Even though the term ‘chaotic good’ implies not sticking to societal norms, the subreddit emphasizes that there are boundaries which need to be respected.
The mods, who oversee a community of 331K members, say that rule breaking should be achieved without cruelty or intimidation. By their definition, embracing chaotic good means valuing not just your own freedom and welfare, but everyone else’s.
Goodness can be a transformative experience. Brooke Tansley, known for her roles as a TV & film producer, actress, and entrepreneur, told Bored Panda that kindness turned her life around.
“I was feeling like I was in a sad funk and I didn’t really know how to snap out of it. I woke up in the middle of the night remembering that it feels good to do good things for other people,” she shared. So, she thought about her next move.
At first, Brooke considered diving into a volunteering project, but with work and two little kids, she knew it’d be tough to maintain. Instead, she went for a more manageable approach: practicing small acts of kindness.
To spread positivity, Brooke Tansley does several things. “I made a New Year’s resolution to always tell someone when I think a nice thought about them,” she recounted.
As a former Broadway star, she takes advantage of her talent: “Sometimes I’ll record myself singing a song with the voice memo app in my phone and send it to someone if I think it would speak to them.”
“I like to offer to help people with tasks that are either boring, difficult, or gross because it can feel like a special expression of love for someone when you volunteer to do something with them that isn’t fun. You can make it fun just by being there and helping,” Brooke added.
Wanting to inspire others to brighten their lives in a simple way, Tansley created the Small Good Things journal. She encourages readers to do one good thing each day for yourself or someone else, write it down and reflect on it.
Occasionally, Brooke gets creative and channels chaotic good, just like the users of the subreddit. She once made business cards with a drawing of a snail that said, “This is the Happiness Snail just wishing you happiness!” Another time, she printed a set of cards with the message “I hope you eat something yummy today!”
Tansley also took part in organizing a flash mob marriage proposal for a friend, involving choreographed dance videos. “Around 70 people and one dog traveled from lots of different places to do this, [...] and she said yes!”
Brooke believes that kindness can greatly improve mental health, and science supports this. In one study, participants who performed multiple good deeds for seven consecutive days reported increased happiness. Another study found that people who regularly helped others felt more confident, capable, and fulfilled.
