HAPPY TO BE HELPFUL AND HORMONALLY HEALTHY!

The teaching theme this month at METRON Community is 'KARMA AND THE CHRIST-ETHIC', and this past Sunday we talked about how we are actually wired to do good deeds, and how Karma relates to brain function, and how psychological studies have shown that those who gave their time or resources to charity actually ended up happier than those who didn’t...in Ephesians 2:10, Paul says that we are God's "workmanship" (better translation is "masterpiece"), created/predestined by God to "do good works"...last Sunday we discussed that there is, in fact, a term that is used to describe what people experience when they do good for others, which is “helper’s high”...it's called that because of the extraordinarily good feeling that many people get whenever they have offered their help to someone who needed it...

The simple act of giving to others not only has a significant spiritual meaning, it also bears a physical, mental and emotional importance to people, as well...as we have said many times here on METRON-SPEAK, everything is connected...it has been proven scientifically that charitable actions can increase or decrease hormone levels and activity in the body...these hormone levels help us become happier and feel less stressed in our every day lives...they initiate endorphin activity in the brain and stimulate a happier state of mind...as you may know, endorphin is defined as any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions (also known as our body’s own “happy hormones”)..they are peptides that activate the body's opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect...they help lighten our mood all the time...

It has also been proven that giving to others also lowers an individual's level of stress...studies have shown that those who have been generous to other people have lower cortisol, norepinephrine and epinephrine levels...these hormones cause different physical and emotional manifestations of stress, which could later develop into complications and a person’s lack of energy and drive...

It's even been said that Positive Emotions in general are good for the (physical) heart...that laughter can make blood flow more freely, that hugging someone you love or feel positive toward can release oxytocin (not necessarily in sexual way, but in social recognition and for alleviating anxiety), and that spending time with a loved one and experiencing/sharing happiness with them can lower blood pressure...

Again, everything is connected...you are not wired for selfishness and isolation...selfishness goes against your very nature...you are very much connected to a Universal law of giving and receiving... sowing and reaping...sending things out to the Universe, and attracting things back to yourself...loving and being loved...appreciating and being appreciated...helping and being helped...you are a vital part of the Whole...

Of course, the flip side to all of this is the negative disconnect that happens when you are giving and giving and it is not appreciated or reciprocated, or you are the only one contributing in and to a relationship...the feeling of being taken advantage of, or of being unable to meet someone else's unreasonable demands on you and expectations of you does not produce anything positive in your brain function, and can actually affect your sense of well-being, your self-esteem and even your health...

Everything is about balance...you need to be needed, but you also have to know when to say no, and not feel bad about it...you are wired to give of yourself and to experience happiness about it, but you also have to be a good steward over your own personhood and not let people take more from you than they are willing to give back to you in some way...you have to be there for people, but also be honest about what you actually can and cannot do for them...you can't be happy about biting off more than you can chew...experiencing burnout from giving more than you get back doesn't produce any good hormones...that's not what Karma is about...

You should do good every day...you should send out good stuff to the Universe as much and as often as you can...but you should also protect, defend and nourish your own happiness, and not allow yourself to be drained by anyone...you can't please everyone, and if someone thinks that you haven't done enough for them and you are seeing the situation differently, knowing what you have, in fact, done for them and for others, you have to know how to shake it off and move on to a healthier, happier place...remember, it's all about loving your neighbor AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF...be good to you first, and you'll have plenty to give to others...your cup will run over, and you'll connect to Karma in a way that will bless others, and will cause you to be helpfully happy and hormonally healthy!