The ASOH home creation immersive experience unleashes a rare and unparalleled explosion of human kindness.
Happiness is Achieved and Enhanced Through Regular Practices That Engage Us…
Even greater happiness is achieved when we combine all four elements with:
- Gratitude
- Kindness
- Empathy
- Optimism
- Strength-Building
- Meaning/
Purpose - Savoring
A Home Creation is Equally as Healing and Life-Changing for Volunteers as it is for Beneficiaries
- For both the volunteer and beneficiary:
- Dr. Shira Gabriel at SUNY recently developed an instrument to measure how experiences of collective assembly may contribute to a life filled with a sense of meaning, increased positive affect, an increased sense of social connection and a decreased sense of loneliness – all of which are essential components to a healthy, happy life. Dr. Gabriel sates “My research on collective effervescence suggests that activities sponsored by A Sense of Home are likely to be associated with an increased sense of social connection”.
- Brené Brown states that holding hands with strangers allows us to gain a sense of belonging and believe in “inextricable human connection. That connection, the spirit that flows between us and every other human being in the world, is not something that can be broken”.
- Witnessing the power and impact of humanity coming together to create a beautiful home in just 90 minutes exemplifies that radical transformation is possible.
- For the volunteer:
- Leading scientists agree that bestowing acts of kindness on a stranger is the greatest anti-depressant in the world and increases overall well-being.
- Bearing witness to a life transformed leads to a conscious awakening of one’s role in contributing to a better world.
- The immersive experience helps to deepen one’s understanding of homelessness, poverty, structural racism and inequity.
- For the beneficiary:
- Receiving the attention of up to 30 strangers, all helping to create their new home, allows the beneficiary to feel uniquely loved, seen, heard and understood.
- Bearing witness to the love, joy and vulnerability of strangers offers the recipient a greater sense of love and worthiness, also allowing them to begin believing in, and feeling more connected to, humanity.
- Moved by the experience, the beneficiary becomes a conduit for change – paying it forward and helping to create homes for others.
Kindness…
is contagious
"The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to pay it forward. This means one good deed in a crowded area can create a domino effect and improve the day of dozens of people."
(Jamil Zaki, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Stanford University for Scientific American, July 26, 2016)
is teachable
"It’s kind of like weight training, we found that people can actually build up their compassion ‘muscle’ and respond to others’ suffering with care and a desire to help."
Dr. Ritchie Davidson, University of Wisconsin
releases a hormone
that improves health, optimism, and self-esteem “Witnessing acts of kindness produces oxytocin, occasionally referred to as the ‘love hormone’ which aids in lowering blood pressure and improving our overall heart-health. Oxytocin also increases our self-esteem and optimism, which is extra helpful when we’re anxious or shy in a social situation."
Dr. Ritchie Davidson, University of Wisconsin
increases energy
"Participants feel stronger and more energetic after helping others and many report feeling calmer and less depressed, with increased feelings of self-worth."
Christine Carter, UC Berkeley, Greater Good Science Center
increases happiness
"People who are altruistic and generous are happiest overall."
2010 Harvard Business School survey of happiness in 136 countries
increases life expectancy
"People who volunteer tend to experience fewer aches and pains. Giving help to others protects overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease. People 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44% lower likelihood of dying early, and that’s after sifting out every other contributing factor, including physical health, exercise, gender, habits like smoking, marital status and many more."
Christine Carter, Author, Raising Happiness; In Pursuit of Joyful Kids and Happier Parents
increases pleasure
"When you are kind to another person, your brain’s pleasure and reward centers light up, as if you were the recipient of the good deed—not the giver. This phenomenon is called the 'helper’s high.'"
According to research from Emory University
is teachable
"Kindness stimulates the production of serotonin. This feel-good chemical heals your wounds, calms you down, and makes you happy."
Talya Steinberg, Psy.D for Psychology Today
decreases pain
"Engaging in acts of kindness produces endorphins—the brain’s natural painkiller."
Lizette Borreli, Medical Daily
decreases stress
"Perpetually kind people have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the average population!"
Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, 1998
decreases anxiety
A group of highly anxious individuals performed at least six acts of kindness a week. After one month, there was a significant increase in positive moods, relationship satisfaction and a decrease in social avoidance in socially anxious individuals.
University of British Columbia Study
decreases depression
Stephen Post of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine found that when we give of ourselves, everything from life satisfaction to self-realization and physical health is significantly improved. Mortality is delayed, depression is reduced and wellbeing and good fortune are increased.
Dr. Stephen Post, Ph.D. bioethics professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
decreases blood pressure
Committing acts of kindness lowers blood pressure. According to Dr. David R. Hamilton, acts of kindness create emotional warmth, which releases a hormone known as oxytocin. Oxytocin causes the release of a chemical called nitric oxide, which dilates the blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure and, therefore, oxytocin is known as a “cardioprotective” hormone. It protects the heart by lowering blood pressure.
Dr. David R. Hamilton
The
HAPPIEST
People in the World
In her groundbreaking working on generosity and joy, social psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Dunn has proven that the greatest happiness a human can attain is from giving. In her April 2019 Ted Talk, Dr. Dunn explains that her research unearthed that the ‘how’ in giving matters, greatly. She describes the ideal experience of giving as volunteering in an intimate experience where one can witness a transformation.
We are biologically wired to connect. We desperately need connection in the form of human kindness.
Our need to be connected and establish healthy bonds is essential for our emotional and physical well-beings.
According to researchers Baumeister and Leary (1995), “our need to be connected and establish healthy bonds is as essential to our emotional and physical well-beings as food and safety.”
Engaging in the community is the solution to world’s “crisis of disconnection.”
All leading psychologists and sociologists concur that the modern world is facing a “crisis of disconnection.” People are increasingly disconnected from themselves and each other, with a state of alienation and isolation. Research indicates decreasing levels of empathy and trust, and the rising indices of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social isolation. Experts agree the most important step to be taken immediately is engagement in the community.
“Activities sponsored by A Sense of Home are likely to be associated with an increased sense of social connection.”
Dr. Shira Gabriel and her team at SUNY, University at Buffalo — recently developed an instrument to measure how experiences of collective assembly affect us (T.E.A.M). Dr Shira Gabriel and her team found these experiences contribute to a life filled with “a sense of meaning, increased positive affect, an increased sense of social connection and a decreased sense of loneliness — all essential components of a healthy, happy life. Dr. Shira Gabriel stated “we plan to collaborate with A Sense of Home on research examining the effects of the group experience on the well-being, sense of connection, optimism and agency of all participants. My research on collective effervescence suggests that activities sponsored by
A Sense of Home are likely to be associated with an increased sense of social connection.”
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A tax exempt charitable organization qualified under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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© 2023 Copyright A Sense of Home
Impact on Volunteers - A Sense of Home