“No Greater Love Than This”... (Service to Others and Your Health)

In 1985 Whitney Houston blasted herself onto the music scene with her “self-titled” debut album. Ironically, one of the biggest hits from that album was called “Greatest love of all”. Ironic because the “self” titled albums best song was all about loving one’s self and how it is the greatest love of all.

In her book “Generation Me” Jean Twenge shares highlights of how the current generation has been taught to love themselves with little to no regard to how they treat others and to have high self-esteem regardless of any accomplishments or perceivable talent (or lack thereof). In fact, you don’t even have to have talent. This condition of self-love above all else is not limited to the current generation. Just look around you and see for yourself just how many people are behaving selfishly and poorly with no conscience. Whether they be family members, friends, celebrities, co-workers, etc. an unfortunate example can often be found.

What all this adds up to is a society filled with people with an inflated sense of self causing harm to others with no regard for their actions or so blindly selfish that they cannot see the plight of others.

Love and Service to Others

I don’t mean to get all biblical on you but I don’t mind going there for just a minute. In John 15:13 Jesus gave the most definitive description of what the greatest love is.  “No greater love has no one than this. That someone would lay down his life for his friends” (ESV) is how the passage goes. Laying down one’s life has everything to do with being of service to others; to live unselfishly for the betterment of those around them.

One of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most prolific speeches is one that doesn’t get much limelight but is still a powerful message. That speech was called “The Drum Major Instinct” and in it Martin Luther King presses home a very important point. He stated that the overriding duty of all people is to be of service to others; to be first in love and kindness. Could you imagine what that world would be like to live in?

How Love and Selflessness Affect Your Health

When it comes to our health there are some definite benefits to being a loving, caring person who lives a selfless life dedicated to helping others. Here are just a few positive benefits to consider:

•   A greater ability to handle stress – If you are of service to others then your chances of having loving, supportive people in your life increases greatly. With that increased love and support from people comes the ability to have others help you through hard times and carry your burdens. Aren’t problems so much easier to handle when you have great friends and family members around? Cultivate loving relationships through selfless acts for others.
• Greater and faster healing – Did you know a loving heart can heal? Researchers at The Ohio State University found that couples who interacted warmly together had wounds that healed twice as fast as couples who were hostile or belligerent. This premise can extend beyond marital or romantic bonds. Loving interpersonal relationships where you share with one another can likely produce a soothing, healing effect on the body.
• Even suffer from fewer colds – Another wonderful benefit of opening one’s self to others is the calmness and love that comes to you. With the calm, peace and love comes a healthier and more robust immune system. Research conducted at Carnegie Mellon University and published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that people who were calm and happy experienced fewer colds and flu than people who were anxious, hostile or depressed

If you want to be happier in life and experience better health try leading the parade when it comes to service to others. The love, warmth and kindness you receive in return will be worth its weight in health gold. Narcissism, which seems to rule the world today, is an unsavory way to live and only brings misery and unhappiness wherever you may find yourself. Do you know any narcissist? Do you like being around them? Do they make you feel good to be in their presence? The answer is most likely a resounding no. Bring light with you wherever you go and watch your health and the health of those around you improve.

Sources:

- The Bible

-  http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=97679

That Ship Has Sailed: Overcoming Guilt for Better Health

Guilt has a necessary and useful purpose. It helps us recognize when we have wronged or could potentially wrong others. It allows us to reflect on our actions and make changes to our behavior as necessary. These are great things but what’s not so great is a guilt that lingers and the long term damaging effects which is why overcoming guilt is so necessary and important.

One of the problems with chronic guilt is those that suffer from it can become hypersensitive to ordinary situations increasing their stress load. It is known that highly stressed people make more mistakes and are prone to more accidents due to clouded judgment. Social relationships suffer as over analysis helps to create negative situations that had no basis in reality. In addition, those who suffer chronically with guilt (or constantly made to feel guilty) tend to be easily manipulated especially by dark hearted and selfish people who recognize what is happening. You end up on one guilt trip after another as you constantly bend to the will and whims of the manipulators.

Techniques for Overcoming Guilt

After guilt has served its useful purpose it must be mitigated if it does not go away on its own immediately. Here are a few techniques to employ if you find yourself constantly dealing with guilt.

What to Do Mentally

• ·         Allow yourself to express genuine sorrow or grief. Acknowledge this feeling and be willing to change your actions and behavior and, in turn, change your mind.
• ·         Ask if the values you are judging yourself by are values you agree with. If they are the values most likely benefit everyone so make the necessary adjustments. If not, question the motives behind the so called value as it may only serve to benefit others (e.g. manipulators).
• ·         Know and understand that remorse is healthy if it causes you to perform right actions.
• ·         Prayer has powerful therapeutic effects on the body and mind. Learning how to release chronic negative feelings especially guilt not only relieves a person of those feelings but helps to oxygenate the body and reduce blood pressure.
• ·         If prayer is not really for you then give meditation a try for the same reasons stated above. Calming the mind, slowing the breathing and oxygenating the body does a world of good for mental health and well-being while providing clarity on the matters at hand.

What to Do Physically

• ·         Breathing exercises are a phenomenal way to clear the mind and help cope with or be rid of chronic guilt. When combined with movements or stretches the mind tends to free itself more quickly gradually moving to a more positive and effective interaction with guilt. Some of those exercises can include

o   Yoga in its various forms. Find the one that speaks to you and stick with it.

o   Tai Chi

o   Qigong

o   Acupressure

• ·         Physical exercise will help to clear the mind while relieving the body of stress hormones. The increased energy and blood flow to the brain will allow for improved clarity as to what should be (or shouldn't be) done. The rush you get from the release of endorphins is nice too!

Indeed, there is much more out there that would be of great benefit to those suffering with constant guilt but beginning with these suggestions is as good a place to start as any. Be well!