Being Kind Is Good For Your Health

Kindness can bring a sense of richness and fulfilment to our lives, and as a bonus, promote good health and longevity. Paul Pearsall, a Ph.D.in  psychology living in Hawaii, writes in his book The Pleasure  Prescription (Hunter House, 1996) "Modern research shows one of the most pleasurable of all human acts is also one  of the healthiest things you can do for yourself and  for others. Gentle, caring selflessness results in significant  health benefits." In the book Meaning & Medicine, (Bantam Books, 1991)  author Dr Larry Dossey tells us, "Altruism behaves like a  miracle drug, and a strange one at that. It has beneficial effects  on the person doing the helping - the helper’s high; it benefits  the person to whom the help is directed; and it can stimulate  healthy responses in persons at a distance who may view it  only obliquely." There have been a number of studies undertaken which  demonstrate the positive effects of kindness on health  (both psychological and physiological). Further studies are  under way, and several books have been published on the beneficial effects of kindness. Studies undertaken since  1988 are described in detail in The Healing Power of  Doing Good (Fawcett Columbine, 1991) written by  Allan Luks and Peggy Payne. Luks often noticed feelings  of pleasure and well being while involved in helping others.  Initially thinking it was something he alone experienced,  he began to hear from others about the pleasurable  feelings associated with helping. This prompted him to  investigate further into "this intriguing phenomenon that  seemed to have almost magical effects". The benefits mentioned in his book are as follows: A more optimistic and happier outlook on life A heightened sense of well being A sense of exhilaration and euphoria An increase in energy A feeling of being healthy Decreased feelings of loneliness, depression and helplessness A sense of connectedness with others A greater sense of calmness and relaxation Increased longevity Better weight control An improvement in insomnia A stronger immune system A reduction in pain Increased body warmth A healthier cardiovascular system (reduction of high blood pressure, improved circulation, reduced coronary disease) A reduction of excessive stomach acid A decrease of oxygen requirement Relief from arthritis and asthma Speedier recovery from surgery Reduced cancer activity The above list would put a snake oil salesman to shame, yet the  effects have been proven many times over. Pearsall was not  exaggerating when he referred to the effects of kindness as having  "immense immune and healing benefits". One of the participants in Luks’ survey stated the following:  "Some months ago I was so stressed out that I could barely  get four hours sleep at night, and I had all sorts of aches and pains.  I had even tried antidepressant and antianxiety drugs, but to no avail.  I then found out first hand that it is love that truly heals. When I  do nice things for others, I definitely feel a physical response. For me  it is mostly a relaxation of muscles that I hadn’t even realized  had been tensed. I can now sleep well at night, and most of my  aches and pains have disappeared." People who are aware of the beneficial effects of kindness use  it to keep their health conditions under control. Kindness is  being utilised to keep high blood pressure in check, to banish  headaches, relieve back pain, and subdue the pain of lupus  and arthritis, while others use it to cure a case of the blues.  Why would helping others have such beneficial effects? Partly  because helping takes our mind off our problems (i.e. reduces stress)  and gets us thinking about someone else. Dr Herbert Benson, a Harvard cardiologist who has been  involved in scientific research for over 30 years (he is also an  author, his most well known book being The Relaxation Response),  tells us that when we help others it allows us to ‘forget one’s self’  Another reason is that when we carry out an act of kindness, our  body rewards us by creating a ‘feel good’ sensation, which boosts  self esteem and well being. This experience has been termed the  helper’s high. The response is triggered when the body manufactures chemicals called endorphins.These endorphins are naturally occurring morphine-like substances that create a feeling of bliss within us.  In addition to creating a feel good experience, they also help to reduce the intensity of any pain messages being sent to the brain. We must assume that one of our basic purposes on planet Earth  is to be kind. Why else would our body reward us every time we help someone? As Pearsall tells us, "In concrete terms, there seems to be a biological reward for doing the right thing". It is not necessary to carry out major acts of kindness to gain the health  benefit. In fact it has been found that brief, small, regular acts of kindness  lead to the highest levels of well being. It has also been found that  such small, pleasurable experiences can more than offset any  negative health effects brought about by life’s stressful events,  regardless of their magnitude. This will be good news to those  of us who worry about the ramifications of the day to day  negative conflicts in our lives. If we happily punctuate our  day with small acts of kindness, our health will be in good shape! Paul Pearsall’s warning about the lack of joy in our lives  was mentioned earlier. What is the cause of this lack of joy?  According to Pearsall it is the inability to control our destiny  and the feeling of vulnerability that this brings, as well as an  inability to realise that our physical ills and social ills are related.  What is the answer? To reconnect with ourselves, the earth,  and those around us. When you choose to become a kinder person, you are not only  improving the well being and health of yourself and those you  come into contact with. Your kindness has a ripple effect. It has the magical ability of causing even those who have witnessed the act to  spontaneously feel good. When you make the decision to  be a kinder person, you are effectively bringing about positive  social change. As previously indicated, the act of giving, or being of service,  showing kindness, altruism, or any of the other names by  which it is known, has the ability to achieve powerful health  benefits. The beneficial effects from kind acts come from the  bonding to a fellow human being, no matter how fleeting that contact  may be. However, care needs to be taken not to expect some form  of outcome from the kind act, otherwise the benefits to the given  will be diminished or lost completely. If an outcome is not expected,  there will be no disappointment. For instance, if I were to let a car  in from a side street, expecting the driver to acknowledge my kind act,  and it didn’t happen, it could conceivably provoke rage if I were  that way inclined. If I am not expecting a positive reaction, and  I get one, then that’s a bonus. When I expect others to play by  my rules, I’m setting myself up for disappointment. Kindness is not only something that has positive benefits for  ourselves, it is something that has a positive effect on the community.  Allan Luks states, "The new knowledge about [the beneficial effects of] helping others holds the power to affect not only the  health of the individual, but the health of our entire, tension-ridden  society". Reprinted from http://www.kindness.com.au/kindness_and_health.htm ©June 1999. Join the Kindness Revolution!