Wisdom vs. Science: Why doing good is good for you

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Can acts of kindness or helping others truly improve health or reduce illness? This central question is supported by recent Harvard research indicating that kindness positively affects well-being. While the idea is not new, its enduring relevance can be traced to ancient Greece, where acts of kindness were believed to bring favor from the gods. For example, The Odyssey, as interpreted by Butler & Dirda (2013), illustrates how Odysseus, despite hardship, upholds himself and receives kindness while he hides as a beggar, highlighting its lasting value, especially in difficult circumstances.

Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health have explored how acts of kindness may impact both physical and mental health (Weziak-Bialowolska et al., 2021). Central to their findings is the idea that strength of character involves consistently acting for the benefit of oneself and others—essentially, practicing kindness. This research reinforces the broader argument that acts of kindness serve not only as a moral virtue but also as a foundation of well-being, resonating with the ethos of the healthcare profession, in which staff are entrusted to show kindness to patients (Westbrook et al., 2022).

Experiences outside research also support the key argument: acts of kindness have meaningful benefits. Will Guidara, a prominent New York restaurant owner, seeks staff motivated by altruism rather than mere personal gain, believing their kindness benefits both themselves and the business (Guidara, 2022, p. 81). This demonstrates the core claim—performing acts of kindness can create a positive environment and promote well-being.

Researchers at The Human Flourishing Institute emphasize that pursuing good through acts of kindness can significantly enhance life satisfaction, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve overall health (Harvard University, n.d.; Weziak-Bialowolska et al., 2021). These findings strengthen the main argument that acts of kindness are not only expressions of goodwill but also practical contributors to health and wellness. Even those outside of helping professions can benefit physically and mentally by incorporating kindness, suggesting that such actions are as vital as diet or exercise in promoting well-being.

References:

Butler, S., & Dirda, M. (2013). The Iliad and the Odyssey: Homer. Barnes and Noble.

Guidara, W. (2022). Unreasonable hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect . Optimism Press.

Harvard University. (n.d.). The Human Flourishing Program at the Harvard Institute for Quantitative Social Science. https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/

Westbrook, K. W., Nicol, D., Nicol, J. K., & Orr, D. T. (2022). Effects of Servant Leadership Style on Hindrance Stressors, Burnout, Job Satisfaction, Turnover Intentions, and Individual Performance in a Nursing Unit. Journal of Health Management, 24(4), 670–684. https://doi.org/10.1177/09720634221128100

Weziak-Bialowolska, D., Bialowolski, P., VanderWeele, T. J., & McNeely, E. (2021). Character Strengths Involving an Orientation to Promote Good Can Help Your Health and Well-Being. Evidence From two Longitudinal Studies. American Journal of Health Promotion, 35(3), 388–398. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117120964083

Fighting On: Reflections on Mortality, Spirituality, and Aging

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We live next to the Santa Clara River here in Southern California. It is not uncommon to see local coyotes emerge from the hills and wander through our neighborhood, especially on these chilly spring mornings. Sometimes, we hear their howls echoing from the dry riverbed in front of our home. Recently, one was struck by a vehicle and left on the roadside until public workers arrived to remove it. Witnessing the death of another coyote made me reflect on life and mortality. As someone who works in healthcare, I regularly confront death, especially when treating patients with heart disease. These experiences, along with the recent loss of a dear coworker, remind me just how short life truly is. As I reflect on this, I think of a line from Browning: “I was ever a fighter, so one fight more, the best and the last! I would hate that death bandaged my eyes, and forebore, and bade me creep past” (Browning, as cited in Untermeyer, 1942, p. 876).

These personal and professional encounters have led me to reflect not only on the inevitability of death, but also on how we approach the process of aging. While many people search for the fountain of youth—wondering how to look younger and live longer—the real question might be how to age gracefully rather than bitterly (Brenner, 2023). Graceful aging encompasses not just physical appearance but also mental and psychological well-being, as well as the significance of spirituality as we grow older (Head et al., 2022). In reality, most people seek an insurance policy against death, desiring the promise of heaven or an afterlife. The pursuit of happiness, wellness, and longevity is nearly universal while we are alive, but when these aspirations seem unattainable, only then does “a sort of heaven” become appealing, as Erasmus (1941) observed. Ultimately, what happens after we die depends on one’s spiritual outlook.

Pascal, the renowned French mathematician, suggested there are three main types of people: those who have a relationship with God and strive to fulfill their calling in obedience and service; those who are searching for God but have not yet found Him; and those who neither seek nor have a relationship with Him (Hutchins & Adler, 1952). Scientists have found that aging can be accelerated by unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking or lack of physical activity, and that abundant food can also contribute to shorter lifespans. Brenner (2023), in a review of David Sinclair’s controversial book, Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To—a book I have not yet read—raises thought-provoking questions about the science and ethics of extending human life. Perhaps part of living is embracing life's brevity?

The Greek poet Lucretius commented (Adler, 1952, p. 36) on the subject of death, suggesting that the siblings of death are brother, agony, and sister, illness, forging an alliance. In summation of closing a reflection essay on life, death, and what is to come, the ancients perhaps can offer some comfort in the form of a salve for all of us, regardless of any religious preference, because of the commonality shared by all, as none of us is immune to its truth.

References:

Adler, Mortimer J. (1952). Lucretius: On the Nature of Things. In The Great Books of the Western World. (Vol. 12, pp. 1-97). Encyclopedia Britannica.

Brenner, C. (2023). A science-based review of the world’s best-selling book on aging. Archives of Gerontology & Geriatrics, 104, N.PAG. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2022.104825

Erasmus, D. (1941). The Praise of Folly (H. H. Hudson, Trans.; 3rd ed.). Princeton University Press.

Head, J. H., Lawrence, R. M., & Cullinan, R. J. (2022). Ageing. In C. C. H. Cook & A. Powell (Eds.), Spirituality and psychiatry (2nd ed., pp. 355–374). Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Hutchins, R. M., & Adler, M. J. (1952). God. In The Great Ideas: A Syntopicon of Great Books of the Western World (Vol. 2, pp. 543-604). Encyclopedia Britannica.

Untermeyer, L. (1942). A Treasury of Great Poems, English and American: From the foundations of the English spirit to the outstanding poetry of our own time, with lives of the poets and historical settings (2nd ed.). Simon and Schuster.