While we are offered many ideas for managing these challenges, one of the simplest and most effective is exhibiting kindness. Research shows that small acts of kindness have profound benefits for the giver, including increased happiness, reduced stress and even improved physical health. Simple acts of kindness release feel-good hormones like oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. These hormones are associated with feelings of joy, connection and overall well-being. Oxytocin in particular is often called the love hormone because it fosters trust and social bonding, reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation.
In a world that feels chaotic, and who can claim that this isn't the world we are in, small acts of kindness remind us of our shared humanity. They show us that the best way to uplift ourselves is to lift others. Next time you have the opportunity to be kind, take it. This is Dr. Scott Morris for Church Health.
