OXYTOCIN

Written By Duane Nelson


2 IDEAS FROM ME

  • Practicing compassion can significantly elevate oxytocin levels in both men and women, fostering a sense of connection, trust, and well-being.

  • By loving compassionately (empathic loving kindness with intent to relieve suffering), individuals can boost their emotional resilience, reduce stress, and create a more harmonious environment, enhancing both personal relationships and overall mental health.

2 QUOTES FROM SAGES

  • “In some recent studies I’ve conducted, we have found that when people perform behaviors associated with compassionate love—warm smiles, friendly hand gestures, affirmative forward leans—their bodies produce more oxytocin. This suggests compassion may be self-perpetuating: Being compassionate causes a chemical reaction in the body that motivates us to be even more compassionate.”—Dacher Keltner (The Compassionate Instinct - Greater Good Magazine)

  • “Feelings of trust and attachment are fostered by the chemical oxytocin. In a study conducted at the University of Zurich, couples who used a nasal spray containing oxytocin before discussing an ongoing marital conflict were more likely to engage in friendly, positive communication than those who didn’t take a whiff. You can stimulate oxytocin naturally with touch. Hold hands while you watch TV, trade massages, or sleep in each other’s arms.”—Helen Fisher (Born to Love - Greater Good Magazine)

1 QUESTION FOR YOU TO EXPLORE

  • How can you experiment with compassion to boost emotional resilience, reduce stress, and create a more harmonious environment, enhancing both personal relationships and overall mental health?

Namaste,

Duane Nelson

Duane Nelson

Ultrajourney Insight is an Anacortes Washington-based non-profit organization providing mindfulness & well-being services designed to ignite the adventure of a lifetime. The founder, Duane Nelson, is a writer, speaker, and teacher with four decades of parenting, wilderness, & international technology leadership. His professional insights come from chemical engineering and automation leadership at Philips, Intel, and Amazon. His adventure insights flow from ultramarathons, mountaineering, canyoneering, and adventure racing in Nepal, Alaska, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Mexico, British Columbia and Alberta.

https://ultrajourneyinsight.org
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