You may have heard the saying that kindness is contagious, but PCOM’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology students made a deliberate practice out of spreading it—on rocks.
In April and May, they put together a kindness rock painting station outside of Hassman Academic Center, inviting the PCOM community to sit and paint their own signs and messages of hope, inspiration, and strength. They could take their rock with them as a personal source of feeling good or leave it to brighten someone else’s day.
Research suggests that showing kindness, especially by helping others, is associated with higher levels of well-being. It also has been connected to a greater sense of purpose in life, self-esteem, self-acceptance, positive relationships, longevity, and less negative emotion.
MAPP student Jordan Fenton wanted to translate this research on kindness into action that had a broad-based effect at the community level. She added her passion for creativity into the mix. According to Fenton and other MAPP students who guided the project, the effects of the rock painting were immediately noticeable.
“The few minutes that people spent at the table allowed them to leave any worries of the past or future behind,” said Fenton, referring to the fact that many students came up to the table after finishing an exam. “Many people expressed their gratitude for an opportunity to stop in the middle of their busy day and take a moment for themselves.”
“It was obvious how happy people were to pick up a rock and leave a kind or positive message.”
Harrison Combs
Fenton further noted that some were simply excited to have an outlet for creativity in the midst of their busy academic life.
Maddie Schnitzler, another MAPP student who helped with the event, said it was inspiring seeing PCOM students and faculty come together to spread kindness.
“Whether individuals were making a rock for themselves, their friends, their family or even a stranger, all of the participants expressed the positive impact this project had on them,” said Schnitzler.
Harrison Combs, who also helped run the event, was lifted by the joy he saw in the faces of those who participated. “It was obvious how happy people were to pick up a rock and leave a kind or positive message,” he said.
Organizations like Kindness.org and programs like A Happier You have created additional innovative ways of fostering kindness on individual and community levels.
Fenton is looking forward to implementing more kindness-building work on campus in the future. “I believe that this project inspired optimism, hope, and social connection within its participants,” she said.
After starting with 160 rocks, only a handful were left by the end of the two-day event. A few of the remaining rocks were left around the Philadelphia campus. If you missed the event, you may just find one of those kind, brightly colored messages and still get to share in the outpouring of kind-heartedness from that day.
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