Be More Dynamo: The Quiet Joy of Anonymous Help

Look at your social media feed. Chances are, you’ll see posts documenting acts of kindness.

Someone filming themselves giving money to a homeless person. 

A company broadcasting its charitable donation with a giant cheque. 

A post detailing a good deed, followed by a stream of comments saying, "You're amazing!"

​While the outcome of these acts is often positive, there is a subtle undercurrent of performance. The kindness is intertwined with a need for validation and public recognition.

It inadvertently becomes about the giver: "Look at me, aren't I a great person?"

​But what if there's a more powerful, more profound, and ultimately more rewarding way to make a difference? 

At Refresh Coaching, we believe that a core part of living ‘your life, your work, your way’ is finding intrinsic motivation—doing good for the sake of doing good. It’s about being less of a social media star and more like Dynamo, the UK magician.

​The Dynamo Effect

​When the UK Street Magician Dynamo performs street magic, his best trick isn’t the illusion itself. It’s the way he leaves. 

He does something impossible—levitates, walks through glass—and then he simply walks away. 

He doesn’t wait for thunderous applause or validation. 

He leaves the crowd in a state of wonder, with a story to tell. The magic is in the act, not the adulation.

​This is a powerful metaphor for kindness. True generosity, the kind that creates a lasting impact, is often done quietly, without a camera crew or a self-congratulatory post. 

It's about creating a moment of magic for someone else and then disappearing, leaving them with the gift, not the giver.

​The Neuroscience of Giving

​There’s a fascinating scientific reason why this works. 

When you perform an act of kindness, your brain releases a cocktail of feel-good chemicals, including dopamine (the pleasure chemical), serotonin (the mood stabiliser), and oxytocin (the 'love' hormone). This is often called the "helper's high."

​Here's the incredible part. This effect isn't just for the giver and the receiver. 

Studies show that even people who simply witness an act of kindness get a similar neurochemical boost.

​When you broadcast your good deed on social media, you are short-circuiting this pure, intrinsic reward system. You are outsourcing your dopamine hit to the likes and the comments. The focus shifts from the good feeling of the act itself to the anxiety of "How will this be received?"

​But when you act like Dynamo—when you pay for the coffee for the person behind you in the queue and leave before they know it was you; when you anonymously leave a great book on a colleague’s desk who’s having a tough time; when you put your neighbour’s bin out for them without saying a word—something magical happens.

• ​You get the full, undiluted helper's high. Your reward is the pure, internal feeling of having made a small, positive impact.

• ​The receiver gets a moment of pure grace. They are not burdened with the social obligation of having to thank you. They are simply left with the wonderful feeling that the world can be a kind place.

• ​Any observers get the hit, too, witnessing a moment of selfless generosity.

​You create a ripple of positivity without ever making it about you.

​How to Be More Dynamo, Your Way

​This isn't about shaming those who share. It's about offering an alternative path to a deeper sense of fulfillment. Here are some ways to practice anonymous kindness:

• ​At the Supermarket: If you have coupons you're not going to use, 'accidentally' leave them on a shelf next to the relevant product for someone else to find.

• ​At Work: If a junior colleague did a great job on a project, send an email to their boss praising their work, and don't copy them in. Their boss will see their value, and they won't know you were the one who flagged it.

• ​In Your Community: See some litter in your street? Pick it up and put it in a bin. Don't post about it. Just do it. The reward is a cleaner street for everyone, including you.

• ​Online: Leave a genuinely glowing review for a small local business you love. It could make a huge difference to them, and they'll never know which specific customer wrote it.

Living your life, your way, is about aligning your actions with your values. If you value kindness and community, challenge yourself to decouple it from the need for public approval.

​Focus on the act, not the applause. Be the cause of a stranger's smile, a colleague’s relief, or a neighbour's convenience, and then just walk away. 

The secret, profound joy you'll feel will be more satisfying than a thousand likes. 

Be the magic. Be more Dynamo.