After a long day’s work, spending an evening with friends is an excellent way to unwind, relax, and let your brain have a respite. Pleasant conversation, tasty food, and a nice beverage allow the mind to stop worrying about work or other problems and instead focus on the present. What’s preventing you from being a generous host and cooking for your friends?
Friendship bonds are seen in nearly all realms of human social interactions, and also in highly social animal species. Disrupting these bonds can be detrimental to our health, and neuroscience is seeking to explore the biochemistry behind friendship.
Oxytocin is often known as the “mommy hormone”, but this isn’t the full truth. Oxytocin does play a major role in childbirth and breastfeeding, but males and females produce it. Oxytocin also influences functions including social bonding and sexual activity.
As a neurotransmitter in the brain, oxytocin is incredibly potent. Fortunately, we can feel the surge of oxytocin in many ways that do not involve childbirth! Spending time with your friends & people you love can give you the oxytocin high your brain craves.
Life can be stressful. There are moments when it seems like the sun will never shine again because of something occurring at work or home.
Friends are more important than ever in times like this. You may put on a merry face for strangers or even people you work with or live with, but friends know when you need them if you only reach out.
Your leadership journey will be more fulfilling with people who love you at your side. When you show generosity to others, you’ll be more likely to be respected and increase collaboration. High levels of collaboration positively impact business culture by improving relationships and nurturing people’s growth. Why not extend these benefits into your personal life?
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
J.R.R. Tolkien
You don’t need a reason to bring friends (and family!) together. And you don’t need to plan a huge affair to enjoy each others’ company. Keep it simple and enjoy yourself. Consider these tips to have a stress-free and relaxing time with friends.
Take a leap and experience how generosity can improve collaboration and relationships, opening the possibilities to new ideas, thoughts and feelings. By cooking for your friends, you show those you love that you value them and their conversation.
Citations:
1. Magon N, Kalra S. The orgasmic history of oxytocin: Love, lust, and labor. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2011;15(Suppl3):S156-S161. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.84851.
These Stories on Generosity
Founder & CEO
About my Brain Institute
Scientist, educator, author, speaker, coach, award-winning leadership specialist, filmmaker and creator of the i4 Neuroleader Model & Methodology.
Silvia's scientific background and curiosity about the human brain led her to a decade long journey of research into optimal brain functioning and the application of neuroscience in leadership and daily life. Her past and current roles have uniquely prepared her for the current undertaking, that of leadership activist & change agent.
Silvia Damiano founded The About my Brain Institute in 2009, with the purpose of democratising leadership & neuroscience. She has a passionately held belief, that leaders in our 21st century global economy and their organisations must radically change long-held ideas of what constitutes effective leadership
In her ground-breaking books ‘Leadership is Upside Down’, ‘Brain-Friendly Leadership’ and the 2018 documentary ‘Make Me A Leader’, Silvia provides both compelling evidence and explores the importance of leadership in our personal and professional lives and what it takes to develop the human behind the leader.
Silvia has worked in different countries, across many industries, helping teams and organisations improve business performance. Silvia’s clients have described her as a passionate, dynamic, a highly experienced speaker and master facilitator on the topics of Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Change, Neuroleadership & Engagement.
Silvia is passionate about leaving a legacy of well-rounded leaders who can act and decide in a way that better serves humanity. Her clients include Microsoft, Australian Stock Exchange, NSW Government, VISA, Fuji Xerox and Manpower amongst many other global companies.
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