Make Sure You Notice And Write About Both Be On The Lookout

Make Sure You Notice And Write About Bothbe On The Lookout For Opport

Make sure you notice and write about BOTH. Be on the lookout for opportunities to do each kind. Be sure to take at least one opportunity of each type, and notice what happens as you do it, and afterwards. Then write three to four paragraphs considering the questions below: What were the specific differences in each type of activity? What type of emotions did you feel during each type of activity? How long did the generally positive emotions experienced during each type of activity remain with you afterward?

Some students may not feel as though they participate in philanthropic activities. You probably already do without realizing it, but if you need some ideas, here are some: Helping someone younger with homework, paying someone's toll, holding the door open for someone behind you, letting someone in front of you in line at a restaurant or store, doing chores around the house that are not normally yours or that you weren't asked to do, serving in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.

Paper For Above instruction

Engaging in acts of kindness and philanthropy provides valuable insights into human emotions and social behavior. In this reflection, I identified two opportunities: one that was more altruistic and community-focused, and another that involved personal or incidental kindness. My goal was to observe and analyze the differences in emotional experiences during these acts and their lingering effects afterward.

The first activity I chose was helping a neighbor by collecting and disposing of their trash after a community event. Though it was a small act, it required effort and intention to be helpful without any expectation of reciprocation. During this activity, I experienced a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, rooted in the knowledge that I was contributing to the well-being of someone else. This act of kindness made me feel connected to my community and provided me with a warm sense of purpose. The emotions I felt were quite positive and genuine, reinforcing the idea that helping others can enhance personal happiness. The positive emotions persisted into the following hours and even the next day, leaving a lasting impression of contentment and community spirit.

The second activity involved holding the door open for a stranger in a busy shopping mall. This was a spontaneous, minor act of kindness that required minimal effort but created an immediate positive interaction. During this moment, I felt a mild sense of happiness, a small but genuine burst of gratification from brightening someone’s day. It also evoked feelings of social connectionfulness, awareness, and empathy. Unlike the more involved activity, the positive feelings from holding the door open diminished quickly, often fading within moments after the interaction. Nonetheless, I noticed a subtle uplift in my mood, which lingered in my mind for a little while afterward, reinforcing the notion that even simple acts can have a meaningful impact on emotional well-being.

Overall, both types of activities elicited positive emotions, but the depth and duration differed. The more involved act of helping my neighbor resulted in stronger and more prolonged feelings of happiness and fulfillment. In contrast, the spontaneous gesture of holding the door open generated immediate but short-lived positive emotions. These experiences showed that while small acts can boost mood temporarily, engaging in more deliberate, meaningful acts of kindness may produce more enduring feelings of satisfaction. Recognizing and practicing both types of kindness can contribute to personal well-being and foster a more compassionate community environment.

References

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• Batson, C. D., & Shaw, L. L. (1991). Evidence for altruism: Toward a pluralism of prosocial motives. Motivation and Emotion, 15(2), 109–132.
• Keltner, D., & Lerner, J. S. (2010). Emotion. In S. T. Fiske, D. T. Gilbert, & G. Lindzey (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology (5th ed., pp. 317–352). John Wiley & Sons.
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