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Kindness and Health
It does not
need any deep study of science or medicine, to understand or even
experience
the mind body connection. Just observe someone closely when the person
is very
angry: Doesn’t blood rush to her/his face and make it show the
anger? You would also observe how nervousness or great anger
causes
someone’s hand to be shaky. Strong unpleasant emotions can be shown to
destroy
appetite, and impair digestiom. With some people they may increase the
blood pressure to dangerous levels.
People who engage in acts of kindness to others
generally find that such acts make them “feel good.” Dr. Allan Luks,
one time
executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of Health
studied
kindness and wrote his findings in his book, "The Healing Power of
Doing Good:
The Health and Spiritual Benefits of Helping Others."
His surveyed the effects of doing a kind act by 3,000
volunteers
of all ages throughout the United States. He confirmed a
clear
relationship between
helping and good health. Luks arrived at the conclusion that “Helping
contributes to the maintenance of good health, and it can diminish the
effect
of diseases and disorders serious and minor, psychological and
physical.” In this study, researcher Luks found that most of
the
persons, who helped others without any expectation, experienced what he
called the "Helper's High". This is a feeling of
exhilarations,
accompanied sometimes by a burst of energy..
Helpful behaviours such as those resulting from kindness release
endorphins (known as "feel good" hormones) in the brain. The wellknown
U.S. psychotherapist Arlene Uhl reported that MRI scans have shown that
the parts of the brain that handle positive emotions are very active
when people experience compassion and empathy.
However,
one need not read such research reports
to find out that by helping others we help ourselves remain healthier
and happier. As they
say, “the proof of the pudding lies in eating it!”. For a short time,
say your
next free weekend, just observe the people you happen to meet. Do very
small
acts of kindness that can make them happier or just more secure or
comfortable.
Watch their reactions. Observe how you feel.
Also visit these websites:
Kindness Helps Healing by V.S.Kalbag
An article for lay persons in a Medical Journal
Kindness & Health
This is about exhaustive research on the subject
How Good Deeds can benefit you
More
on the benefits of kindness
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