Radical Kindness: How Courage and Compassion Shape Our Lives

Recently, I listened to a Hidden Brain podcast episode on radical kindness, featuring the research of psychologist and neuroscientist Abigail Marsh — and I was deeply moved by the stories of human kindness. Hearing about strangers who stepped in to help at great personal cost reminded me that the capacity for compassion runs deeper than we sometimes realize.

Marsh studies people who engage in extraordinary acts — like donating a kidney to someone they’ve never met. Her research shows that these “extreme altruists” often have a heightened ability to recognize fear and distress in others. They don’t avoid those moments; they move toward them. And they still feel fear — they simply act in spite of it.

This reframes kindness as not just a gentle virtue, but an act of courage.

Radical kindness in everyday life

Most of us may never donate an organ, but we can practice radical kindness in powerful everyday ways:

• Offering our time and presence to someone who feels alone.
• Speaking up when we see someone treated unfairly.
• Extending patience and empathy when it’s least convenient.

Small acts of compassion can ripple outward, changing the course of a day, a relationship, or even a community.

How radical kindness supports mental health

From a psychological perspective, practicing kindness benefits not only the receiver but also the giver:

• Boosts mood and reduces stress: Acts of kindness stimulate the brain’s reward system, releasing feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine and oxytocin.
• Builds resilience: Helping others can strengthen a sense of purpose, which research has linked to improved coping during adversity.
• Fosters connection: Kindness deepens social bonds, a key protective factor against depression and anxiety.
• Reduces self-focused rumination: Shifting attention outward to another’s needs can help interrupt cycles of worry or self-criticism.

In therapy and in life, I’ve seen how intentionally practicing compassion — especially when it’s difficult — can anchor people in hope and meaning. It’s a skill that grows stronger with use.

Your turn: What’s one way you could practice radical kindness this week?

— Dr. Dorothee Ischler
Center for Healing and Resilience