Happiness & Your Health

Research has shown that happiness can directly produce good effects on your health. For many people, happiness can be an elusive thing whereas, some try to achieve it by filling their lives with professional success and expensive toys. On the other hand, there are people who find happiness by living a purposeful and altruistic life.

Your level of happiness is not entirely prearranged by your genes; however, genes do play a part just as they play a part in your general health. We all know that poor health has an impact on almost every aspect of your life, your image, your independence, your personal relationships, and your ability to work and carry out basic daily activities. It's definitely no surprise that when your health takes a hit, your happiness does as well!

Good feelings, scientists now know, have healing effects on the body, and researchers studying everything from the flu to HIV continue to find eye-opening evidence that a person's mind-set can influence his or her immunity and the rate at which he or she heals from injuries and illness.

Do Your Happiness Homework:

• Live every moment by being totally invested in life right now and not in the past or future. Concentrate on the "now", stop worrying because it just makes you older.
• Banish negative thinking from your life because it only makes your life more toilsome.
• Be introspective and avoid coasting through life without assessing yourself. Take note of what's good in your life.
• Treat your body with respect. Exercise, play a sport, eat healthy and indulge in moderation.
• Identify and use your individual strengths, this will help you feel energized and empowered.
• Practice gratitude. This will help you shift your overall outlook on life when you come from a perspective of gratitude.

Keep in mind that happiness is a personal journey of self discovery. Experimenting with key happiness factors will help you find the combination that works for you.