Research shows spreading kindness doesn’t just help others feel good, it can boost the do-gooder’s health and happiness, too.
So it’s really a win-win for everyone and these are some of the health benefits that come from doing random acts of kindness:
- A “helper’s high” - Studies show that being altruistic - or putting the well-being of others before our own without expecting anything in return - triggers the reward centers of the brain. The feel-good chemicals we’re flooded with as a result give us a kind of “helper’s high.”
- It may help you live longer - Kindness adds to our sense of community and belonging, which studies have found is an important contributor to a healthy, longer life.
- Lowers blood pressure - A six week study finds that donating to others can reduce blood pressure and improve heart health as much as healthy diet and exercise.
- Reduces pain - Giving may ease our pain, according to a recent study that finds the parts of the brain that react to painful stimulation seem to be instantly deactivated by the act of giving.
- Happiness - Research from the U.K. finds being kind could boost happiness in as little as three days. And if you vary the acts of kindness, you may get a bigger boost of joy. Happiness researchers found folks who do a variety of good deeds throughout the week showed bigger increases in happiness than those who did the same acts repeatedly.
Source: CNN