When we show love and compassion to other people, it releases chemicals in the pre-frontal cortex and reward center of the brain that professionals refer to as the “Helper’s High.” People who help others report many positive mental and physical health benefits, including lower levels of stress, lower blood pressure, and relief from depression and physical pain. Research also shows that those who engage in altruistic behavior not only have a higher quality of life, but they also live longer.1 Engaging in some type of regular volunteer activity on at least a monthly basis, or just spending more time doing loving, kind things for the people in your life, helps get you out of your own head, creates well-being for others, and makes you feel good about yourself.
Happiness
🍎 Health Hack ~ It’s Never Too Late to Get in Shape
Maintain good physical health. This point is so basic it’s often overlooked. Our physical health affects our emotional health much more than we realize. Make sure to eat well, exercise and get plenty of sleep. As Virgil said: “The greatest wealth is health.”
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Love Yourself
Self-compassion is about learning to be kind to yourself and to be self-forgiving of the flaws we all have and the mistakes we all make as human beings. It is the ultimate form of self-love and a prerequisite to real self-confidence. Many people are so controlled by their inner critic that they find the idea of self-compassion to be something they don’t deserve.
Health Hack ~ Attitude Influences Health
The health benefits of positive thinking
Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:
- Increased life span
- Lower rates of depression
- Lower levels of distress
- Greater resistance to the common cold
- Better psychological and physical well-being
- Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
- Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
It’s unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body.
It’s also thought that positive and optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and don’t smoke or drink alcohol in excess.
Source: Mayo Clinic
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Keep Learning
Never Stop Learning
Learn from everyone and everything. Be like a kid in the candy store and learn from everybody around you. . . .Learn from every one. . . .  Never close your mind. Stay open to new worlds and new possibilities.
🤗Feel Good Hack ~ Forest Bathing
Breathe in Nature
We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. We have known it for centuries. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us.
🍎 Health Hack: Fill Your Cup Until It Overflows
Optimistic People Live Longer
Plenty of research suggests optimistic people have a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and declines in lung capacity and function. Optimism is also associated with a lower risk of early death from cancer and infection. And now a new study links optimism to living a longer life.
What does this new research on optimism tell us?
The study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people who had higher levels of optimism had a longer life span.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Get Organize
It might seem like an annoying task, but once you organize aspects of your life, it’s usually followed by serenity and a feeling of relief. “Clearing up old emails, old notes, and straightening up your work area will clear your head and boost productivity,” says Shaheen. “Take 15 minutes at the end of each work week, before you leave for the weekend. This is even more important if you work from home.”
An aside: I live alone and use a rule (I made it up) to stay organized or neat. I call it the twenty second rule. Most things only take a few seconds to complete, e.g., hanging up a bath towel, tossing the laundry in the washer. I think Babe watches me from Heaven and makes sure I’m staying organized. LOL.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Here’s a Mood Booster
Go For A Walk
Exercising is a form of a self-care, but sometimes working out isn’t seen as the most enjoyable, stress-free activity. However, walking can calm the brain without taxing the body, and it’s easy to fit in no matter how busy you are. Walking is free, it can feel meditative, and it can boost your mood, both in the moment and long-term, according to multiple sources.
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ Life’s Purpose
What Is Your Purpose In Life?
A sense of life purpose promotes physical, mental, and spiritual health. Purpose is fundamental. People who seek meaning beyond themselves are healthier, happier, and live longer. It’s vital to our well- being that we maintain a strong sense of purpose.
