Page 11 - Triad Senior Living Guide Spring 2017
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     at least six times a week. The acts of   research shows that when we give of
     kindness included things like hold-  ourselves, especially if we start young,
     ing the door open for someone, doing   everything from life satisfaction to self-
     chores for other people, donating to   realization and physical health is signifi-
     charity, and buying lunch for a friend.   cantly improved. Mortality is delayed,
     The researchers found that doing nice   depression is reduced and well-being
     things for people led to a significant   and good fortune are increased. [4]
     increase in people’s positive moods. It
     also led to an increase in relationship   Monica Advani, the director and owner
     satisfaction and a decrease in social   of the Global Montessori Preschool
     avoidance in socially anxious individu-  in Westwood, teaches kindness to her
     als. [1]                            children beginning at a very young age.
                                         Whenever she notices one child doing a
     “People who engage in kind acts be-  random act of kindness to another, she
     come happier over time,” says Sonja   writes it in the kindness book. During
     Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., a professor of   line time, she will read it and thank
     psychology at the University of Cali-  those children involved with the positive
     fornia, Riverside. “When you are kind   action. She says, “this motivates and
     to others, you feel good as a person —   inspires other children to do the same.”
     more moral, optimistic, and positive,”   The moral of the story is to be kind and
     she says. Lyubomirsky has studied hap-  do kind acts for others. You can benefit
     piness for over 20 years. Her research,   your heart, reduce anxiety, lower blood
     presented at the recent annual meeting   pressure, and simply be a happier hu-
     of the Society for Personality and Social   man being. Who wouldn’t want that?
     Psychology in New Orleans, found that   This blog was inspired by my 11-year-
     performing other positive acts once a   old daughter and is dedicated to all of
     week led to the most happiness. [2]
                                         those people who helped me with her
     According to Dr. David R. Hamilton,   wheelchair. You know who you are.
     acts of kindness create an emotional   Thank you very much for your kindness!
     warmth, which releases a hormone
     known as oxytocin. Oxytocin causes the
     release of a chemical called nitric oxide,   References:
     which dilates the blood vessels. This   1. http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/
     reduces blood pressure and, therefore,     emotional-health/doing-kind-acts-reduces-
     oxytocin is known as a “cardioprotec-    anxiety-study
     tive” hormone. It protects the heart by   2. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/
     lowering blood pressure. [3]          news/articles/2013/01/24/acts-of-kindness-
                                           can-make-you-happier
     Researcher Stephen Post of Case     3. http://drdavidhamilton.com/
     Western Reserve University School of   4. http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2007/06/01/
     Medicine serves as president of the In-    postbook
     stitute for Research on Unlimited Love,
     which conducts and funds research on
     altruism, compassion and service. His   Reprinted with permission of the author.
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