Happiness benefits everyone. While some find it easy to be happy, others find it challenging. These powerful reasons may help you embrace happiness.
How Happiness Benefits You: Powerful Reasons to Embrace It
Some happiness benefits are apparent. When you laugh, you feel good. But why? Many psychological and physiological factors come into play, yet all that matters is how you feel. Still, here are some more powerful reasons you may want to welcome and experience happiness in your life.
Be Healthy, Be Happy
It’s no secret that good health and happiness are closely linked. When you’re healthy, every day can offer promise. Besides, happy people are less depressed and have fewer health problems. But, even better, they live longer. These are good reasons to be healthy and happy.
How Happiness Benefits the Mind: It May Slow Mental Decline
If you desire to age gracefully, look no further than increasing your happiness. Find ways to add being happy to your daily routine. Research shows having a happy life outlook can potentially slow cognitive decline.
Happiness Protects Against Emotional Effects of Pain
As people age, they may experience more physical pain. Some acute pain becomes chronic. Negative emotional consequences often accompany this. However, research now reveals that those who are happier overall seem less bothered by the emotional side-effects of constant pain.
- In other words, happiness serves both to protect against and cope with depression and other negative mood states from pain.
- Furthermore, happy people tend to feel pain with less intensity and experience better functionality.
Happiness Benefits Your Ability to Protect Against Stress
Daily life is stressful, no matter who you are or what you do. Many find ways to cope with stress to ensure a better overall quality of life. Yet perhaps the easiest way to reduce stress is to do things that make you happy.
- Happiness comes from dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins released in your body. You can increase them with exercise, being outside in sunlight, and other lifestyle behaviors.
Happy People Find Meaning, Purpose, and Joy in Life
This is my personal favorite. When you’re happy, you see more good than bad. It isn’t that you ignore or deny what’s wrong, but you’re better able to deal with it positively. This helps you find your life’s purpose and meaning. Most of all, happiness allows you to experience joy.
- When you’re down, talk with someone you love. The bond you share bolsters and renews your emotional strength. Your mood lifts, and you feel better.
- Besides, sharing your happiness with others is contagious. Imagine how much better the world would be if everyone paid forward with kindness. This is how humanity makes progress.
- Finally, I believe we’re hard-wired to experience happiness. In the evolution of man, learning to adapt and thrive meant finding comfort and joy in simple things. Furthermore, isn’t this the definition of happiness? What better way to live?
