Welcome friends to another great topic on health and wellness. Thank you for reading my blog, and I hope you learn something today. This blog is about why it feels so good to give and help others. This is the perfect time of year (well, anytime is the perfect time) to help others. It feels so good to do good, but why? What is it inside us that just feels good to help others? There’s an old Chinese proverb that reads;
“If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.”
I honestly believe that and I’ll explain why we feel good when helping others. When we are involved in giving or altruism, the brain releases the “feel-good” neurotransmitters, leading to something called the “helper’s high.” Altruism by definition means, the act of selflessness or devotion to the welfare of others. In other words, this is when someone goes out of their way to help another, without even thinking about how the outcome will affect their own life.
Whenever someone does something altruistic for someone – for example, offering to help an elderly neighbor carry groceries or donating money, or gifting a family and their newborn baby with a homemade meal – stimulates the release of endorphins and serotonin in the brain, resulting in the “helper’s high.” Studies have shown that even the anticipation of doing something good for others triggers the release of these chemicals. Studies have also proven that volunteering in particular can lead to a greater sense of wellbeing and quality of life.
Engaging in selfless behaviors towards others can bring about surprising physiological results with even the smallest gestures of kindness. Some of the physiological changes consists of lower blood pressure and decreased stress and anxiety just to name a few. Some givers have also reported better sleep, less pain, and improvement in their moods (due to the increase in serotonin levels). Studies have also shown that people who are generous in nature have higher levels of oxytocin, the neurochemical that is most associated with feelings of love as well as social bonding.
I have created a list of some of the organizations that I have regularly donated to and/or am involved in some way;
I think these are very good organizations that you can trust and that most of the money goes directly to the people that are struggling. It feels good to help others and I have even got my kids involved with helping out where they can. Together we rise is an organization helping foster kids across the nation. I have a campaign currently running until the first of the year. Anyone who donates at least $50 to them through my campaign gets training from me either in fitness, nutrition, or both for two months. Just go to my Facebook page and scroll down until you find the link and picture. I will try to leave a link in the blog, but I am not sure it will work. https://www.facebook.com/IronBugFitness1/
If the link does not work just go to Iron Bug Fitness 1 and it will pop up. It’s called “Fitness For Fosters” Our goal is to raise enough money to decorate duffle bags to give to the children that enter the foster system. There is a child that enters the foster system every two minutes. So we need to help them as much as possible.
I hope this helps you to understand why it feels good to do good. I know we all like to give and I know we can do it. Let’s all think about that this holiday season and try something new by giving in ways we never thought possible. Let me know how it works out and how you helped others, I’m always interested in hearing from my readers and what they have done to live happier, healthier lives.
Take Care and remember, You only get one body…………..Make the change!
Darren
Harmony Shift 