Feeling Better By Doing for Others
I want to present you with two examples of a non-obvious way we can raise our own vibe and feel better by stepping away from ourselves. Self-care methods and modalities flood the airwaves; many of which I endorse. But sometimes, the secret to raising our own vibration is by setting aside our own selves (and the associated irritations) and attending to the care of others.
Cuddling and Comforting
It occurred to me several months into inviting a rescue dog, Mama Sita, into my life, that her insistent and repeated demands for petting, cuddling, walks, and stick-throwing generated a cascade of benefits to me, the one responding to her. She obviously benefits from the touch and the attention, but so do I! Let’s talk about the “how.”
I must pause what I’m doing.
At first there is a whiff of irritation in my mood. I don’t like interruptions! Also, I can be obsessive at my tasks, working long past the “stand up and move for a minute” that I know is good for my health every hour. If you are old enough, you remember the brilliant Coke slogan: The Pause That Refreshes. Here’s what advertising guru, David Ogilvy had to say about it:
'The Pause That Refreshes' is not just a slogan, it's a powerful narrative. It captures the essence of Coca-Cola's appeal and offers it to the world not merely as a beverage, but as a moment of respite. This campaign teaches us that great advertising is about storytelling, about understanding what your product means to the consumer, beyond the physical confines of the product itself.—David Ogilvy
I would add, that when a slogan is actually true, it’s impact increases. What I didn’t know, was that it was generated in 1929, as most Americans were facing the Great Depression and radio was becoming a powerful communication medium. You can read the whole story here. 1Here’s another excerpt from it:
The year was 1929, and America was on the brink of the greatest economic downturn in history. Amid this impending gloom, an idea sprang to life, almost ironically.It was a slogan that would make history, a phrase that carried the promise of respite in adversity—"The Pause That Refreshes."
Touch is an unsung contributor of health.
Back in the late ’80’s, I studied touch in great detail and even gave corporate seminars on healthy hugging in the workplace. LOL, hard to imagine that happening now, but if anyone is interested, contact me!There are thousands of studies showing how human touch and animal touch generate psychological, emotional, and physiological benefits for both giver and receiver. And really, how do you distinguish between the two, sometimes? When I am rubbing Mama’s belly as she rolls over and spreads her legs, she extends a front paw to my arm, telling me: keep going. Yes, it is a bit of a command but it’s also a nerve pathway from her body to mine.Greater Good Magazine, based at my alma mater, UC Berkeley, can fill you in on the details if you want to learn more. As researcher Dacher Keltner says, “To touch is to give life.” Apparently Michelangelo also said almost those same words 800 years ago! 2 I’m embedding a short video for you, too.
May I suggest that instead of thinking of our pets, our children, and our partners as needly little irritants when they want our hands and hugs, you think about all that you are receiving by engaging in this two-way feeling and fondling?