Who can listen to Pharrell Williams’ song, Happy, without tapping their feet, perhaps moving the upper body, or even dancing when Pharrell sings in his falsetto voice, “Can’t nothing bring me down cause I’m too high?” For me the video brings to mind my happy childhood when I was a little girl free to jump and skip on the sidewalks of Pittsburgh.
An added plus though, is that being happy is not only good for your physical health but also good for your mental health. Cynical distrust, that is, believing that no one cares what happens to you or that it’s safer not to trust anybody, is associated with a higher risk for dementia, a new study reported in Medscape by Pauline Anderson shows. Whether or not being happy will ward off dementia is still being tested but for the time being, keeping yourself happy to ward off dementia is worth a try.
A shortcut to being happy?
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EXERCISE: It releases proteins and endorphins that make you feel happier. It also helps you relax, increases your brain power, improves your body image and may help you lose weight.
SLEEP: You need your sleep to be happy. Given the way the brain works, sleep-deprived people remember all the gloomy stuff but tend to forget the good stuff. Get your sleep and you’ll be remembering all the good things in life.
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FRIENDS AND FAMILY: People tend to think that more money will bring happiness but recent studies show that increases in income buy very little in terms of being happy. The Longevity Project’s Terman study found that relationships were a far more important factor in living long, happy lives.
FRESH AIR: Spending time outside in good weather boosts positive mood, broadened thinking and improves working memory says Shawn Achor in The Happiness Advantage. Being outdoors, near the sea, on a warm, sunny weekend after is the perfect spot for most, according to a study in the University of Sussex, UK. Sounds good to me. On the other hand, that study also found that happiness is maximized at 57 degrees which I find a bit cold but … maybe for some.
HELPING OTHERS: Helping others for at least two hours a week seems to be an enriching experience to our lives. Also, money spent on concerts and group dinners out brought far more pleasure than material purchases like shoes, televisions, or expensive watches. Spending money on other people also boosted happiness.
SMILE: People who smile as a result of cultivating positive thoughts improve their mood and withdraw less. It’s important to practice smiling where you use your eye sockets as well. Among other things it can reduce distress and alleviate pain.
PLAN A TRIP: Planning a vacation or weekend break can improve happiness. The highest spike in happiness came during the planning stage, enjoying the sense of anticipation. Even if you can’t vacation now, it’s good to have one on the calendar to look forward to.
MEDITATE: It clears your mind and calms you down. Studies show that right after meditation, we experience feelings of calm and contentment, as well as heightened awareness and empathy. They even show that regular meditation can permanently rewire the brain to raise levels of happiness.
BE THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT: My favorite Bible verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:16 which says Be happy, Be thankful for what you’ve got, and Pray Incessantly. Practicing gratitude can increase both happiness and life satisfaction. You can always find someone who has more than you but you can always someone who has less. Wherever you are it’s always good to remember how fortunate you are to be there.
The source for much of this information can be found at www.social-consciousness.com
Norma Nixon Schofield
Always Best Care of Western CT is an in-home non-medical care agency but we are able to help even when in-home care is not the best option. We offer personalized counseling services which help match clients with Assisted Living Communities when transitioning is a better option. We willingly escort clients to tour the individual facilities to assure there is no pressure or missed information. . For the full story visit our site at: www.AlwaysBestCareWesternCT.com or call us at (203) 262 6170.
