How Does Your Body Respond To Your Generosity?
So what does happen to your body when you’re generous? In our podcast, we discover an openness unfolds as you are kind to yourself. There is less room for physical angst. You have more control over outbursts. You might notice a decrease in headaches and stomach pains. You simply feel better.
When you decide to go beyond what’s expected of you, you’re being generous. And from www.greatergood.berkeley,edu, www.forbes.com and www.everydayhealth.com, we are so grateful for the work of Dr. Chloe Carmichael, who’s done the research and found pretty amazing benefits from being generous that are linked to our physical and emotional health.
Here are some major health benefits when you’re generous to your body.
LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
Did you know that volunteering can lower the risk of high blood pressure or hypertension by up to 40%? Researchers in the journal Psychology and Aging found that of the people they surveyed, individuals who volunteer at least 200 hours a year lower their hypertension risk by up to 40%. There’s strong evidence that having good social connections promotes wellbeing and healthy aging as well – and reduces a number of negative health outcomes.
IMPROVED OUTLOOK, EMPATHY AND INTIMACY
Generosity immediately improves your self image. You feel positive about yourself and you anticipate that those with whom you’re being generous are viewing you in a healthy light as well. You’re more connected to others when you think of things from another’s perspective – and you are more able to deal with your own issues as you see the challenges facing another person. You strengthen your sense of community and safety and are setting yourself up for more support in the future.
MEDITATION ENERGIZES YOU
Using meditation to bring you to a place of calm and peace is a way to be generous to your body. And it changes up a great deal: improved sleep, quality of life, physical health and psychological health. Your empathy and compassion also get a boost. And that means you’ll have more energy to be even more generous.
GIVING IS CONTAGIOUS
Your body isn’t the only thing that benefits when you’re giving – because there’s a ripple effect. It spreads from you to the person you’re helping – and from that person to another and so on. There’s a physical release of oxytocin when you give – that encourages feelings of warmth, euphoria and connection to others. And these symptoms can last up to two hours after you are being generous – and you jumpstart an amazing cycle of generosity – from one body to the next.
LOVE YOURSELF
Have you ever noticed that the happiest people you know don’t believe they will run out of love – or need to wait to give themselves time to breath and take a break. They just give it to themselves. Most likely, they’re also extremely generous.
What will you do today to be generous to yourself?
We’d love to hear how your generosity is changing up your life – and how your body is responding. The more generous you are – the better you will feel. About yourself and the world around you.