RW - foRWard Health & Wellbeing eMag - Oct 25 - Flipbook - Page 11
When these regions of the brain are
s琀椀mulated, we produce oxytocin, which
has the e昀昀ect of boos琀椀ng mood and
counteracts the e昀昀ects of cor琀椀sol (the
stress hormone). Other “feel good”
chemicals such as serotonin (connected to
good sleep, diges琀椀on, memory, learning
and appe琀椀te) and dopamine (connected to
mo琀椀va琀椀on) are also secreted as a result of
giving behaviours.
If we give regularly, we are mentally and
physically healthier. Giving can:
• Lower blood pressure
• Increase self-esteem
• Decrease nega琀椀ve emo琀椀ons like
depression
• Lower stress levels
• Give us greater happiness and
sa琀椀sfac琀椀on
• Build gra琀椀tude
Giving has even been proven to improve
our life span. According to one study,
people who were 55 and older and
volunteered for two or more organisa琀椀ons
were 44% less likely to die over a 昀椀ve-year
period than those who didn’t volunteer —
even accoun琀椀ng for many other factors
including age, exercise, general health and
nega琀椀ve habits like smoking.
Giving is Infectious
Giving enables higher quality interac琀椀ons.
It promotes a sense of trust and
coopera琀椀on that strengthens our bonds
with others. How? Well, because giving is
infec琀椀ous, in more ways than you think.
When we’re in the act of giving, it’s usually
during a highly social ac琀椀vity that brings a
smile to your face.
It turns out, that when you smile the
whole world really does smile with you,
because you trigger mirror neurons in
those who witness you smiling. This,
in turn, actually ac琀椀vates those feelgood hormones men琀椀oned earlier.
Meanwhile, when you give, the recipient
of your generosity is more likely to give
something in return — or even give to
someone else. You are also likely to give
again, because it turns out oxytocin
is addic琀椀ve. This is why giving just
once can create an incredible posi琀椀ve
feedback loop.
