Beginner's Fitness Programs

We often hear that being happy is the easiest way to being healthy. Scientific studies confirm this. A recent review of 8 different types of studies regarding happiness and well-being found that feeling positive about your life, rather than stressed out or depressed, is a major factor of longevity and better health among healthy people. The study admitted that although happiness itself may not prevent or cure diseases, it definitely promotes general health, and hence, longevity.

Many of us already know this, thank you, but how can we be happy all the time? Many people are “happy”, but not all the time. We get stressed out from work, we get depressed, we get angry, and we get pessimistic about the future.

There are millions of things suggested to stay “happy” most of the time, and it differs from one person to another. However, there are a few things we can all do easily:

First, many people are unable to shake off past regrets. This seems to be a major cause of unhappiness. According to one study done at Concordia University, inability to let go of regret negatively affects physical health. One reason people cannot get rid of regret is that we compare ourselves to others who appear much more well-off than us. As long as we compare them to us, the regret stays with us and we cannot move on. This study also showed that if we compare ourselves to someone who is worse-off than ourselves, we are able to forgo regret. Think about the 20,000+ people who died in the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Can’t you feel how lucky you are? (Indeed, we are really lucky).

Second, many people are expecting something in the future to bring happiness. You think a certain thing will bring happiness to your life, but quite often it does not – even if you get it. According to a study done at the University of Liege in Belgium, people fail to recognize the key role played by their own personality when they try to determine future emotional reactions. In another words, knowing yourself well can bring happiness.

Third, help others. People who help others are happier than those who don’t. This doesn’t mean that you need to fly out to Africa to help children who lost their parents in civil wars. You just need to do something small – but often. For example, you can lend a hand if you see an older person is struggling to climb stairs or pick up trash and throw it in a trash bin.

Fourth, you should be “selfish.” Doesn’t this contradict to my third tip? That depends on how you define “selfish.” What I mean here is that you need to take care of yourself first. If you suffer a heart attack and are paralyzed, how you can help others? You would need lots of help which can make you miserable. Take care of your own health first, your finances, your relationships, your work. People who are in reasonable control of their lives are happier.

Fifth, don’t be a control freak! Researchers found that people who try to control everything tend to be aggressive toward others, and easily get frustrated and angry. Regardless of effort, there is so much that is beyond our control. If you feel angry towards others, you can never be happy.

Sixth, laugh. Do you know about India’s famous laughing lunch meetings? People get together and just laugh. They believe that laughing is good for the health. Indeed, according to a University of Leeds study, laughing stimulates blood flow in the body and accelerates healing. And it makes you happy, too!

Sources
Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 2011
Making Up for Lost Opportunities: The Protective Role of Downward Social Comparisons for Coping With Regrets Across Adulthood. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2011; 37 (2): 215
Personality Neglect: The Unforeseen Impact of Personal Dispositions on Emotional Life. Psychological Science, 2010; 21 (12): 1783
Grapes of Wrath: The Angry Effects of Exerting Self-Control. Journal of Consumer Research, October 2011

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