As part of a new series, Kindness 101, on CBS Mornings, Steve Hartman shares stories with his two children around themes of kindness…what a wonderful reminder for us all.
Here’s why: spreading kindness not only helps others feel better about themselves–and that’s not all…it can also boost the giver’s health and happiness, according to research. It’s a win-win for all.
A ‘helper’s high’
Studies show that putting the well-being of others before our own without expecting anything in return — stimulates the reward centers of the brain. Those feel-good chemicals flood our system, producing a sort of “helper’s high.” Volunteering, for example, has been shown to minimize stress and improve depression.
Being happier will help us live longer, so let’s learn how to be happier.
That’s not all: The same activity can also reduce the risk for cognitive impairment and even help us live longer.
One reason for this, experts say, is because kindness contributes to our sense of community and belonging. And that, studies have found, is a key contributor to a healthy, longer life. Here are additional benefits listed in an article regarding “Health Benefits of Random acts of Kindness” by Karen Kloss”
Emotional Benefits:
- Makes people feel hopeful and optimistic
- Boosts self-esteem
- Increases oxytocin, a hormone making us feel connected to each other
- Creates a sense of belonging therefore reduces feelings of isolation
- Releases positivity – we feel better and those that we are kind to feel better leading them to pay it forward
Mental Benefits:
- Reduces levels of the stress hormone, cortisol
- Decreases overall anxiety
- Helps improve feelings of depression
- Reduces negative emotions such as anger
Physical Benefits:
- Lowers blood pressure
- Boosts immune system
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Provides a positive outlook on life which can help you live longer
- Decreases health problems due to the increase of oxytocin which reduces inflammation
Aren’t these wonderful benefits? And by the way…anger and hate work against us in all these ways.
Practicing random acts of kindness is not just about how we treat others, but also how we practice these behaviors on ourselves. We are sometimes so quick to be negative and hard on ourselves. If we change our mindset to being more positive, we can be kinder to ourselves. Act and choose kindness today: Don’t overthink it, kindness is a simple act. Check out these options as simple ways to allow someone to feel kindness.
I think most of us know…happiness is an inside job…and here’s the good news, it doesn’t have to be complicated…It seems acts of kindness can be anonymous or visible, spontaneous or planned, Here are some easy-to-do examples:
- Put others needs before your own
- Leave an inspirational message for a friend or co-worker
- Send a card to someone
- Give someone a compliment
- Hold the door open for someone
- Practice gratitude
- Be kind to yourself
- Send someone flowers
- Volunteer in your local community
- Donate to a charity
- Run an errand for somebody
In addition, we’ll experience even greater joy if we’re creative with our acts of kindness. Happiness researchers Sonja Lyubomirsky and Kennon Sheldon found that people who did a variety of acts of kindness throughout the week showed greater increases in happiness than those who performed the same activity over and over again.
Warriors…let’s put kindness in our daily lives and when it comes to voting…let’s choose kindness versus hate and anger.
Covid Humor: What’s the difference between the Alpha and Delta variant? I don’t know; it’s all Greek to me.