The Science of Kindness: Why Being Good Feels So Good

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💫 Hello, Kindness Crew! 

This Wednesday, November 13, is World Kindness Day—and let’s be real—who couldn’t use a kindness pick-me-up? This week’s edition dives into the science of kindness and why doing good feels so good. Join our Kindness Bingo Challenge to snag a wellness gift you’ll be using at this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, and check out some inspiring local events: connect with the other side, fly with aerial yoga and candle-making, or recharge with a nature retreat. Let’s sprinkle kindness everywhere and see what grows!

IN TODAY’S EDITION

• Holistic Spotlight: The Science of Kindness - Why Being Good Feels so Good

• Offer of the Day: Celebrate World Kindness Day with Us!

• What's Happening This Week: Events you won’t want to miss!

• Your Healing Minute: Loving Kindness Meditation

• Get Involved: Be Featured in a Future Newsletter!

BUT FIRST, A GIFT FROM OUR SPONSOR!

HOLISTIC SPOTLIGHT

The Science of Kindness: Why Being Good Feels so Good

World Kindness Day is this Wednesday, November 13—a perfect opportunity for Maryland to shine a little brighter. Though some surveys have labeled Baltimore as a "less polite" city, we know kindness thrives here. Let's come together this week to make our community warmer and more welcoming - because kindness benefits us all.

It turns out that being kind isn’t just good for the world around us; it’s good for our minds and bodies too.

Let’s explore some of the evidence-based benefits of kindness:

Mental Health Benefits

Engaging in acts of kindness has been shown to have significant positive effects on mental health. A study conducted at The Ohio State University found that performing acts of kindness led to improvements in symptoms of depression and anxiety. The research revealed that kind acts helped individuals take their minds off their own symptoms, providing a form of therapeutic distraction.Kindness can also boost self-esteem, empathy, and compassion while improving overall mood. It increases our sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact feelings of loneliness, improve low mood, and enhance relationships in general. (source)

Physiological Effects

The benefits of kindness extend beyond mental health, influencing our physical well-being in surprising ways:

• Cardiovascular Health: Research has shown that altruistic behaviors can be cardioprotective. One study demonstrated that spending money on others improved the cardiovascular health of at-risk older adults diagnosed with high blood pressure (source).

• Gene Expression: A groundbreaking study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology found that incorporating small acts of kindness into daily routines could positively alter gene regulation. This research suggests that prosocial behavior may influence immune markers that affect disease development or resistance (source).

The Science Is Clear: Be Kind!

So, why wait? Embrace the science of kindness and make a conscious effort to incorporate acts of kindness into your daily life. You'll be surprised at how good it feels to make a positive difference in the world, starting with yourself.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Wellness Related Events Around Town

💫 Autumn Evening with Spirit: Messages from the Other Side | Nov 15 @ 7pm | HAVEN in Havre de Grace

Join mediums Kathy and Nancy for a cozy night of spiritual connection. Experience a gallery-style reading with Akashic Records insights and evidential mediumship, delivering messages from departed loved ones and spirit guides. This gathering offers healing, clarity, and connection. More info & registration here.

🍁 Annual Fall Open House & Canned Food Drive | Nov. 16 @ 11am | Tranquili-Chi Center and Sage & Seance LLC

Dive into a day full of holistic wellness, unique crafts, and community spirit. We’re excited to feature a diverse lineup of 25 vendors offering everything from soothing massages, expert acupuncture, and a vibrant apothecary selection to enchanting crystals, season treats and beverages, captivating aura photography, and insightful tarot readings. More info & registration here.

🕯️ Flow & Glow: An Aerial Yoga & Candle Making Experience | Nov. 16 @ 6pm | Equilibrium Total Body Wellness, Baltimore

Get ready to flow through a rejuvenating aerial yoga session, followed by a glowing candle making workshop. This is the perfect opportunity to unwind, stretch, and get creative all in one fun-filled evening. Don't miss out on this special event that will leave you feeling relaxed and inspired! More details & registration here.

🧘‍♂️ Sahana Yoga at Wishing Star Farm | Nov. 16 @ 3pm | Wishing Star Farm and Wellness, Glen Arm

Come join us for a rejuvenating yoga session at Wishing Star Farm & Wellness! Let's unwind, stretch, and find our inner peace surrounded by nature's beauty. Perfect for all levels. Connect with like-minded individuals and leave feeling refreshed and centered. Don't miss out on this opportunity to nourish your mind, body, and soul. More details & registration here. 

🤍 Surviving the Holidays - GriefShare | Nov. 19 @ 6:30pm | CCASTA Ascension Campus

Facing this season while grieving can sometimes feel like taking one step forward and two steps back. This 2-hour Surviving the Holidays event will prepare you to navigate the season’s changes. More details and Registration here.

🧘‍♂️ Rest & Recharge with Nature: Healing Support for Professionals | Nov. 20 @ 10am | Harford Glen Environmental Education Center, Bel Air

A FREE nature retreat for professionals seeking stress relief and rejuvenation. Unwind, relax, and focus on self-care with fellow health care professionals. Enjoy wellness activities outdoors and learn stress management strategies. Prioritize your health and recharge your mind, body, and spirit. See you there! More details & registration here.

YOUR HEALING MINUTE

Loving Kindness Meditation

This week, as we celebrate kindness, let’s expand our compassion through a short Loving-Kindness Meditation. This practice cultivates empathy and warmth for people in various areas of your life, fostering connection, peace, and a more open heart.

Try this 5-minute Loving-Kindness Meditation:

1. Begin by finding a comfortable seat and take a few deep, calming breaths.

2. Start with someone you love deeply—a friend, family member, or partner. Bring their face to mind, and silently repeat:

   • “May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be at peace.”

3. Now bring to mind someone you don’t know well—maybe a neighbor you see but haven’t met, or someone you passed in the grocery store. Hold them in your mind and repeat:

   • “May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be at peace.”

4. Next, think of someone with whom you feel frustration or conflict. Though it may feel challenging, try to hold them with compassion, repeating:

   • “May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be at peace.”

5. Finally, bring your focus back to yourself. Extend the same kindness inward, saying:

   • “May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I be safe. May I be at peace.”

To make this meditation easier, you can follow along with this video.

GET INVOLVED

We would love to feature you in our next newsletter!

Share your:

• healing art, music, or poetry

• wellness business or service

• healing story

• wellness win of the week

Just reply to this message to let me know you would like to get involved!

That’s all for today’s newsletter. Be well!

Until next time,