The Science of Kindness

Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today I'm going to be talking about the science of kindness. Specifically, I'm going to share with you four snippets of research on how being kind creates positive benefits in our own lives. So the first benefit is that being kind appears to make us happier overall. A 2010 Harvard study of 136 countries found that people who are altruistic what happiest overall in their lives.

So the second benefit is extended lifespan. Research suggests that giving help to others protects our overall wellbeing. Christine Carter, Executive Director of UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center notes that people 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying early. Now that's actually a stronger effect than exercising four times a week. It's pretty impressive.

The third benefit is increased pleasure. So when you are kind to another person, your brain's pleasure and reward center lights up as if you were the recipient of the good deed, not the giver. The name often given to describe this phenomenon is the helper's high. And lastly, kindness is a powerful antidepressant. Now, like most medical antidepressants, kindness stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain.

This feel good chemical boosts your happiness, makes you feel more calm, and even heals your wounds faster. So in summary, kindness decreases depression and stress and improves overall health and happiness and quality of life, and increases your life span. So my invitation for today is that if you're feeling a little inspired in hearing all of this, then go out and spread a little bit of kindness around. It might be in small ways, like being a courteous driver, a warm smile to a stranger, or it might be offering a listening ear or a kind word of encouragement. Whatever it is, allow yourself to enjoy the joy of giving to another and also the boomerang effect of the benefits you'll enjoy in your own life.

And as always thank you for your practice and your presence here with us. And let's settle in now for today's meditation.