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We don’t need anyone to tell us how good it feels to be kind because this is something most of us inherently know. But for those who are yet to be convinced, research shows that the benefits of altruism filter all the way down into one’s nervous and cardiovascular systems, not to mention the positive effects on one’s emotional health. Kindness induces the release of dopamine and other natural versions of heroine and morphine. It would appear that altruism can facilitate a natural ‘high’.

The physical effects of compassion

The Independent reports that: ‘Physically, the benefits come from the relaxation of your nervous system and your cardiovascular system. If you do an act of kindness face-to-face with someone – for instance you help someone carry their shopping – you create an emotional bond.’

Your body then produces the bonding hormone called oxytocin. Oxytocin binds to the lining of your blood vessels which causes the arteries to dilate. This reduces your blood pressure. In effect, oxytocin is a ‘cardio-protective hormone’.

As for the nervous system, research show that compassionate people have a more active vagus nerve than those who don’t practice kindness. Responsible as it is for controlling inflammation, the vagus nerve is also the longest nerve in your body.

The 21-day kindness challenge

Dr David Hamilton, author of Why Kindness is Good for You, goes on to say that you don’t need to go out looking to change somebody’s life: ‘It can be a matter of small things. If you’re on the look-out, you automatically start to notice opportunities. For instance, a woman going down stairs with a pram.’

He talks about the 21-day kindness challenge: ‘You do one act of kindness every day: make a cup of tea, pay a compliment. Something you wouldn’t usually do, but which will make a difference.’

A tale of upliftment

There are some uplifting stories of kindness in the December issue of Psychologies magazine. One of them describes how a stranger’s touch changed the life of Ronna A Whitaker.

Ronna was 29km into a 30km bike ride in a foreign country on a borrowed bike. Not only was she with people she didn’t know in a strange place but she was struggling with the final inclines. She hadn’t been on a bike for 20 years and she says that she reached a moment of ‘anguish and torment.’

She explains what happened: ‘It was as if the difficult times in my life were manifesting themselves in the physical pain of that very moment. Then I felt a hand gently pressing on the small of my back.’ A cyclist had pulled alongside her and was supporting her on the upward climb.

She says that this simple touch ‘melted years of tension, mistrust, isolation and fear. His gesture was the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me.’ She made it up the hill and ‘to the end of what felt like a very long journey.’

Tags: lifestyle