How Happiness Can Affect Your Emotions, Health and Fitness

Research in the field of sports shows that happy athletes perform better and are healthier than unhappy athletes. In some ways, that may sound obvious, but not so obvious are the parallels we then drew between sports and personal relationships. 

We found the same relationship in high-performance or high-stress arenas outside of sport!  Research has shown that the primary difference between frequently sick and rarely sick employees was their appraisal of troublesome situations.  The frequently sick groups perceived more threats and more distress and unhappiness in their lives. 

Several studies, most notably, Robert Rose’s work at Boston University School of Medicine, have shown that employee health is powerfully linked to job satisfaction.  The lower the morale and the more intense the dissatisfaction and unhappiness, the greater the probability of illness.

There are very strong chemical forces within your brain making you seek out certain types of food that you do need in balance within your body.  I’ve already mentioned those that motivate us to seek out carbohydrates. 

There are chemicals that cause us to seek out fat.  For some people, it might be a Herculean feat in order to resist through behavior the temptations that are driven chemically.  But do this; we must if we want to maintain a state of optimal health.

Here are four things you should start doing immediately to improve your emotional portfolio.

1. Take a time-out.  Any type of pause to break up a hectic day will help to let some of the pressure off.  A brief period during which you simply close your eyes and repeat a favorite phrase or prayer will suffice.
2. Be active.  A study was conducted at the University of South Alabama using a group of inactive people who were enticed to begin walking or jogging three times each week for approximately 30 minutes.  After just six weeks they were less anxious and more relaxed.
3. Take control.  Not everyone is in a position to be his or her own boss, but you can assume more control over everyday stressors.  You might seek out more responsibility and become more involved in the process, whereby the work actually gets accomplished.
4. Laugh.  There is nothing more efficient to reduce blood pressure and relax muscles than having a good laugh.  It may even stimulate endorphin release within the brain.  At the very least, it's a brief diversion from the stressors in your life.

Source: IMPROVING YOUR HAPPINESS PORTFOLIO By Jim Loehr, Ed.D., and Nick Hall, Ph.D.