I found myself thinking about kindness, generosity, happiness and gratitude the last few days, and would like to share my thoughts. Although the points may seem disjointed, they aren’t to me!
Kindness
I was listening to an old Wayne Dyer CD the other day in which he passed on some very uplifting information regarding kindness. The studies showed that both serotonin levels and immune function were elevated in people who were the recipients of an act of kindness. (It made no difference whether the individuals involved were strangers or friends.) That didn’t surprise me much, but subsequent discoveries did.
As you know, serotonin is the neurotransmitter found primarily in the brain and gut, which regulates mood, appetite and sleep. It’s the body’s “feel-good” drug that is largely responsible for our feelings of happiness.
The second discovery showed that the provider of the act of kindness also benefited. S/he enjoyed increased serotonin levels and immune function equal to that of the recipient.
The third, and most exciting finding of the study was that the observer of an act of kindness experienced the same serotonin rush and strengthened immune function as both the recipient and the giver – just by being in the energy field of the action!
I say those are good reasons to practice random acts of kindness. Don’t you?
Generosity
Evolutionary biologists have longed believed that human evolution selects against generosity when there is no anticipated future payoff. Choosing to incur a personal cost with no prospect of a benefit or return has been seen as “maladaptive” and “irrational” by scientists.
But now, a study from the University of California indicates the opposite. A series of computer simulations showed that generosity – acting to help others in the absence of foreseeable gains – actually emerges naturally from the evolution of cooperation. This means that human generosity is more likely built in to human nature, not a result of social pressure, cultural conformity or self-interest.
Hmm… that doesn’t surprise me either.
Gratitude and Happiness
Years ago I learned that gratitude was the quickest route to happiness, and that each of us is responsible for creating the internal experience of gratitude. Creating the feeling of appreciation and happiness is, for me, an inside job, not something that is bestowed upon me from some external stimulus or event.
With that I leave you with a quote from Meister Eckhart that I love and am reminded of each year at Thanksgiving:
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
So, my friends… thank you.
…and thank you Karen for sharing your passion in your gentle way!
I hope you have a warm and delicious Thanksgiving!
warmly
Christine
Thank you Karen, for all that you have taught me and others who have sought you out for your expertise. I find it easy to accept the idea of benefiting from acts of kindness, and I believe that positive interaction between human beings is certainly healthy. And while I do not believe that I can make dramatic large scale changes in our troubled world, I do believe that by consciously engaging in acts of kindness I am contributing positively and thus helping out one small act at a time.
And as far as happiness I too believe that we create our own happiness. If my happiness depended on others my life would not be my own. I also believe that happiness is not the only goal in life and if I expect happiness all of the time I will be very disappointed. Life can sometimes be difficult or even unfair; and that is just how life is. To strive to be happy is certainly a worthy goal; so I try each day to find happiness when and where I can.
Thank you John and Christine for your warm wishes and comments. And yes, Christine, I did have a delicious Thanksgiving yesterday. I take advantage of being a Canadian living in the United States and celebrate both the Canadian and American Thanksgiving dates – by far, my favorite holiday and meal of the year!
Thank you Karen for sharing Kindness, Generosity, Happiness and Gratitude.
I would like to share something that Robbi Zeck shared in a workshop that I took from her. Robbi wrote the book Blossoming Heart and offers aromatherapy workshops and tours. I do it every day and it has added so much to my life. Your article reminds me of it.
Love, Grace, and Gratitude
These beautiful words are repeated
… to the earth as you open your arms to the earth.
… to yourself as you cross your hands over your heart
… to others as you reach forward
… to the wider world as you reach to the sides
… to the spirit/creator/god as you put your hands in a prayer position
… to the universe as you reach above your head
and then repeat from the universe back to the earth. It can be repeated as many times as you like. Trust you got the picture.
Just love passing this on,
Darlene a fellow Canadian