The Science Of Giving When You Have Nothing Left

I know the vibe lately is low-battery. Between the cost of living and the general chaos of the world, it feels like we’re all running on 2% battery most of the time. So, when someone tells you to be kind or to volunteer, it can feel like just another item on an impossible to-do list. But here is the paradox of psychology: giving to others is actually one of the fastest ways to recharge your own battery. It sounds fake, but the data on the helper's high is very real.

When you engage in prosocial behavior, your brain gets a hit of dopamine and serotonin that you just can't get from doomscrolling. This is why the Kindness Week Act is so genius. It’s an annual reminder that we have the power to change our own internal state by changing someone else’s external reality. Rabbi Reuven Bulka, the legend who started this whole movement in Ottawa, knew that kindness was a catalyst for health. He didn't just want us to be polite; he wanted us to be well.

For National Kindness Week 2026, I’m challenging you to try micro-dosing kindness. You don't have to start a non-profit or donate a kidney. Just do the small, annoying things that most people ignore. Pick up the trash in the park. Leave a genuine, thoughtful comment on someone’s work. Pay for the person behind you if you have the extra five bucks. These small gestures break the cycle of negativity that we all get trapped in. They prove to your brain that you still have agency.

True resilience isn't just about how much you can endure; it is about how much you can still offer when things are tough. When you choose to be kind despite your own stress, you are telling your brain that you are not a victim of your circumstances. You are a participant in your community. That shift in perspective is more effective than any self-help book you’ll read this year. So, use this week to test the theory. Give a little, and see how much you get back.