How Kindness Boosts Our Health

In honor of Native American Heritage month and my ancestors of the Cherokee tribe, I would like to share some health related information I read out of Healing Secrets of the Native Americans by Porter Shimer.

The Native Americans had a deep reverence not just for the natural world, but also for human relationships. They believed that true wealth was not measured by material possessions, but by one's willingness to give to others. When celebrating events like birthdays, the focus was on honoring guests by giving them gifts, rather than receiving presents.

The Native Americans believed disease was often caused by "soul loss" - a spiritual condition resulting from traits like selfishness, dishonesty, and despair. They thought that restoring the soul was crucial for regaining health and strength. Death was seen as a likely outcome if the soul was not returned to the body.

While these beliefs may seem unusual today, research has shown that negative thoughts and attitudes can indeed impact physical health. Studies indicate that highly aggressive "Type A" personalities are more prone to heart attacks than those with calmer, more accepting dispositions. Feelings of spiritual emptiness are said to foster internal cellular breakdown and undermine overall health.

The key message is that the Native Americans placed immense value on relationships, generosity, and spiritual well-being as integral parts of maintaining physical and mental health - perspectives that modern science is only beginning to fully appreciate.

Not only is health about what we put in our body but also what we allow in our minds and what kind of energy we put out there in the world. Kindness goes a long way for our health!

Become aware of your thoughts and stop those negative ones in their tracks by replacing it with a positive thought. Make the choice to do something kind today!