You may be the type of person who doesn’t need an excuse to be kind to others. But not everyone has good days every day, and it can be harder to be good to others sometimes. If you need that extra motivation to put a smile on someone’s face when you can’t bring yourself to create one, here are four reasons being kind is good for your health.
1. Kindness Makes You Happy
One reason to be kind is that it makes you feel good. While this might be a selfish reason to do good unto others, but it is still a pretty good reason. Being good to others is also something called being prosocial and research has shown that it can make you happy as well.
Studies have shown that prosocial behavior boosts a chemical in our brain called serotonin. This chemical is what many anti-depressants boost because it contributes to the feelings of well-being and happiness. Scientists have labeled this phenomenon of becoming happy from being kind to others a helper’s high.
2. Kindness Helps With Social Anxiety
It may seem impossible to go out of your way for others when you have social anxiety, but doing this may be able to help you out. Studies show that people who have social anxiety benefit from kind acts because it helps to reduce their symptoms. Scientists aren’t sure why it works, but further studies in the future should answer that question for us.
3. Kindness Is Good For Your Heart
Who would have thought that spreading the love would be good for your heart? It’s so symbolic; it just makes sense. Scientists have discovered that acts of kindness produce oxytocin which helps to expand blood vessels. This can help people with high blood pressure and helps make the heart not have to work so hard.
4. Kindness Relieves Stress
If you have issues with stress at work or home, take a break to do something kind for someone. Studies have shown that acts of kindness can help reduce the impact of stress, making it easier for you to handle the day. The study also showed that prosocial behavior could help with having more control over your emotions.
Be Kind
You may not need a reason to be kind, but now you have four anyway. Acts of kindness aren’t just a way to remind people around you that this society still has the ability to nurture, but it is good for you as well.
What are your favorite acts of kindness? We would love to hear your ideas in the comment section below!
