2023-08-07 18:48:59
By Dr. David Heber, MD, Author, President of the Herbalife Institute and Member of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board
According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and CNN, an overwhelming ninety percent of American adults believe that there is a mental health crisis in the United States. All over the world, people want access to resources that can help them achieve better mental health and start on the path to inner peace, and as people strive for better mental health, it’s important to understand the impact it has. happiness in mental well-being and general health; that people themselves can create their own happiness. In fact, it is a two-way relationship. If you’re healthier, you’ll be happier, and if you’re happier, you’ll be healthier!
Happiness is a state of physical, mental and emotional well-beinghe. It can be achieved by improving physical health, as well as optimizing emotional and mental health. Following a healthy lifestyle with balanced nutrition and physical activity can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety—all of which lead to happiness. Additionally, happiness is linked to the release of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters associated with brain health.
Mental Health today is a topic that cannot be missing from any of the agendas. That is why we find ourselves before the perfect opportunity to evaluate our own mental health, evaluate what makes us happy, share what happiness means to us with those around us and how we can find it. By talking openly with others regarding how we perceive happiness, we may discover that much of what makes us happy is not only linked to better health and well-being, but is entirely within our control.
What makes people happy?
According to one ipsos survey, Most people see health and well-being (both physical and mental), family (partner/spouse and children), and having a purpose as what brings them “the greatest happiness.” Then come living conditions, feeling safe and in control, being in nature, having a meaningful job, and having more financial security.
While the path to better health and its relationship to happiness can be relatively straightforward, finding our purpose is also a personal journey that requires us to dig deep and get to know our true selves. Positive psychology, the field that studies optimizing emotional and mental health as well as happiness, found that people who have a purpose tend to be happier.
Here are some proactive tips to guide you on your way to creating your own happiness and achieving better overall health in the long run.
They feed each other
science indicates that healthy eating also leads to happiness. The state of physical well-being is determined, to a large extent, by how you feed your body. The body is a ship that can function optimally if it is well cared for. We do this by adopting daily habits of practicing good nutrition and a healthy, active lifestyle.
Get regular physical activity
Exercising regularly and maintaining an active lifestyle can be beneficial for the body and mind. When we exercise, our muscles and brain take advantage of increased blood flow, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the brain cells. Dopamine pathways in the brain are also stimulated when we activate the pleasure center. For this reason, exercise is used to treat mood disorders, depression, and addictive behaviors such as overeating.
Make time for relaxation
There is a reason behind the worldwide interest in taking care of yourself, making time to relax and recharge is one of the best ways to find happiness. The most effective way to do this is by activating the relaxation response. This theory indicates that relaxation has numerous effects on the body, including lowering blood pressure, lowering the pulse, and quieting the mind. The step-by-step process for activating the relaxation response includes: 1) Sitting quietly in a private place, 2) Relaxing the muscles from head to toe by contracting and relaxing each muscle, 3) Concentrating on breathing, 4) Breathe deeply; and 5) Think of a relaxing image like the waves of the sea. A daily practice of just 20 minutes can recharge your mind and help you sleep better at night.
find your purpose
A key principle of Positive Psychology is finding our “why” or our purpose. Happiness truly comes from living the life one chooses because it fulfills one’s personal purpose. To find it, consider these four steps: 1) Find a passion or something you love, 2) State your mission or what you think the world needs most of, 3) Work for what you can pay for, 4) Trust that you know what you do good.
Once you have worked through these four steps, the purpose will be revealed to you. For me and my colleagues at the Herbalife Nutrition Institute, the purpose is to promote a world-class health and wellness company and community around the world, giving people the tools they need to live better lives.
be thankful
Reframing the mind can go a long way, instead of complaining regarding what is wrong in your life, focus on the good things, big or small. While this is easier said than done, research in psychology indicates that focusing on the good things in life and expressing gratitude will make us feel happier. Keeping a gratitude journal or a short gratitude list every day and giving thanks for everything you have can help lift your spirits.
Focus on what they can control
All of us have a circle of influence and a circle of concern. The Circle of Concern is made up of all external factors outside of our control, while the Circle of Influence includes things that we can control, such as personal habits. Take a proactive approach and work on what you can change, instead of worrying regarding what you can’t. Taking responsibility for personal habits and achievements will increase confidence and a sense of happiness. Having a proactive mind allows them to focus on change, instead of remaining immobile and paralyzed by worry and anxiety. One of the best ways to improve happiness is to develop healthy habits in all aspects of life, including eating a balanced diet and leading a healthy, active lifestyle.
Happiness is not accidental or something that just happens, it is something that you can make happen. Happiness is a feeling of physical, emotional and spiritual well-being that when one finds it will give them a lasting sense of joy. Use this month to consciously create your own happiness by implementing habits that will have a positive impact on your physical and mental health and will allow you to maintain a state of inner peace.
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