Field happiness to improve health

By Debby Kowit   

Ah, baseball; America’s favorite pastime,” I thought as I stepped out of the car and joined the cheering crowd.  I think happiness reigns at any baseball field, and it’s where I go sometimes to shake off stress and refresh my mental outlook.

Learning how to “get happy” and more importantly how to maintain a happy existence is a priority to me.  Long ago I noticed that when I was feeling inadequate or vulnerable, stress brought on a negative outcome such as illness.  But, when I defused the stress, I remained resistant to illness.  When I first took on the responsibilities of raising a family and owning a home while working full-time, I found I was contracting a cold regularly, about every 6 weeks.  The cycle stopped as a result of what I would call spiritual growth because I had begun a regular practice of reading the Bible and prayerfully pondering what I read.  I found this gave me increased confidence that I could accomplish whatever was needed.  So, I found time to pursue spiritual ideas in the oddest places; in my car, at the baseball field and even while preparing meals.  The colds stopped.

Maybe you are wondering, as others have, which actually came first, health or happiness?  To me, there is no contest, and it seems a growing number of health researchers agree that happiness perpetuates physical health.

Ed Diener, University of Illinois professor emeritus of psychology, regarding the findings in his article titled, “Happy People Live Longer: Subjective Well-Being Contributes to Health and Longevity” , reported in an interview that "…the overwhelming majority of studies support the conclusion that happiness is associated with health and longevity."

Pursuing happiness has led me to consider a wide variety of resources.  Simple efforts like exercise or laughter have brought temporary relief of stress. Taking time each day for growing my understanding of the divine fortifies my resilience to the emotional and physical ups and downs of a typical day. For example, the Bible says, “But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.  They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.” (The Message, Isaiah 40:31)

Returning to my recent ballgame experience, I should note that I forced myself to head over to the ball field that day. I was feeling absolutely exhausted and even depressed over the length of my “To Do” list and the looming consequence of not getting it done in a timely manner.  I knew the baseball game setting would bring a measure of the joy of kids at play. It was also a place where I could simply sit and pray.  By the time I left the game that day, I felt uplifted and had some new ideas on how to accomplish my “TO DO” list.  The fatigue I felt earlier was gone; I felt well and at peace.

That day I made a deliberate choice to search for a spiritual answer to stress and its attendant unhappiness.  The positive result was not only an answer to my dilemma, but a feeling of genuine happiness – and health - from head to toe.

Debby Kowit blogs on the link between spirituality and wellness and the positive impact of healthy thinking on our lives.  She is the media and legislative liaison for Christian Science in Pennsylvania.