Health and happiness are really in your head – your brain, that is. Because acts of kindness cause your brain to release hormones that make you feel good and that contribute to physical health too.
We like to feel good; we want to be healthy.
It’s a bit selfish, actually. We like to feel good; we want to be healthy. And so, we do those things that we believe will accomplish this.
What you may not realize is that being happy and healthy is actually very simple. It involves committing acts of kindness every day.
Science says: Random acts of kindness are good for your health.
Health and happiness are really in your head – your brain, that is.
Because acts of kindness cause your brain to release hormones that make you feel good and that contribute to physical health too. These facts are the result of scientific studies, reported by Cedars-Sinai Hospital.
Here is what the studies say:
There are three chemicals in your brain – oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin – that are actually released into your body when you commit acts of kindness and love.
These three chemicals cause you to feel good. They give you a sense of well-being; they cause euphoric feelings of happiness; and those feelings can actually lower blood pressure and contribute to better digestion, among other things.
And there is a body of research that says you will be less likely to succumb to illness and disease when those chemicals are released on a regular basis.
Here’s the Catch
One isolated act of kindness will typically give you about a 3-4 minute “high.” If you want those feelings to last, and you want to keep boosting your physical health, you have to get a regular thing going, every day, several times a day. It’s a habit you have to develop, but once you do, you are committing these acts almost unconsciously.
Over time, you’ll have a continuous release of those hormones.
And the acts don’t have to be big ones – pay a compliment, let someone into your traffic lane or ahead of you in line at the grocery store.
Rake an elderly neighbor’s yard; take extra cookies next door; volunteer at an animal shelter or a food bank.
Acts of kindness can also be monetary. We have all seen those feel-good stories at Christmas where someone pays for someone’s groceries.
And guess what? Just by witnessing these acts of kindness, those hormones can be released in you.
It’s a Win-Win. Every recipient of an act of kindness gets a hormone boost. And many respond by acts of kindness to others. And you? Well, you get to be happier and healthier – a bit of a selfish desire but one that comes from unselfishness.
Acts of kindness work to reduce depression
Other research points out that acts of kindness work to reduce depression, pain, and anxiety. And it is now being used in psychotherapy, where patients are counseled to commit to acts of kindness every day.
Diana Adjadj, a researcher and writer is a believer. “Several years ago, I helped a student do research on the topic of brain changes during acts of love and kindness. I decided to test it on myself. Random acts throughout my day became a habit, and I will never stop now – I feel great.”
About the Author
About the Author: Kristin Savage nourishes, sparks and empowers using the magic of a word. Now she works as a contributing writer at TrustMyPaper and GrabMyEssay. Along with pursuing her degree in Creative Writing, Kristin was gaining experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in marketing strategy for publishers and authors. You can find her on Facebook.
51 RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS IDEAS + KINDNESS CHALLENGE!
We love discovering interesting, new ways to interact with people. Part of what we love about traveling is meeting people, but I’ll admit that sometimes we get caught up in taking photos for the blog, that we miss out on connecting with people. We believe we’re blessed to be a blessing, and though we don’t always live up to our expectations, our hope is always to grow in generosity day by day whether it’s through our finances or time.