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Lifestyle

In praise of small things

How’s your mood today? How about every day?

Well-being doesn’t just mean a sense of peace when things are going smoothly it also means maintaining a similar state when things are kind of shitty.

Some research and lots of anecdotal evidence show that getting a handle on happiness can help protect against illness.

This doesn’t mean, of course, that folks get sick because they aren’t positive enough, but only that cultivating your sunny self is loaded with benefits.

What the experts say

“Create a gratitude practice, like regularly saying thanks at meals, sending thank-you cards, writing in a gratitude journal. Notice when you are judging yourself and others. Judgment gets in the way of kindness and happiness. Be kinder to yourself, ask yourself what you want, give yourself what you want, meet your own needs and have more fun. And stay out of other people’s business – their opinions about you are none of your business. Their thoughts, feelings and actions are not about you. Happiness is always right there inside you.”

JESSICA JENKINS


life coach, Toronto


“If you want to live a happier life, move to those countries, provinces or states that have the most progressive public policies. Even controlling for all other factors, people are happier where more is spent on the social safety net, and where there are more government services, protections for workers and regulations in general. This is true for both the rich and poor, though it’s slightly more pronounced for working- and middle-class people. People who belong to labour unions are also happier, and critically, everyone is happier in places where more people belong to unions, whether or not they belong themselves.”

BENJAMIN RADCLIFF


author of The Political Economy Of Human Happiness,


department of political science,


University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana


“Research shows that grateful people are happy people. They accept all of life as a gift, cultivating a sense of abundance and an appreciation of simple pleasures and of others. In the three-blessings exercise developed by [Martin] Seligman, you write down three good things that have happened in the last 48 hours. These may be small (i.e., a good meal) or large (a promotion at work). Then write about how each makes you feel grateful. Doing this every evening for one week has been found to enhance happiness, and it keeps increasing after the treatment is over. In the “grateful reflection” exercise you think about someone you are grateful for and for three to five minutes reflect on how they have enhanced your life.”

PHILIP WATKINS


professor of psychology,


Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington


“Happiness does not cure illness, but it protects against becoming ill. The effect of happiness on longevity is comparable to not smoking. It would be worthwhile to invest in training on the art of living – the ability to enjoy, to choose, to keep developing and to see meaning. Learning to take pleasure from life was once part of traditional leisure-class education, which emphasized prestigious pleasures like tasting exquisite wines and appreciating difficult music. Yet it’s also possible to develop an enjoyment of the common things in life, like breakfast or the sunset. Hedonistic enjoyment figures prominently in advertisements, yet techniques to gain the ability to enjoy are underdeveloped. There are no professional enjoyment trainers. One could provide training in attentiveness possibly by teaching meditation techniques.”

RUUT VEERHOVEN


emeritus professor of social conditions for human happiness,


Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands


“Right thinking is the best way to feel and sustain happiness. When others hurt us, it reflects their state of mind, not ours. Knowing this, you can be kinder than necessary because everyone is struggling with something! Say ‘MU’ in your mind, on an out breath. This silent meditation releases negative feelings and reminds us that words can’t hurt. Everyone needs an activity – perhaps going to church or a coffee group – in order to be renewed, feel connected and sustain peace of mind.”

ZORANA ROSE


naturopath, Toronto


Got a question?

Send your Althealth queries to

althealth@nowtoronto.com

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