small act might almost never seem like a big deal, as people do it all the time for one another, but it can really make someone's day and inspire them to do something nice for someone else! Simply knowing that I possibly created a chain reaction of positivity is enough to keep me motivated and continue to spread kindness. Moreover, I’m sure that this goes for almost everyone, but I find that whenever I do something kind, it makes me feel this really warm, fuzzy, and almost fulfilling feeling inside me—like eating a sweet treat. I remember reading somewhere that being the “giver” makes your brain produce more dopamine than being the “receiver.” This is significant as it breaks the typical stereotype surrounding gift-giving, and it encourages people to act rather than sit around and wait for others to. I also thought about how, similar to the “paying it forward act” you discussed, there is something called the Butterfly Effect, which speaks to the same idea that one small action can have a much larger impact than we might initially realize. This concept suggests that even the smallest acts of kindness can create a ripple effect, leading to significant changes and spreading positivity throughout society. In essence, I think it is truly amazing how humans have the ability to share love and positivity with one another. They undoubtedly contribute to making our world a brighter and better place.
ReplyDeleteHi Aarya! The message of your blog was powerful; it is so interesting how small acts can actually have such a big impact. The saying your dad told you about smiling at others to get a smile in return reminds me of a similar saying “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never harm me.” It is quite clear that relationships can be broken and people can be hurt by words, and it seems that this saying has a similar effect. Whenever I smile at someone but they do not return it I feel so anxious and even a little angry inside. It is amazing how relatable this quote is, and I wonder if I had failed to return any smiles subconsciously. The examples you used in your blog are also so impactful, I did not consider that small acts like cleaning up a park could inspire so many more people to clean up as well. With the amount of pollution in the environment today, it feels impossible to clean everything up. If every single person on Earth did something to help the current situation, however, things might be different. The article I chose for my precis was on pollution in rivers, and I can imagine how the government could better handle the situation if the general public pitched in to help the situation. The quote you put at the end was powerful as well and it shows how important it is to consider the feelings of others and power such little actions could really brighten a person’s life. This was a great topic for a blog and you executed it perfectly!
ReplyDeleteHi Aarya,
ReplyDeleteYour blog topic was great and made me realize that in a society in which popular or big acts of kindness are widely appreciated, it is easy to simply forget about the tremendous power and value small acts of kindness hold. Small acts of kindness go unrecognized and people would think it is not enough compared to the larger actions of kindness that people partake in today, and this alone can discourage many people into no longer supporting others with small acts of kindness. I was interested in the collective action you mentioned, and how several small acts of kindness can quickly add up to a large amount, and the idea of “paying it forward” is a great thing to keep in mind when helping others. Just these past few months, I had been volunteering at a local food bank and distributing food to anyone who needed it, and I always wondered if I am doing enough to support my community. The foodbank I volunteered with relied heavily on donations, both food and money, and I was simply a volunteer. I always wondered if I am even making a difference, but when I handed out food packages to the families directly, their smiles and kind words helped me realize I did make a difference, even if it was small. I would always encourage other people to not be discouraged with the idea that they will not be making any difference with such small acts, but rather focus on the idea that helping to make a difference for even one person is a great act of kindness that will continue to grow later on. Thank you for writing about the power that small acts of kindness truly hold.