Happiness is a full tank
In recent years researchers and psychologists have been examining the nature of happiness. The World Happiness Report ranks countries by their levels of satisfaction and well-being.
One family of views, hybrid theories, aims for an irenic solution to our diverse intuitions by identifying happiness with life satisfaction and with pleasure or emotional state. But this risks pleasing no one.
1. It Keeps You Warm
Happiness gives us a sense of optimism and an “I can do anything” attitude. Optimism lowers your stress hormone levels, which helps with mental and physical health.
Several studies have shown that people with higher levels of happiness have better health. They are less likely to catch a cold, and have a 50% lower risk of heart disease than unhappier people. Happiness also leads to other healthy habits like exercise, good nutrition and sleep.
2. It Keeps You Safe
Happiness is a state of being that consists of joy, peace, love, freedom, satisfaction, and contentment. People who live in happiness experience a sense of security that helps them resist chronic stress, which causes aches and pains on a cellular level.
Happiness is an invisible border that resides within everyone. It’s Absolute Truth, and the only thing that breaches it is when people think they need revenge, control, or worry.
3. It Keeps You Going
When you wake up sluggish, a jolt of caffeine may be the only way to get your day started. But happiness can help you manage your energy and make it last longer, so that you can stay energized all the way through to the end of your workday.
Happiness-boosting activities include exercise, healthy sleep habits, and daily acts of kindness. Studies suggest that happy people are 12% more productive at work and less likely to experience burnout symptoms.
5. It Keeps You Healthy
Happiness may seem like a self-indulgent emotion that gives you warm fuzzies and spine-tingling sensations for the moment. But emerging research shows that happiness spills over to other aspects of life and actually makes you healthier.
One study found that 81 healthy graduate students who rated their feelings of happy, excited and content were 35% less likely to die than their unhappier counterparts over the next five years. Researchers suspect this is because happiness strengthens your immune system.
7. It Keeps You Safe From Traffic
Happiness is a full tank, but it’s also important to remember that happiness doesn’t mean you can ignore danger. When people operate in a state of heightened happiness, they tend to disregard warning signs and engage in riskier behaviors. This may seem harmless, but it can lead to major problems when it comes to safety at work or in the road. It also contributes to workplace stress and burnout.
8. It Keeps You Safe From The Sun
The sun is the source of vitamin D, which helps regulate circadian rhythms and boost focus and attention. Despite the warnings about sunburn and skin cancer, CivicScience data suggests that happiness is linked with access to sunlight, which may be as simple as taking a walk in the morning or opening up the blinds when you’re stuck inside. But remember: moderation is key, and a lather of sunscreen is always recommended.
9. It Keeps You Safe From The Rain
Whether you’re video calling loved ones from across the globe or dancing in your living room with friends, interacting with others can help to lower stress and increase feelings of belonging-two factors that contribute to happiness. Plus, deep belly laughs can release feel-good endorphins that can make you feel great!
And if all that’s not enough, research suggests that rain might not have the negative impact on mood that we tend to assume it does. In fact, it may actually lift people’s moods temporarily, as reported by the Guardian in 2015.