This is Random Acts of Kindness Week. Did you know
that practicing kindness is more than just a nice thing
to do? According to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, there’s scientific
proof that it boosts health, happiness and societal goodwill. Read on to learn
more about what the foundation has to say:
Can
kindness be taught? Yes! Kindness, like physical and academic skills, appears to
be something that is not fixed, but rather can be enhanced with training and
practice.
A
researcher from the University of Wisconsin says, “It’s kind of like weight
training, we found that people can actually build up their compassion ‘muscle’
and respond to others’ suffering with care and a desire to help.”
“Compassion
and kindness training in schools can help children learn to be attuned to their
own emotions as well as those of others, which may decrease bullying.
Compassion training also may benefit people who have social challenges such as
social anxiety or antisocial behavior.” — Richie Davidson, Neuroscientist and
Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Can
kindness really illicit change, and how?
Yes,
because kindness is contagious.
Acts
of kindness have a positive three-way effect: There’s the positive effect on the recipient, and
the positive effect on you—you might find yourself experiencing the positive
emotion of the ‘helper’s high.’ But perhaps the biggest effect of all will be
on a passer-by who just happens to witness the act.
How
can kindness improve your health?
Volunteering
results in more health benefits than exercising or quitting smoking. “Helping a neighbor,
volunteering, or donating goods and services results in a helper’s
high.” — Stephen Post, Author, “The Hidden Gifts of Helping”.
People
who volunteer live a longer more satisfied life. “People who volunteer tend
to experience fewer aches and pains. Giving help to others protects overall
health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease. People 55 and
older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower
likelihood of dying, and that’s after sifting out every other contributing
factor, including physical health, exercise, gender, habits like smoking,
marital status and many more. This is a stronger effect than exercising four
times a week or going to church.” — Christine Carter, Author, “Raising
Happiness; In Pursuit of Joyful Kids and Happier Parents”.
Giving
to others reduces depression and improves wellbeing. Stephen Post of Case
Western Reserve University School of Medicine serves as president of the
Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, which conducts and funds research on
altruism, compassion and service. His research shows that when we give of ourselves, especially if we
start young, everything from life satisfaction to self-realization and physical
health is significantly improved. Mortality is delayed, depression is reduced
and well-being and good fortune 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 and, therefore, oxytocin is known as a
"cardioprotective" hormone. It protects the heart by lowering blood
pressure.
Helping
others increases energy. “About half of participants in one study report that they
feel stronger and more energetic after helping others; many also reported
feeling calmer and less depressed, with increased feelings of self-worth.” —
Christine Carter, UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science Center.
Doing
kind acts for others reduces anxiety. During four weeks, University of British Columbia
researchers assigned people with high levels of anxiety to do kind acts for other
people at least six times a week. The researchers found that doing nice things
for people led to a significant increase in people's positive moods. It also
led to an increase in relationship satisfaction and a decrease in social
avoidance in socially anxious individuals.
How
can kindness increase happiness?
"People
who engage in kind acts become happier over time…When you are kind to others,
you feel good as a person -- more moral, optimistic, and positive." —Sonja
Lyubomirsky, Professor of Psychology, UC Riverside.
Researcher
Elizabeth Dunn found that those who spend money on others reported much greater
happiness than those who spend it on themselves.
The
act of helping another person triggers activity in the caudate nucleus and
anterior cingulate cortex regions of the brain, the parts involved in pleasure
and reward. That is, serving others may produce the same sort of pleasure as
gratifying a personal desire.
How
can kindness build good will?
“Kindness
can jumpstart a cascade of positive social consequences. Helping others leads
people to like you, appreciate you, to offer gratitude. It also may lead people
to reciprocate in your times of need. Helping others can satisfy a basic human
need for connecting with others, winning you smiles, thankfulness, and valued
friendship.” —Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., professor of psychology, University of
California, Riverside.
