Goodness makes us happier

In many traditions there is talk of the benefits of goodness. However, today, despite the fact that goodness enjoys good reputation has been relegated to a second or third plane. Goodness is not fashionable. In general it seems that those competitive people who do anything to achieve their goals are better seen. Goodness, in terms of worrying about others, looks like something beautiful and full of merit, but to carry it out when we have time or sometimes exceptional occasions.

First, what is understood by goodness? And, above all, what happens when studied from science? The results are amazing and goes beyond theories that would seem like many of them, since Practice goodness modifies our genetic expression. Throughout the article we will explain what we mean by goodness and the results of the latest scientific research. Welcome to goodness!

Content

• What is goodness?
• Goodness under the magnifying glass of science
• Findings
  • Conclusion

What is goodness?

In the first place, it is possible to explain what we are talking about when we refer to this concept. Ricard Davidson, a doctor in Neuropsychology, was based on Buddhist psychology to carry out his study. From Buddhism, there are two key concepts related to goodness: Love and compassion. Love consists in aspiring to the happiness of all beings and the causes of their happiness. Compassion is the aspiration of the liberation of the suffering of all beings and the causes of suffering. Thus, goodness can be described as the desire that all beings are happy and free of suffering.

Goodness under the magnifying glass of science

Davidson has led the goodness to be studied through science. Animated by the Dalai Lama, Davidson obtained surprising findings. It should be said that surprise we take it in the westernmost countries, but in those where goodness has been practiced for centuries, the results were obvious. At least obvious at the behavioral level, because also They found that goodness is expressed at the level of brain changes. 

Davidson states that "I did the promise to the Dalái Lama that I would do everything possible so that kindness, tenderness and compassion were in the research center. Words never appointed in any scientific study". Thus, he got to work to see what could change a person, both at a behavioral, emotional and cerebral level.

Davidson Difference compassion empathy. The author defines compassion as "A higher stage is to have the commitment and tools to relieve suffering. The neurological circuits that lead to empathy and compassion are different". The researcher ensures that goodness can enter at any age. Even if practiced in children and adolescents, it has an impact on better academic performance and healthy emotional health.

Findings

Through the Buddhist meditation focused on compassion, very significant results were obtained. However, before exposing these results, it is possible to explain what this meditation consists of. In summary it is about imagining a loved one in a situation of suffering and cultivating the aspiration to free it from that suffering. Subsequently, this practice is extended to neutral people and finally those who awaken negative emotions.

Davidson assures that this type of meditation, first, reduces bullying in schools. As mentioned before, too Improve emotional and physical health. On the other hand, one of the most interesting data they found, as described by the author himself, "One of the most interesting things I have seen in the neural circuits of compassion is that the motor zone of the brain is activated: Compassion enables you to move, to relieve suffering". Best of all this is that you can practice. We can all do it.

Before investigating compassion, Davidson also investigated emotions. Assures that Through emotions, brain structures can change in just two hours. Describes that "We take meditators to the laboratory; and before and after meditation we take a blood sample to analyze the expression of the genes.". They observed that the brain areas in which there was inflammation or tendency to it, descended remarkably, so it was a very useful finding for treating depression.

Conclusion

As seen, The practice of compassion improves our quality of life; decreases our levels of suffering and raises our happiness. To worry about others and reduce our vision only in us, make our ego aside for a moment and observe reality more consistently. That is, we not only exist and our needs. When we are the center of our life, the only thing that comes to mind are concerns, even insubstantial complaints.

Even so, we must not forget that compassion also includes ourselves. It is a balance between us and the others. When we only care, our suffering increases. When we care about others, our happiness increases. Not only do the "mystics" say, but science has also spoken.