When Think Kindness founder Brian Williams started martial arts, he learned that “Kindness was the ultimate form of self-defense.” Instead of a ‘survival of the fittest’ teaching, he learned that it was survival of the Kindest. Brian’s instructor told him “If you are nice to everyone, you should never have to defend yourself.”

Brian grew up training to not only become a black belt in martial arts, but a black belt in life. As he grew older he realized that he could make a bigger difference, not through punches and kicks, but through Kindness.

There are many things that compose a person’s life to make them “rough around the edges.” From a door slammed in your face, highway traffic to a stubbed toe. In addition, we have media sources stacking 60 percent of their content with negative news. This extended negative branding in our society has ingrained within our youth and adults to always expect the worst. And, taking it one step further, think that they can do nothing about it.

Our society has become reactionary, waiting for the worst to happen and then reacting, most of the time doing so in an unproductive manner. Brian decided to take action. Rather than waiting for the negative news to hit the wires, he decided to create good news. Research proves that Kindness makes us happier.

UCLA Professor Sonja Lyubomirksy asked her students to perform random acts of Kindness over a 10-week period. She found that the overall happiness of her class increased. Yet, students that documented a wide variety of kind acts increased their happiness within the first 15 days.

Kindness can also regulate emotions which has a positive impact on our health. Every individual had a built-in “fight or flight” response. If this response becomes overactive due to daily stress, it affects our cardiovascular system and weakens our body’s immunity. Brian Williams, founder of Think Kindness, believes it’s nearly impossible to feel angry, resentful or fearful when someone is showing unselfish Kindness towards another.

Currently Think Kindness is on a mission to not just do random acts of Kindness, but to inspire others to do the same, creating a ripple effect.

“This is the only time where you can say one plus one equals much more than two,” says Brian.