Are you a happy person? What do you project when you’re at the gym? If you’re like me, I put my headphones on and go into beast mode. I think I am happy but am I really? Does it matter?
This month I want to share the idea that happiness matters. February is a month where there is a lot of focus on mental health. I’m participating in a push up challenge to bring focus to the issue of men’s mental health and suicide rate. The Bible tells us: “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22). The reality is we are whole beings, and our emotional state affects our bodies. This impacts all dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, mental, relational, financial, and spiritual. This proverb demonstrates the concept of how a joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. Happiness matters!
WEALTH IS UP, HAPPINESS IS DOWN
Times have changed quite a bit in half a century. We make far more money than our ancestors did, but according to research, we aren’t any happier. It often seems that happiness is just around the corner… if we work hard enough. But happiness doesn’t come wrapped with a big red bow with car keys attached. The best path to happiness is found in several characteristics of happy people. Scientists suggests that half of our happiness is dependent on our genetic make-up, but that we can determine the other half. It’s empowering to know that our actions can have a direct effect on our level of happiness, regardless of our genetic predisposition. This is also a biblical concept as well.
Jesus said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” (John 10:10). So then, what does it look like?
Here are some attributes found in genuinely happy people. They may be just what you need to ensure you stay in a positive state and impact positively the people around you.
HAPPY PEOPLE LAUGH OFTEN
Laughter really is the best medicine for the sickening feeling of an unhappy life. Laughing out loud releases feel-good chemicals in your brain, the same chemicals found in people who have a sense of joy and well-being. Not only does laughing make you feel good, it’s also very good for your health. Researchers from the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore found that people who suffered from heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in situations in which people without heart disease would. So, if you’re interested in living a long, happy life, implement more laughable moments. Surround yourself with funny people, watch movies that make you chuckle. Even learn to take yourself less seriously and maybe even take your headphones off and share a laugh with someone at the gym.
Okay, so you’re laughing, how else can you be happier in general?
HAPPY PEOPLE HAVE A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM
Life can seem long and lonely without good friends, family or training partners around. Research says if you want to lead a happy life, you need a strong support system. The Framingham Heart Study, published in the British Medical Journal followed 4,739 individuals for 20 years from 1983 to 2003. They found that, just like a cold, happiness is contagious. James H. Fowler and Nicholas A. Christakis, the professors that led the study, began to notice that happy people clustered together and, unfortunately, so did unhappy people. The people who identified themselves as friends, family and co-workers of the happy group were more likely to be happy themselves and continued to be happy far into the future. The professors stated in their paper, “People’s happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected. This provides further justification for seeing happiness, like health, as a collective phenomenon.
‘Birds of a feather flock together’. Search for trustworthy friends that are usually in a good mood, and you’ll live a happy life regardless of how thick your wallet is.
HAPPY PEOPLE BOUNCE BACK
Resiliency is a key that unlocks the door to happiness. We know this as an important training concept but what about in your broader life? The reality is life is full of setbacks, but only discontented, gloomy people allow those setbacks to keep them down. According to Ann S. Masten, author of “Ordinary Magic: Lessons from Research on Resilience in Human Development,” people who have the ability to pick themselves up and learn and grow from their experiences breed success and happiness. Life is full of teachable moments, and you can learn valuable lessons from your mistakes. Bouncing back empowers you to face each obstacle that comes your way with confidence. So next time life lets you down, pick yourself up, brush yourself off and start over.
HAPPY PEOPLE HAVE A PURPOSE
The Bible tells us, “we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10).
It’s not an easy task to follow your heart’s calling — you must be brave, resilient and not care what others think. Joseph Campbell, author of “The Hero With a Thousand Faces,” studied different cultures, myths and religions all over the world. He found that the happiest people followed an inner calling and had a purpose in life. An inner calling is the one thing your heart cries out for, the thing you would do even if you were never paid to do it. Your purpose in life may include being the best trainer or coach ever, leading a small group or simply enjoying life so others will do the same. Regardless of what it is, the decision rests solely in your hands. No one can tell you what your heart longs for and only you will have the passion to find it. Follow your bliss!
HAPPY PEOPLE EXERCISE
I think this is likely evident to us, but it bears sharing with others around us. Working out is something happy people have at the top of their to-do lists. Researchers at Penn State University studied 190 college students over an eight-day period and 63 college students for a 14-day period. Subjects were asked to keep a daily journal of their activities, sleep patterns and how they felt. Results from both groups showed the amount of exercise they did each day had a direct effect on their satisfaction with life. They don’t call it a ‘runner’s high’ (or ‘lifter’s high’!) for nothing.
Exercise increases the amount of happy chemicals released in your brain, creating a powerful cocktail of neurotransmitters that are sure to put a smile on your face. Exercise also helps your digestion, keeps your heart healthy, aids in sleep and helps you look good. I suspect we know this but its good to remember and share with others we work with.
There you have it! Struggling with happiness? Look to apply these easy to do practices to your life and watch things change. Finding yourself in a darker place and feeling alone? Reach out to me and let’s talk. I’d be happy to walk with you as I’ve done with many others over the years. Be a happy person!
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