Posted on 03/07/2011 9:35:52 AM PST by BenLurkin
It may pay to get happy, at least when it comes to rising health-care costs. The study, the most comprehensive review thus far, was conducted by Ed Diener, psychology professor at the University of Illinois...
Q: Does mood impact physiology, which then affects bodily reactions and long-term outcomes? What's the link, specifically?
A: If people are in a good mood they are less likely to overeat, drink too much, self-medicate; they're more likely to wear seatbelts and exercise.
When you are threatened, the body shuts down unnecessary systems in order to deal with the emergency. That may be OK short-term, but long-term, chronic anger and depression makes the immune system less active, so people are more prone to infections and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Finally, there's the social aspect. When people are in a good mood they want to be with people more.
Q: Does your review of the studies imply that we need to try to make everyone happier to promote health?
A: I don't know the answer to that. I feel like I'm happy enough, my wife is happy enough, we're not a 10, but we're pretty happy. Depressed and chronically angry people really should do something, but I think it's dangerous to think you have to make all the 7s and 8s in the world even happier than they are. It's important to figure out what's the optimal level, and do we need society to be happy or not — because it's getting bigger, and there are a lot of positive psychology advocates who want to change public policy to make you happier.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
To be happy, have a worthwhile, attainable long-term goal. Becoming more wealthy than your 9-to-5 job will permit is such a goal.
dennis prager says, and i agree, it’s best to hang around 7.5 with occassional spikes mto 9+ and sips to 5.5. that’s how i feel i am right now and have been for the past year and a half, politics aside.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.