338-Generosity

How generosity boosts happiness, and may even help us live longer.  

 

Transcript:

 

Welcome to Everyday Happiness where we create lasting happiness, in 2-ish minutes a day,  through my signature method of Intentional Margins® (creating harmony between your to-dos and your priorities), happiness science, and musings about life. 

 

I'm your host Katie Jefcoat and what researchers have found is that behaving generously toward others actually rewards the brain with happiness-enhancing boosts of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.   

 

In an article by the Cleveland Clinic, the author says “There’s just something about the delight of gift-giving that makes us feel good, but there’s actually science backing it up.  

 

Research says that people who give social support to others have lower blood pressure than people who don’t. Supportive interaction with others also helps people recover from coronary-related events.

 

Researchers also say that people who give their time to help others through community and organizational involvement have greater self-esteem, less depression and lower stress levels than those who don’t.”

 

According to one study, giving, like volunteering in a group, can actually help you live longer.  I would bet this is part to do with giving and part to do with social connection, which is a huge part of aging gracefully.  In fact, there are studies that show when elderly people help one another, even just give emotional support, they live longer.  That’s incredible. 

 

And, there is no coincidence that feeling happier, helping someone, releasing those endorphins (also known as a “helpers high”) and that serotonin, which is a mood boosting chemical that fires off when we do good, is contagious, through our mirror neurons in our brain, we are sending out good vibes.     

 

Today, we have an opportunity to “do good” to share some generosity.  It can be little, it can be big.  The amount actually doesn’t matter.  And remember, kindness is contagious, so go out there and spread some kindness in the world today. 

 

Inspired by https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health/ 

 

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