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According to Psychologists, It’s the Little Things that Make the World Better

Small acts of kindness and connection create an upward spiral that spans the globe.

Katrina Paulson
7 min readDec 21, 2024
Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash

In just a few short decades, we’ve gone from living in a relatively stable, even mundane, period of history to one marked by growing instability and chaotic transition. Rapid technological advancements, cultural and political upheaval, and worsening climate change make it challenging not to live in a constant state of anxiety and fear.

It’s easy to feel like nothing is in our control and that being a kind person is pointless when the world feels cruel, with more metaphorical and literal storms on the horizon. The idea that a small act of kindness can make a positive global difference seems naive at best. Yet, research shows there’s a reason the phrase “it’s the little things that matter” exists.

Personal Benefits

Part of being human is navigating opposing instincts and emotions, which requires self-awareness and critical thinking. Otherwise, we become puppets for our impulses. For instance, when life gets scary, our instinct is to hunker down, run, or fight, which can cause us to isolate and distrust others.

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Katrina Paulson
Katrina Paulson

Written by Katrina Paulson

I write about recent discoveries that have the power to shift our perspectives. Check it out! --> https://curiousadventure.substack.com

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