Happiness and Health

This week I read an article in Diabetes magazine about the health benefits of being happy. We all love the way happiness makes us feel, but here's another reason to seek it out!

 

Face the Facts:

Negative emotions can increase cholesterol and inflammation, and even promote heart disease. Meanwhile, optimism can increase antioxidants, slow aging, lower blood pressure, improve overall heart health, relieve stress, and ease depression.

 

 

7 Secrets to True Happiness

1. Volunteer. Studies show helping others can stimulate the happy hormone oxytocin.
2. Perform everyday acts of kindness. Treat others the way you would like to be treated and be the change you want to see in the world. It really can be contagious.
3. Wish others well. When your mind goes blank, it tends to think negative. Consciously think kind thoughts about others to push out stress and pessimism.
4. Pursue gratitude. When you're down, forget what's going wrong and remember what's going right. Write down all the things you're grateful for; they probably outnumber the bad.  
5. Build relationships. Spend time with friends and family. Really communicate with those you care about even when it takes work.
6. Get outside. Spend time away from technology every now and then; nature is a proven mood-enhancer.
7. Forgive. Holding on to pain leaves little room for optimism. Most people don't mean you harm, but those who do are probably hurting worse than you are. Forgive them anyway and wish them well.

          Neithercott, T. (2014, July). The Pursuit of Happiness. Diabetes. pp. 40-45.