With just one small act of kindness we can make this world a much better place! In this episode David and Amrit dive deep into the importance of being kind to become the best version of ourselves as well as better humans, and all the amazing benefits of kindness.

David R. Hamilton, PhD is a kindness scientist, columnist, speaker and author of eleven books, including his latest bestseller, 'The Five Side Effects of Kindness'.

After completing his PhD in organic chemistry, he worked in R&D in the pharmaceutical industry, developing drugs for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Inspired by the placebo effect, he left the industry to write books and educate people on how they can harness their mind and emotions to improve their mental and physical health.

We all have kindness genes and they are some of the oldest genes in the human genome. We're genetically wired to love and compassion but we are also wired to self preservation. Our nervous system perceives challenges as threats to our survival. So we end up covering our kindness because we feel we need to survive.

“You can be presenting clouds and storm fronts but when you pull through them, there is always sunshine”

The skill is to recognize the sunshine underneath any kind of challenge. Change requires a conscious effort to recognize the way you behave and how you have to behave instead. Slowing down and becoming aware of yourself is the first step to change. And then having an interaction with your body’s kindness hormones. Kindness opportunities bring out the best version of yourself.

In every act of kindness, you must include yourself and recognize that this moment of exchange is vital for the evolution and the present moment of both parts.

Kindness has tons of beneficial effects but you can't have them unless you are genuine and mean what you do. It impacts physical and mental health, and not only makes us happier but is also protective for our mental health against challenges that occur in life.

Acts of kindness affect our brain chemistry producing more “happiness hormones” which facilitate happier experiences. Acts of kindness cause physical changes in the brain structure known as neural plasticity. This allows us to extract happiness from everyday life easier. 

The physiological effects of kindness and stress are due to the way you feel. Kindness generates the opposite effects of stress. When kindness hormones go up, stress hormones go down.

David Hamilton Books:

• The Five Side-effects of Kindness: https://amz.run/541y 
• Why Woo-Woo Works: https://amz.run/541z 
• I Heart Me: https://amz.run/546j 

Tune In: 

• Welcome David Hamilton to Inspired Evolution!: (00:00:00)
• The science that supports kindness: (01:09)
• Why is it so difficult to embrace kindness when it is innate to us: (03:45)
• Self kindness to facilitate kindness with others: (13:45)
• Kindness makes us happier: (17:00)
• Kindness is good for the heart: (20:00)
• Factors that slow down ageing: (24:36)
• Kindness builds connection; digital world vs face-to-face: (29:15)
• About kindness contagion: (40:34)
• What is possible in this world with kindness: (45:28)
• Cultivating kindness: (48:14)

For all the links go to: inspiredevolution.com/cultivate-kindness

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