The US Surgeon General describes happiness as "The longterm emotional wellbeing that comes from fulfillment, purpose, connectedness and love."
Here, at Everyday Vitality, we whole-heartedly agree.
Why does happiness matter?
We've seen, when someone is experiencing a chronic lack of joy in their daily life, chances increase for a health issue or emotional event to crop up.
Therefore, incorporating joy, fun, silliness, spontaneity, and play into our daily lives is essential for our health & wellbeing. That's why Jacques asks almost every patient everyday "Did you have fun today?"
Further, Dr. Murthy's research tells us happy people have:
lower levels of cortisol (a major stress hormone)
healthier heart rates & blood pressures
stronger immune systems
lower levels of inflammatory markers
longer life expectancy
So! What can you do to start increasing your happiness today? Here are some research-proven exercises you can to do to ratchet up your happiness gauge a few notches:
Write down 5 things you're grateful for.
For a person you're grateful for, identify the quality you appreciate about them. Recognize a quality about yourself that you appreciate when you're with them.
Look at yourself in the eyes, in the mirror, everyday and tell yourself, "I love you." Say this with meaning from your heart. Feel your love as you say this. Love who you see. You are worthy.
Flowers! Give yourself and others a bouquet of flowers weekly! Give with no expectation of something in return. And place flowers in rooms where social ease is wanted. And rooms you want less tension in.
Try and do the first two everyday and the third daily or weekly, for at least thirty days. It is effort. But it's fun effort, and for a valuable cause: To improve your health, happiness, and quality of life. Enjoy! Research shows when we develop more & more gratitude, genuine happiness automatically appears.
[Exercise 1 is inspired by Dr. Murthy's research. Exercise 2 is based on Jessica's experience with clients. Exercise 3 is based on Louis Hay's clinical experience and publications. Exercise 3 stems from the Rutger's University Flower Study.]
