Most health recommendations focus on four things—eat right, don’t smoke, exercise and avoid obesity.
After recently researching happiness and its effects on your health, perhaps it’s time to add being happy to that list as well.
Did you know that happy people live longer and have better health than unhappy people?
There is a powerful link between emotional and physical health. Good feelings have healing effects on our body and immunity and the rate we heal from injury and illness has so much to do with our mindset.
Countless studies on the subject have proven those with a positive outlook and satisfied with life live a 19 per cent longer lifespan, are at one third reduced risk of having a heart attack, are more resilient to colds and have fewer symptoms even if they contracted the virus.
While pessimism, anxiety, stress, depression and lack of enjoyment of daily activities are associated with higher rates of disease, there’s a 60 per cent higher chance to have type 2 diabetes, suppressed immune system, higher blood pressure, a jump in stress hormones, hair loss, disordered eating and sleeping, higher risk of heart attack and a shorter life expectancy.
So what are some practical ways can you become happier and healthier?
Choosing to look on the bright side for happiness is a choice.
Positive thoughts lead to positive emotions. Positive emotions make you healthy and happy.
Think about the path of inner happiness.
Happiness research has found that happiness comes 90 per cent from within and only 10 per cent by external things (job, money, relationships).
Do good. Those who regularly do good things for others are 24 per cent happier than those who only live for themselves.
Spiritual centering. Create a philosophy of life that includes these five principles—love, peace, truth, strength and joy. If we live with wisdom according to these five principles, we grow into happiness, into enlightenment.
Laugh. Those with a good sense of humor raise their positivity by 33 per cent. We should foster our sense of humour and learn to not take things so seriously. We should learn to laugh at ourselves. Those who are able to do so can live lighter and brighter.
Love yourself. Recognize the positive attributes you possess and focus on them. Love and accept yourself for the unique individual you are.
Stay connected socially and be around happy and positive people. Connection is what provides value and meaning to our lives and people with strong social ties were found to be healthier and as age increases, tend to live longer.
The benefits of deep relationships extend to marriage as well.
Being in a long-term relationship decreases the risk of depression, suicide, and substance abuse.
One study involving almost 6,000 people found that marriage led to increased longevity while never marrying was the strongest predictor of premature death.
For myself, I have never been happier as I announce my recent marriage to my best friend and love, Sandy Moger, on Sept 20.
I will end my column today with this quote by Thea Kristine May: “Appreciate every little beautiful moment in every day of your life. Give it a try and you’ll see the world from another perspective.”
