
Have Laughter & Fun and Live Longer
The health benefits from having fun and laughter are many. Different organizations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to WebMD agree on the same principles that it increases one’s well-being. I like the following quote from Roald Dahl: “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest of men.” When you have fun and laugh, that relaxes your muscles relieving or diminishing chronic pain, by releasing endorphins which are natural pain killers. More oxygen and blood circulate around one’s body increasing blood flow to the heart. The stress hormone, Cortisol is lowered which then aids in improving the quality of sleep. Norman Cousins wrote the book “Anatomy of an Illness.” He was incapacitated by a spinal column illness and in great pain. He tried both conventional and more holistic types of remedies without a cure. For one month he closeted himself away and watched comedies and read jokes. After that time period, he presented himself to his stunned doctors who could not find a trace of the disease. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, CTCA, “Laughter Therapy” is an integral part of cancer treatment. Having fun and laughter boosts the Immune System, increasing natural killer cells which destroy tumor cells. Laughter aids is boosting one’s positive outlook on life, which is important particularly when facing challenges like cancer or life transitions such as divorce. Having fun connects you to others and various studies have shown the positive affect of socialization on longevity. Go to a comedy, have lattes with friends, go to Disneyland as I did right before my divorce. Think of what you enjoyed in the past and view this as just what the doctor has ordered, to increase your well-being.
10 Ways to Deal with the Empty Nest Syndrome
The Empty Nest Syndrome is especially challenging for single parents who now have a quiet house. When one has recently gone through a divorce or loss of a spouse, it can be traumatic. Expect to mourn for a loss of what was and may never be again. You may go through the anger and eventually moving on to acceptance. This is the time to reinvent yourself and rediscover long lost passions. 1. Start a group up of other Empty Nesters for support and fun. Tina, a stay-at-home mom, was bereft when her youngest went off to college. This came about when her oldest son was about to get married and possibly move to another city. She called the mothers of her son’s classmates and formed a group that met once a month. At first it was for tears, but now it is teas and laughter. They claim that getting together is much cheaper than therapy and full of companionship. 2. Wait and do big projects after your kid goes off to school. This is the time to organize and clean out your basement or garage. I bought some bins and shelves and it is easy to find gardening supplies, holiday items plus much more in my garage now. 3. Expand your social or professional networks. I joined two Meet.Up.com groups and have coffee or go to events every week. The intelligent women are stimulating and now we are discussing quantum physics over lattes. I am a new member of Toastmasters International to make me a more effective speaker. There are many other groups to choose. 4. Challenge yourself and build self-esteem. Join an Outward Bound Expedition in your own back yard or across the globe. UK charities in particular have fundraisers in far flung places. One charity had a trek up Mt Kilimanjaro…
Happiness and Meaning in Life
Viennese Viktor Frankl was sent to a concentration camp with some family members and he wrote about this ordeal in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning.” While imprisoned he discovered that others who had meaning in life were more apt to survive. Frankl stated the Nazis could not take away one’s attitude, outlook on life. He met several men who gave up and were waiting to die. Frankl delved into their lives and found out what was important to them, waiting on the outside. For one it was a family member safely tucked away from harm, and the other had a special project that was left unfinished. These two men then became determined to live. The Center for Disease Control said that 4 out of 10 Americans have not discovered their meaning in life and that negatively affects their health. What is the difference between just having happiness or having meaning/purpose in life? You are happy because you have money to buy expensive gadgets and goods. If something took those away, then happiness fades. Having meaning in life is more lasting, not the here and now of happiness without a purpose. Meaning in life is more enduring, things may not be great now, but you are reaching out to others and enlarging your supportive social network. Frankl stated that the more one is focused outside of yourself – reaching out to others – the more human you are. Most people that I interviewed, claimed that they got more out of volunteering, than the recipients did. Since happiness is a more transient feeling there are ways to boost its level every day. Spend your money on having experiences, rather than on more material goods. Think about travel for example. You open your eyes and mind to new cultures, sights and ideas which…
Optimism and Health
Optimism can affect health and reduce stress, according to the Mayo Clinic. A positive attitude is that “you approach the unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way.” One is able to cope better in tense situations when optimistic. The Mayo Clinic said positive thinking may increase the life span, decrease depression, and give one more resistance to colds. A New York University study said that the brains of optimistic and pessimistic people light up differently when subjects thought about the future. They are striving to unravel how much is hereditary and much is due to other factors. Researchers at the University of Penn. are not clear if optimistic people have especially good health because they take better care of themselves or that they have more extensive social contacts which “have been associated with longevity.” Harvard school of Public Health studied optimism and heart disease. They concluded that having a positive outlook could reduce heart disease risk by 50%. Robert Grenfell, director of the Heart Foundation of Australia, said research indicates the link between “psychological well-being” and heart health. People with social isolation have an increased risk for heart disease. Different studies were unclear whether it is the pessimism or depression itself that has a negative impact on health, or is it more due to social ramifications such as a lack of a social network. Also it was mentioned that depressed people may not feel like doing preventative health care measures. Strive to become more of a person who sees the world through rose colored glasses. It may be beneficial to see a life coach or cognitive therapist, who help give concrete steps to achieve a more optimistic outlook on life. Others dive into self-help books for suggestions.
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