The Benefits of #RandomActsofKindness

We’re discussing kindness this week. Kindness is not just being nice to people. Kindness is shown to have health benefits. And not only is kindness good for our health but it’s also contagious. So, when we perform acts of kindness it inspires others to do the same. A study in Biological Psychology found that kindness, or what they call, ‘moral elevation’, “inspires optimism, and makes people want to be a better person and to act altruistically toward others.” (1)

Here are some health benefits that will inspire kindness today:

• Acts of kindness produce endorphins, the brain’s natural painkiller!

• Perpetually kind people have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the average population!

• A group of highly anxious individuals performed at least six acts of kindness a week. After one month, there was a significant increase in positive moods, relationship satisfaction and a decrease in social avoidance in socially anxious individuals. (University of British Columbia Study)

• Stephen Post of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine found that when we give of ourselves, everything from life satisfaction to self-realization and physical health is significantly improved. Mortality is delayed, depression is reduced and feelings of well-being are increased.

• Committing acts of kindness lowers blood pressure. According to Dr. David R. Hamilton, acts of kindness create emotional warmth, which releases a hormone known as oxytocin. Oxytocin causes the release of a chemical called nitric oxide, which dilates the blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure. (2)

1. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_our_bodies_react_human_goodness

2. https://www.dartmouth.edu/wellness/emotional/rakhealthfacts.pdf