Can kindness make you happy?

Can kindness make us happy? The quick answer is yes. But why does it make us happy? Is it because we feel good about ourselves, or because we feel happy for the person we helped? Or both?

This question always takes me back to my philosophy classes. We spent hours debating altruism: if doing a kind act makes us feel good, is it truly selfless—or secretly selfish? It can feel like an impossible loop. Still it might be interesting to throw this concept to your students…just as a little thought experiment.

But if you get crickets, take a step back from the heavy theory, and offer this: if a kind act brightens someone else’s day and brings a little light to ours, it’s a win-win. Who cares about the rest?

So, what small acts of kindness bring light into your life?

TThis idea of everyday kindness is at the heart of Aryasb Feiz’s brilliant animated short, Mr. Indifferent. As I watched this wordless film, I immediately realized what a rich resource it is for the classroom—especially for practising grammar structures like modal verbs (should, could, would).

It’s rare to find authentic videos that work well for lower-level learners. Because there is no dialogue, students can focus entirely on what’s happening on screen. That authenticity is pure magic for getting students eager to talk.

Warm Up

• What do you do for other people that makes you happy?
• Do you volunteer?
• What could you do?

The video: Mr. Indifferent by Aryasb Feiz’s

Discussion Questions

• Use the handout to help collect some words and expressions.
• What is it about kindness that makes us happy?
• Why do we forget, or chose not to bother?
• What are some small, no money required, acts of kindness we could do to brighten our lives?

Let me know how the discussions turn out.