Why Practicing Kindness is Good for Your Health

November is known as the month of gratitude. This is the time of year to reflect, count our blessings, and appreciate the people who make our lives better. This is also the time of year we celebrate being kind to one another. World Kindness Day falls on November 13th of each year, reminding us of the need to be kind, considerate, and compassionate in our dealings with others.

But did you know that practicing kindness is also good for your health?

Health Benefits of Kindness

Science is just starting to understand the chemicals our brains release. Even though the findings are fairly new, there is more than enough information to support the fact that feel-good hormones, like serotonin, are good for our bodies. As it happens, helping others releases serotonin which causes us to feel happy and satisfied. 

Also, being kind also releases oxytocin which is good for your heart and reduces inflammation in the body which helps our immune system! Your blood pressure will thank you for it and you’ll feel less stressed and anxious.

The Power of Gratitude

Helping other humans also helps us to achieve a state of gratitude. Grateful for our own blessings and for our ability to help people in need. A regular gratitude practice helps people sleep better, have more energy, and achieve a more positive outlook and mindset. All of this translates into becoming a happier, healthier person and who doesn’t want more of that? 

How to Practice Kindness This Month

In the tradition of Thanksgiving, the table is big enough to serve everyone and there is enough to go around. While this is a wonderful ideal, the truth doesn’t quite stretch as much as we’d like. Many families dedicate some of their time and resources in November to either donate food, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or donate money to local shelters and missions planning to feed and shelter the less fortunate during the holiday season. 

Whether you plan something special for World Kindness Day or just re-commitment to being kind to others, November is a great month for reflecting on the benefits of demonstrating and sharing kindness with others the world over.

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