Secret paybacks of good acts

Have you ever felt good after accompanying a sick neighbour to the hospital in the middle of the night? Then there was the time when you left food and essentials in front of your friend's door regularly at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Or ever noticed that you were more relaxed after helping a disabled stranger? In more examples like these, it has been that the answers to these questions were 'Yes'. And science has revealed that doing good benefits us mentally, physically, and emotionally. Helping others in difficult times helps us 'most'.

The science of good deeds is now an established fact. Hormones are integral in so many of our body systems, and they regulate much of what our body does. They help from regulating mood to growth and development. In short, these chemical messengers control the way our organs work and a little bit goes a long way.

Because of these, minor changes in levels can cause significant changes to your body and lead to certain conditions that require medical treatment. Researchers have looked at the benefits of good deeds and the significance of moralities in the last few years.

When we help others, our brains release oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine. These hormones boost our mood and counteract the effect of cortisol (the stress hormone). Doing a good deed also helps us take a step outside our world for a little while.

Performing good acts can positively affect our health, like reducing stress. Managing stress can be a key part of quitting smoking. The science of doing good deeds not only inspires me but also surprises me. Kindness is integral to good deeds, an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return

E-mail: rubaiulmurshed@shomman.org