Is Happiness Healthy? As it happens, happiness has a remarkably positive effect on health. While this knowledge has been with humanity since at least the beginning of recorded history, you might wonder why everyone hasn’t latched onto this health-giving gem of wisdom. Despite advances in labor saving technologies, reductions in worldwide poverty, and a plethora of entertainment diversions people are not happier today than in antiquity. What research has shown is that positive relationships and an attitude of gratefulness are the factors having the greatest effect on our level of happiness. Material well being beyond the essentials doesn’t seem to be of much help. While positive relationships are an advantage, the biggest factor affecting happiness is the ability to feel and express gratitude. One difficulty in attaining a state of gratitude is the mind’s tendency to dwell on negative thoughts. Some would claim this is the result of living in an age of unrealistic expectations coupled with a sense of entitlement and material indulgence. Other relevant factors include genetics and lifestyle. As for genetics, about 50 percent of happiness is believed to be genetically predetermined, with 10% due to life circumstances, and 40 percent the result of our personal outlook. The good news is that we can learn to be happier if we have the right personal outlook. Fortunately, due to the effects of epigenetics, we know that many genes that affect happiness turn on and off depending on our state of health. With modest changes in lifestyle, the effects of genetics can often be modified. Complicating the path to happiness is a consumer- oriented world that ceaselessly reminds us about what we don’t have. Without the defense of gratitude, it’s easy for this barrage of messages to leave us feeling anxious and even depressed. In contrast, when we count our blessings, our mind better blocks the distraction of life and allows a happier state of mind. Unfortunately, what seems so easy can be challenging without a plan of action. If greater happiness is in your plan, then consider adopting one of the following ideas. • Gratitude sharing – Begin by picking a daily event like dinner time, carpool ride to school, bedtime, etc. Then make a few moments of that time an opportunity to share thoughts of gratefulness. For children, this may begin with material blessings. With more maturity, thoughts of gracefulness usually evolve towards gratefulness for others and the greater good. • Gratitude Journaling – A habit of daily writing a few things you are grateful for can be used when the opportunity to share with others isn’t available. This works better for adults than for children. Keeping the journal by the bedside for journaling before bedtime is one method. Just keep the journal in a place where it’s handy enough to help you make journaling a habit. If getting better at turning lemons (the disappointments of life) into lemonade (greater happiness) would improve your life, consider a lifestyle upgrade along with a gratitude upgrade as part of your New Year’s resolutions. Each day, we have an opportunity to teach others about gratitude through our words and actions. Often when we begin to feel unappreciated it’s a sign that we haven’t been demonstrating our appreciation for others. Younger members of our families are often watching, listening and learning from us. If they see us practicing gratitude, it will be more natural for them to do the same. Gratitude is so powerful! The daily practice of gratitude can bring happiness to the gloomiest situation. When it’ s given with a hug, that’s about as good as life can get. Nancy Neighbors, MD Huntsville, Alabama Reframe Your Holiday Holidays can be a stressful time without an attitude of gratefulness to support us. Sometimes our relationship with fellow workers, close friends and family seem to be the source of our greatest stress. While you can’t change your family, you can change how you look at them. Before your next encounter, reframe your expectations with the thought, “I expect nothing, and will be grateful for everything.” No doubt you are thinking, “Gee, that would be hard.” Just remember, the alternative is a return to what didn’t work. To make it a bit easier look more closely at why reframing to an attitude of gratitude is important. First, if we remain attached to unattainable wants we have, in effect, chosen to suffer. Secondly, if we don’t change our perspective we may miss an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding that can help constructively resolve our situation. Another reframing strategy is to assume the best intentions on the part of the person you have a conflict with. Alternatively, give the person the benefit of a doubt that they are doing the best they can at this time. It’s easy to fall into the mental trap of assuming people don’t care when it’s more likely they are just too caught up in their own lives to act reasonably. If wondering why you should be the one that has to take the high road it’s because you have an opportunity to gain happiness and nothing to lose. That’s called a smart deal. Our close relationships can bring us happiness and sadness. That’s the bargain we make. To maintain friends and family that stand by us we find ways to reframe, reassess, and rebalance our differences. That’s the nature of human relationships. We take it all - the good and the not so good. When done from a mindset of gratitude we gain happiness, love, and unconditional support. Life is not for the faint-hearted. Life can be amazing, unfair, sad, messy and even magnificent. What brings out the best in us is the lens we view life through. When we look through a lens of gratitude, it just looks a lot better. How To Grow Gratitude Tanmeet Sethi, MD began the study of gratitude to help her cope with a family tragedy. She now shares her experiences and helpful suggestions on Facebook and through her free newsletters. Her goal is to help you develop the skill of gratitude, no matter what life hands you. For more ideas read, “A Grateful Family is a Happy Family - 5 Gratitude Practices” by Audrey Monke. Perhaps you are thinking, “I’m not the religious type, maybe this gratitude thing’s not for me.” If so, then rest assured that the positive value of gratitude has been demonstrated by scientist in hundreds of studies. For a short list of these benefits read, “The 31 Benefits of Gratitude You Didn’t Know About: How Gratitude Can Change Your Life.” |