Much has been said about the dangers of stress and depression for health, but the biology of happiness is often not given enough attention. But there are a whole lot of things in the world that can cause a feeling of happiness, which can really prevent and reverse entire chains of cellular processes that lead to the appearance of diseases. Dr Derek Cox, director of the National Health Service for Dumfries and Galloway (Scotland), believes that for many years specialists have paid insufficient attention to a powerful factor that contributes to improving human health. In his opinion, it is happiness that is one of the key points that determine the state of our health.
How does the feeling of happiness affect human health?
Research by Andrew Steptoe, professor of psychology at University College London, has shown that happy people are less likely to have heart attacks and strokes. He believes that feeling happy helps protect the biological pathways that are destroyed by stress.
There is an active study of the positive effects of positive experiences and emotions such as hope, optimism and spirituality, life satisfaction and good mood.
The development of positive psychology has prompted many researchers to explore a proactive way to prevent disease. So, experts are trying to identify character traits and other aspects that are an integral part of a positive attitude and, accordingly, improving the quality of life. For example, it is now proven that happy people have:
- reduces the risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- the immune system fights pathogens more effectively;
- stress levels are reduced;
- pain caused by chronic diseases (for example, joints);
- the chances of recovery increase;
- Life expectancy is higher compared to negative people.
Optimism makes you feel happy more often
Positive thinking promotes brain development, forming new and strengthening existing connections between neurons, especially in the prefrontal cortex, which allows you to regulate emotional response through communication with the limbic system of the brain. The prefrontal cortex is involved in controlling emotions and behavior, and also allows you to focus on the goals you want to achieve.
Neuroscientists have found that optimistic people have more active left prefrontal cortex. It is also interesting that behavioral scientists who study behavior patterns have also noticed differences between optimists and pessimists.
Optimists are more likely to be in a good mood, they are more persistent, successful and healthy. Perhaps this is due to the fact that optimists tend to perceive positive events as permanent, and negative – as temporary. On top of that, optimists:
- live a happy and fulfilling life;
- spend the least amount of time alone;
- build relationships with ease;
- have more healthy habits;
- have a stronger immune system;
- live longer than pessimists.
Pessimists, on the other hand, perceive positive events as passing, and negative – as a permanent phenomenon. A study conducted at the University of British Columbia showed that some people are genetically predisposed to seeing the world in gray tones. Such people often compare themselves with others, consider themselves less happy.
What can I do to make the feeling of happiness help to improve my health?
Even if you are a pessimist, don't despair – the brain can be tuned to a wave of optimism, gradually displacing negative thoughts from it and replacing them with positive ones. You can influence neurons and set off a cascade of changes that, over time, will make you optimistic and allow you to enjoy the feeling of happiness more often. Even if the depressive mood – the result of a genetic predisposition, you are able to change your life for the better.
Conscious mental activity can also trigger changes in the structure and abilities of the brain. Under the influence of our actions and thoughts, the corresponding areas of the brain can increase or decrease accordingly. Thus, your actions, thoughts and feelings directly influence the formation of certain neural connections that adapt to your needs. And the more often you practice positive thinking, the stronger the positive effect.
To put it simply, words and thoughts can be used for the benefit of – learn to notice positive moments and distract from negative thoughts – and you will be able to change for the better and become healthier.
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