Your Health is Your Wealth ... by Dr. Lisa Ramsackal

By Dr. Lisa Ramsackal

As I get older, I think more and more about happiness. Quality of life becomes more of a focus and happiness plays a big part in living a long and healthy life.

I am fortunate, grateful and blessed to have a good career, a loving family and a nice home. There is much to be happy for. Yet happiness is much more than that. Rather, it’s more about who we are, our character, and our beliefs and values. So when we think about happiness, we really need to take a good look at ourselves.

Happiness is subjective. What makes me happy may be different than what makes you happy. So how do we determine where we fall on the “happiness spectrum”? Here are a few key signs psychologies look for when assessing happiness:

• Feeling like you are living the life you wanted • Feeling that you are living life with a sense of meaning and purpose • Feeling satisfied with your life • Going with the flow and a willingness to take life as it comes • Feeling that the conditions of your life are good • Feeling that you have accomplished (or will accomplish) what you want in life • Feeling more positive than negative • Being open to new ideas and experiences • Practicing self-care and treating yourself with kindness and compassion • Experiencing gratitude • Enjoying positive, healthy relationships with other people • Wanting to share your happiness and joy with others1

You may not be checking off all of the above. But ask yourself, “How many signs can I identify with”? If you’re checking off most of them, your happiness is likely in abundance. However, if the check marks are few, you may want to do some self-analysis and how you can work towards a better response. happiness. Keeping negative thoughts and beliefs away can help improve your mental well-being and feeling of happiness.

Happiness comes from within. You have control over how you can cultivate your own happiness. And remember, everyone deserves to be happy, including you!

Happiness is closely tied to factors relating to your work, your closest relationships, and taking care of yourself physically and emotionally2 .

Why is being happy important? According to researchers, happiness lowers your risk for cardiovascular disease, lowers your blood pressure, enables better sleep, improves your diet, allows you to maintain a normal body weight through regular exercise and reduces stress.3

In addition, researchers have found that happy people are more successful, are better at reaching goals, are healthier, live longer, have better relationships, and learn better4 .

So, how do we fill up our happiness bucket? Here are a few simple ways you can cultivate happiness:

1. Show gratitude. Having a daily gratitude journal can help to improve your positive feelings and overall sense of well-being.

2. Cultivate strong and healthy relationships. Having social support is important to perceived well-being. Having a few close and trusted friends or family to confide in and provide support can have a meaningful impact on happiness.

3. Find meaning and purpose. Many people find happiness in their careers and family, yet they still feel like something is missing. If you’re not feeling fulfilled you may be questioning your meaning or purpose in life. A sense of purpose can lead to an improved overall sense of well-being, fulfilment and happiness.

4. Practice daily self-care. We know that proper nutrition, hydration and sleep are essential to daily function. Exercise should be considered another essential. Exercise is known to boost mood and ward off depression. As little as 10 minutes per day can help to improve overall happiness.

5. Remove negative thoughts and beliefs. Our mind and body are connected. Meaning, that what or how we think can influence how we physically feel. Harboring negative thoughts can impact your mood and lower feeling of

References: 1. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-ishappiness-4869755 2. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/howhappiness-impacts-health 3. https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/howhappiness-impacts-health 4. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/happy-life.html

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