Is happiness good for your health? For the last decade or so, many people have been focusing more on things they can do to improve their health.  This often includes eating a healthier diet, exercising, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep.  More and more, experts and laypeople alike  have been finding that happiness is very much linked to good health.  Being happy and having a positive attitude, which often go hand in hand. have a very positive effect on a person’s health.

There is a definite link between our thoughts and our health.  Studies have often shown that people can “cure” themselves of a serious illness by believing they can get well or that their treatment will be effective.  This is often seen as the placebo effect when a person is given a medication or other treatment which he or she thinks is the real thing, but it is just a placebo.  There have been many instances in which the person recovers, and the only explanation is that the person thinks he or she was getting the effective treatment.

The reverse has also been seen.  When told a treatment was found to be ineffective, patients have been found to worsen or have their disease or condition return.

This has often been called the mind-body connection.  Dr. Lissa Rankin  has written a book called Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself  in which she details many examples of this phenomena and documents many studies.

There are also many mind-body practices, like meditation, reiki, tapping, and working with the chakras, as well as many ancient medical traditions that utilize this mind-body connection.  Many of us in the western world are now beginning to learn about this wonderful healing modality and methods to maintain and improve our health.

Think about how you feel when you are in a good mood.  Things like aches and pains may not seem to bother us as much as they do when we are in a bad mood.  When we are feeling happy, we are often experiencing less stress. Stress causes physiological changes such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, stopping or slowing down of digestion, and tightening of muscles.  These physiological changes can not only cause more pain but can lead to health problems.

I always knew that someone who was nice and friendly to me could make me feel better.  I find that if I think in a positive manner and say and act like I am in a good mood and feel good, I almost always do feel better.  Other people often respond positively when I speak in a positive and friendly manner.  It seems to be contagious. Sunshine seems to have a similar effect on me and on others.  So, I think there is something to the beneficial effects of positive environments, attitudes and actions.  They effect not only our moods, but often our health.

I have been making a conscious effort to bring more positive thoughts and actions into my life. I want to be more grateful for what I have and am and for everything around me. I want to see how much of a positive difference this can make in my life, and possibly in those around me.

By Tia Lee