Health and Happiness健康与幸福

Its easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and lose sight of what makes you happy. Really happy. But making sure your happiness meter is giving optimal readings can provide many health benefits.Happy people have younger hearts, younger arteries, and a younger RealAge. Happy people recover more quickly from surgery, cope better with pain, have lower blood pressure, and have longer life expectancy than unhappy people.Studies also suggest that happy people may have stronger immune systems - theyre less likely to get colds and flu viruses. And when they do, their symptoms tend to be mild.Not surprisingly, happy people are better at looking after their health, too. When peoples happiness levels improve, so do their health behaviors. They exercise more, wear sunscreen, and go for regular checkups.How to Get ThereEveryone wants to be happy, and the benefits are clearly plentiful. But the fact is that people arent always great at predicting what will make them happy. If its long-term happiness youre after, you may need to learn a few new tricks.What Is Happiness?We all know when were happy and when were not. But ask a roomful of people what makes them happy and youre likely to get a wide range of responses, from watching the sunset or spending time with good friends to finding a great shoe sale or winning the office football pool.Defining happiness is no simple feat.In an effort to narrow the definition, researchers have devised a series of questionnaires to measure life satisfaction, positive mood, and subjective well-being. Some scientists are even beginning to use brain imaging to better understand the physiology of happiness. And economists have jumped on the happiness bandwagon, too, hoping to calculate the value of happiness within a sociopolitical context.So what have they discovered? What makes for a happy life?Its Partly Your GenesYour level of happiness is not entirely predetermined by your genes, but genes do play a part, just as they play a part in your general health. Some researchers estimate that as much as 40% to 50% of a persons capacity for happiness may be genetically predetermined. And although that means some lucky people may start off with a greater propensity for happiness, its no guarantee theyll lead a charmed life. Fortunately, evidence suggests that even the gloomiest of us can learn to be happier.And learn we must. Left to our own devices, we tend to focus our energies on things that will give us the greatest instant pleasure. Even when we know better.Test Your Happiness Know-HowThink you know the secret to happiness? Check the happiness accuracy of some of these common answers. You might be surprised. A Massage and Pamper Day at the SpaAahhh, yes. A day at the spa is not only pleasurable, its also a great de-stressor. And keeping your stress levels under control will have a positive effect on your physical and emotional well-being. Winning a Million DollarsWinning a million bucks will make you instantly wealthy, thats for sure. But happy? Not so much. Read on to find out why money wont buy you bliss. Renting a Beach House for a Week with Your Closest FriendsSpending quality time with good friends is one of the key components of a happy life. And taking time off to relax will also keep your stress levels low. But dont wait for rare opportunities like this to get together with your friends. Losing 10 PoundsIts important to your health and happiness to maintain a healthy weight. But yo-yo dieting and lose-weight-quick scams are likely to starve you of the happiness youre after. World PeaceA noble aspiration, but you might want to start smallsetting unrealistic goals may be a happiness deterrent. Do your part for peace by getting involved with an organization that promotes nonviolent conflict resolution or another peace-promoting issue you feel strongly about. Helping others and feeling a sense of purpose in life is linked to greater happiness. Finally Getting the Garage OrganizedIt may not be glamorous but it certainly is gratifying. Cleaning out the clutter and creating a usable space will give you a sense of achievement thats guaranteed to boost your well-being. Having Superhero PowersSuperhero powers would be super cool, without a doubt. But they might cause more stress than happiness. Plus, its never going to happen. By focusing on more attainable goals, youll be more likely to make them come true and that will make you happy. A Long Walk (or Run) in the ParkPhysical activity is a great way to instantly increase your sense of well-being. And by incorporating exercise into your daily routine youll be both healthier and happier in the long run. A Sharp Rise in the Value of Your InvestmentsIts wise to invest in your future but not so wise to link your happiness to the stock market. Contribute emotional capital to your relationships and personal growth and you may see a steady rise in your happiness levels.Read on to find out more about what makes people happy, what doesnt, and what you can do to live a full and happy life.Health and HappinessStudies show that a persons health is one of the strongest predictors of happiness. But the link between health and happiness is complex. Research shows little correlation between a persons objective health - as defined by medical assessment - and happiness. Its our subjective health - how we view our health - that affects our well-being. So is happiness all in your head?Not necessarily. For example, adverse changes in health do have a negative impact on happiness levels, at least temporarily. Poor health has the potential to significantly affect almost every aspect of your life: your independence, your self-image, your personal relationships, your ability to work and carry out basic daily activities. So its no surprise that when your health takes a hit, your happiness does as well.But people are resilient. We become accustomed to new life circumstances, good or bad. We adapt. Within a month or two of an adverse health event, most people have gravitated back toward the level of happiness they enjoyed before their health took a turn for the worse.When the change in health status is severe, however - for example, involving chronic pain or multiple disabilities - the impact on happiness can be long lasting.And both physical health and emotional health influence happiness. Mood disorders diminish quality of life even more than chronic physical ailments, such as arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes.What You Can DoDo all that you can to maintain a healthy lifestyle and youll be well on your way to a long life rich in happiness.Be your healthiest and happiest by eating a balanced diet with lots of fruit and veggies, keeping stress levels to a minimum, getting regular checkups, wearing sunscreen, laughing often, moderating alcohol intake, getting plenty of exercise, and not smoking. Your RealAge Plan will provide more personalized detail on this.Exercise not only helps keep you healthy but also keeps you happy. In general, increasing the amount of physical activity in your life increases well-being, whether its yoga, weight training, or daily walks around the neighborhood. One study of nearly 7,000 men and women revealed that walking, jogging, or running between 11 and 19 miles per week was optimal for improving emotional well-being.But dont overdo it or underdo it. Moderate exercise offers the biggest boost in happiness.And if you think you may be living with a mood disorder, get it treated. Appropriate treatment can help reduce your symptoms, increase your sense of well-being, and get you back on track to a happy life.Social Side UpDeveloping your social side is crucial for well-being. Studies show that people who are socially active, who are compassionate, and who are emotionally generous have higher levels of happiness and live longer than people who lead a more solitary life.Research also shows that people who have strong interpersonal skills rank in the highest levels of happiness, and those who are socially isolated have substantially lower levels of well-being.Social skills are just one part of this happiness factor, though. People who maintain good personal relationships also fare better than people who are socially inactive. Open, trusting, intimate relationships are essential building blocks for a happy life.And it isnt only receiving support that makes us happy; its being able to give support to others as well.Perfect PairsOf course, many see marriage as one of the ultimate social relationships. But studies on marriage and happiness are somewhat conflicting, and the causal relationship between the two is unclear. On average, people who are married tend to report higher levels of happiness than people who are not married. Unmarried people in committed relationships also tend to be happier than people in casual relationships.But its not clear if this is because people who are predisposed to being happy are more likely to marry, or because marriage itself makes people happier, or if there is still some other yet-to-be-discovered dynamic at play between marriage and happiness. Although observational studies clearly show an association between well-being and relationships, there is no evidence to prove that one causes the other.One theory for the correlation between happiness and marriage is that, compared with married people, people who arent married tend to experience lower levels of social approval as well as fewer financial and social benefits. These factors may play a role in the lower levels of personal well-being reported by people who are not married.What You Can DoWhen important personal relationships come to an end, it can have a lasting negative impact on happiness. So use your energies to nurture the relationships that mean the most to you. Not all relationships are meant to be, of course, and getting out of a destructive relationship can do more for your health and happiness than staying in it. But if it is within your power to make a good relationship work, you have every reason to try.Keep all of your other personal relationships healthy, vibrant, and strong by spending quality time with friends and family. Make a standing date with the people you love - itll give you something to look forward to and help relieve stress levels.And while youre appreciating the people who are already near and dear, dont forget to welcome new friendships into your life.Happiness and the Meaningful LifeAccording to the founding father of positive psychology, Martin Seligman, a happy life is one that is pleasurable, engaging, and meaningful. And the more engaging and meaningful, the better. Seligman suggests that people who focus their energies on leading an engaged and meaningful life are more successful at achieving lifelong happiness than those who focus on the transitory feel-goods of pleasure.Research appears to support his theories. A study revealed that participants subjective well-being was directly affected by the fulfillment they derived from the activities they spent most of their energy on, whether that was raising children, working, or volunteering. Research on aging shows that being actively involved in life is linked to increased levels of happiness.What You Can DoSpend more time doing what you love. Engaging in activities that are in line with your values and interests can improve your sense of well-being. If you feel as though youve lost touch with what those activities might be, think about what captivates you so entirely that you lose yourself in the moment and forget about your stress.Its likely to be something youre good at that also provides you with a bit of a challenge or some kind of emotional reward. Some examples might be gardening, writing, painting, surfing, cycling, volunteering, or playing a musical instrument.If you can make your activities social, all the better. Whereas personal hobbies, such as knitting, have been linked to an increase in happiness, social activities have been associated with an increase in both happiness and life expectancy.As you focus on bringing meaning to your life, be sure to set realistic, attainable goals. People who do so report being happier than people who focus on grandiose long-term goals. Being able to realize goals that reflect your personal values and interests can help reinforce your sense of autonomy, purpose, and achievement. This has been shown to contribute significantly to overall well-being.3 More Ways to Get Happy1. Forget the JonesesSocial comparison is a natural part of human behavior, and it can be a healthy source of both motivation and affirmation. But taken to the extreme, social comparison can become an unhealthy, unhappy competition. Try not to compare your successes to others. Happiness researchers identify this as a key detractor to life satisfaction.It can be especially harmful if you are making material comparisons. Some studies show that placing too much importance on material wealth can make people very unhappy.Just as people adapt to bad situations, they also adapt to good ones. With each new pay raise or purchase, aspirations also increase.People get used to the good life. Once the initial thrill of extra income and the latest luxuries wears off, they want more. Another raise, a faster car, a bigger house.It becomes a never-ending cycle that leaves people feeling perpetually unsatisfied.2. Share Your SkillsGiving back to the community and helping others is linked to greater levels of happiness, particularly for people who are retired or not employed. Volunteering in your community can provide a valuable social interaction, increase your sense of purpose, and, yes, make you happier.Check out the Network for Good Web site to search a database of volunteer organizations by zip code and area of interest.3. Do Your Happiness HomeworkSeligman and his happiness colleagues have devised and tested a number of exercises to help boost well-being. Here are several activities that have been found to be most effective: Take note of whats good in your life. Literally. Studies show that people who spend a few minutes every evening writing down what went well each day show a significant increase in well-being. Tone-up your signature strengths. Signature strengths are the things youre really good at. Discover your signature strengths at . Once you know what your strengths are, try using one of them in a new way every day for a week. Give gratitude. Write a letter of thanks to someone who has been particularly good to you or has had a profound impact on your life. Once the letter is written, deliver it personally to the recipient. If your gratitude letter has a long distance to travel, call the recipient to make sure it was received and tell the person on the phone how much you appreciate his or her presence in your life.No More MysteryThere is no mysterious magical formula that you have to follow exactly in order to achieve happiness. Happiness is a personal journey of self-discovery. What makes you happy is not necessarily the same as what makes your friend, your partner, or your son or daughter happy.Experimenting with key happiness factors will help you find the combination that works for you. Just be sure to take stock now and then to see how your emotional health is doing. Its worth your time and attention. Not only does your health benefit from it, but theres nothing like a contented smile, a look of ease, and a few sexy laugh lines to make you look - and feel - years younger.它很容易会陷入日常生活的喧嚣和忽略是什么使你快乐。真的很高兴。但要确保你的幸福感给予最优读数可以提供许多健康益处。快乐的人有年轻的心，年轻的动脉和年轻的足足。快乐的人从手术恢复得更快，更好地应付疼痛，有降低血压，以及比不快乐的人寿命更长。研究还表明快乐的人可能会有较强的免疫系统 它们不那么容易感冒和流感病毒。当他们这样做，他们的症状一般都很轻微。不足为奇的是，快乐的人是在照顾自己的健康，也更好。当人们的幸福水平的提高时，所以做他们的健康行为。他们多做运动、 涂抹防晒霜，和定期体检。如何到达那里每个人都想要快乐，和的好处是显然丰富。但事实是人们并不总是很擅长预测什么会让他们快乐。如果它是长期的幸福你后，你可能需要学习一些新的技巧。幸福是什么？我们都知道当我们很高兴，当我们不是。但是问一屋子的人是什么使他们快乐，你可能会得到广泛的响应，从看日落或时间和好朋友一起消费到寻找伟大的鞋品销售或赢得办公室足球池。幸福本身的定义就是不简单的成就。在努力把定义收窄，研究者们设计了一系列的问卷调查来衡量生活满意度、 积极的情绪，以及主观幸福感。一些科学家甚至开始运用脑部成像技术来更好地理解生理的幸福。经济学家有跳幸福的潮流，也希望能计算幸福在社会和政治背景下的价值。所以他们发现了什么？是什么让幸福的生活？这部分是你的基因你的幸福水平不是完全由你的基因，预先确定，但基因做起到的作用，正如他们在你的全身健康发挥作用。一些研究者估计高达 40%到 50%的幸福的一个人的能力可能是由遗传决定的。这意味着一些幸运的人可能会开始更倾向于快乐，虽不能保证他们会带着令人陶醉的生活。幸运的是，有证据表明即使是最悲观的我们可以学会更快乐。并了解我们必须。留给我们自己的设备，我们倾向于将精力集中在将给我们最大的即时快感的事情上。甚至当我们更好地知道。测试你的幸福的诀窍认为你知道幸福的秘密吗？检查幸福精度的一些这些共同的答案。你可能会惊讶。 一个按摩和水疗纵容的一天算计，是的。一天在水疗中心不仅是令人愉快，也是一个极大的消除压力。并且保持你控制下的应力水平会正向影响你的身体和情感福祉。Winning 100 万美金赢得 100 万块钱会让你立刻身价百倍，这是肯定的。但幸福吗？不太多。阅读找出为什么金钱买不到你幸福。Renting 海边的房子因一周你最亲密的朋友和好朋友共度美好时光是幸福生活的关键部件之一。并休息一段时间来放松还将保持您的压力水平较低。但是不要等到像这样难得的机会与你的朋友相处。Losing 10 磅它是重要对你的健康和幸福，保持健康的体重。但溜溜球节食和失去重量快速诈骗可能饿死你后你的幸福。World 和平崇高的理想，但你可能想要从小事开始 设置不切实际的目标可能是一种威慑的幸福。做你的一部分，和平得到参与促进非暴力的冲突解决组织或促进和平的另一个问题，你强烈的感受。帮助别人并感觉到一种生命的目的被链接到更大的幸福。Finally 获取组织的车库它可能不是迷人但它肯定是令人欣慰。清理杂波和创建的可用空间会给你一种成就感，并保证其提升你的幸福。Having 超级英雄的权力超级英雄的权力将超级酷的毫无疑问。但是他们可能会导致更多的压力比幸福。另外，它永远不会发生。关注更多的可达到的目标，你会更有可能使梦想成真，那会让你幸福。在公园里的监听长走路 （或跑步）体育活动是一个伟大的方式来即刻提升你的幸福的感觉。并纳入你的日常锻炼你就会更健康、 更快乐长远来看。监听您投资的价值急剧上升它是明智的你的未来作出投资，但不是那么明智链接你的幸福，到股票市场。你的人际关系的情感资本和监听您投资的价值急剧上升它是明智的你的未来作出投资，但不是那么明智链接你的幸福，到股票市场。你的人际关系和个人成长的情感资本和您可能会看到你的幸福水平稳步上升。阅读找出更多关于什么使人快乐，什么不是，和你可以做什么来充实和快乐的生活。健康和幸福研究表明一个人的健康是幸福的最强预测因子之一。但是健康和幸福之间的联系是复杂的。研究表明一个人的目标健康 小相关性医疗评估 和幸福所界定。它是我们主观的健康 我们如何看待我们的健康 这会影响我们的福祉。所以你的脑海里全都是幸福吗？倒也未必。例如，健康不利变化没有负面影响对幸福水平，至少暂时。健康不佳有可能极大地影响你的生活几乎每一个方面： 你的独立，你的自我形象，你的个人关系，您能够进行基本的日常活动和工作。因此毫不奇怪当你的健康将受到打击，你的幸福也是。但人民是坚强的。我们习惯于新的生活环境，好还是坏。我们适应。在一个月或两个健康的不良事件，大多数人都被吸引回幸福他们享受他们的健康采取转坏之前的水平。严重健康状态中的更改时，然而 例如，涉及慢性疼痛或多重残疾 对幸福的影响可以长期