The Kindness Factor: Fueling Your Health, Success, and Substack

By Geraldo Neto

Mind-Body Insights

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Geraldo Neto

May 28, 2025

You might think kindness is a nice-to-have, not a must-have.

But even your body disagrees.

When you do something kind, your brain fires off oxytocin, which calms your nerves and drops your blood pressure.

You get a hit of dopamine and serotonin too.

Yes, the same chemicals that make chocolate and winning at trivia feel good.

Here’s what happens when you help someone:

Your stress hormone, cortisol, drops.
Your heart rate slows.
Your immune system gets a boost.

Not bad for holding the door or sharing your lunch.

Still skeptical?

Maybe you’re thinking, “Sure, but does it last?”

Kindness keeps your body in better shape over time.

Less stress, fewer sick days, and maybe even a longer life.

Kindness and Mental Health: Not Just for Optimists

You might roll your eyes at the idea that kindness can outdo therapy.

But one Ohio State study found people with depression and anxiety improved more when they helped others than when they stuck to traditional exercises.

Why? Helping someone else gets you out of your own head. It stops the endless loop of worry.

Ask yourself: When’s the last time you felt down after making someone’s day easier?

Research also backs this up:

Mood lifts.
Depression eases.
Life satisfaction goes up.

Kindness and Productivity

Let’s talk business.

You want your team to show up, do good work, and stick around. Kindness makes that happen.

Offices where people look out for each other see higher engagement and fewer sick days.

And happier workers? They’re about 13 percent more productive.

“But my office is stressful. Will kindness fix that?”

It won’t turn your job into a spa, but it does cushion the blow.

When people feel supported, they handle pressure better.

Even if the workload stays the same, their reaction shifts.

Here’s what you get:

More motivation.
Less burnout.
Fewer people calling in sick.

And here’s the tip: kindness spreads.

When one person steps up, others follow.

You don’t need a consultant to see that’s good for business.

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Kindness in Solo Entrepreneurship (Specially in Substack)

Kindness is the solo entrepreneur’s secret edge, even if it sounds counterintuitive in a world obsessed with hustle and hard numbers.

When you’re building something on your own, loneliness creeps in fast—no team lunches, no office banter, just you and your to-do list.

Ever caught yourself thinking, “Does kindness even matter when I’m flying solo?” Well, it matters more than ever.

Kindness isn’t just for customers or partners.

It’s fuel for your own resilience.

When you treat yourself with the same patience you’d show a friend, you bounce back faster from setbacks.

A tough client call? Kindness helps you handle it without burning bridges or burning out.

Here’s what kindness does for a solo business:

Builds trust and loyalty with clients, who remember how you made them feel.
Turns tough conversations into opportunities for connection, not conflict.
Attracts partners and collaborators who want to work with someone genuine.
Keeps you grounded, especially when you’re facing a string of rejections or late payments.

Entrepreneurs who lead with kindness build stronger relationships, get more referrals, and create a reputation that outlasts any marketing campaign.

In a world where trust is rare and competition is fierce, kindness is the shortcut to standing out.

It’s not about being soft—it’s about being smart, and building something that lasts.

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Kindness in Schools: The Real Academic Advantage

Think back to your school days.

Did you learn more from the teacher who cared or the one who barked orders?

Students who feel their school is kind engage more, learn better, and take more risks with their ideas.

Long-term studies show that kids who help, share, and support classmates do better in school—sometimes even more than kids who ace their early tests.

Why Does Kindness Work? Here’s the Science

You might wonder, “What’s actually changing?”

Kindness helps people think bigger and build stronger ties.

It makes people feel safer, take smart risks and own up to mistakes.

That’s how you get new ideas.

Brains change too.

People who practice kindness light up areas tied to empathy and reward.

Here’s the cheat code: Want be healthier, more productive ?

Start with kindness. It works, and you don’t need a PhD to see why.