Blog
#66 The Happiness – Health Link
In addition to getting enough
sleep, leaving abusive relationships, eating high quality food, protecting
yourself from temperature and climate extremes, receiving help when you have
suffered an injury or accident, staying out of jail, moving or exercising as
much as is appropriate for you, and other self-care activities, it
is helpful to maintain a happy outlook on life to stay healthy.
According to many scientific
studies and also according to “Positive Psychology: Harnessing the power of
happiness”, published by Harvard University Hospital, positive attitudes and
emotions are linked with good health and longevity. Maintaining a positive outlook can be
challenging, since it involves not allowing emotions to fluctuate based on
situations such as relationships, work, politics, the stock market, or the
weather. Instead, one must intentionally
decide to have a positive attitude in life and do things to support those
emotions and attitudes.
One way to support your happiness
involves seeking out enjoyable experiences, i.e. going for a walk in the park,
cooking a favorite dish, or reading inspirational literature. Another way is to pursue activities that are
fully engaging and satisfying. These activities will vary from person to
person; a common denominator is that when engaged in these activities, you will
lose track of time, will forget about worries, aches and pains, and will feel
like you are “in the flow.” A third way
to cultivate positive attitudes and emotions is to do things that you feel are
good and worthwhile. What is good and
worthwhile can vary greatly, but some examples would be volunteer work for the
environment or helping those less fortunate.
Of course, it helps to be healthy
in the first place – that will help you feel happier, but just as it is
possible to love and work intentionally, it is also possible to choose to be
happy.
This blog’s offer: contact me if you want some ideas about
positive activities or volunteer opportunities. Also, it looks like our Nature
Writing Group will be going out for a half-day hike along the Skokie River
Trail in mid-September. Included along
this trail are swathes of undisturbed, centuries-old prairie. Come join us or go on your own.
