Say “YES” to Happiness…It’s Good for Your Health!

by Rebecca Liston, H.D., DSHomMed

 

My approach to New Year’s resolutions is a bit unorthodox. As a health care professional, it is expected that I would suggest to you that you ought to resolve to exercise more, eat better, drink more water, get more sleep. And while all of those things might increase your level of health, they may not either. Let me explain...

A client of mine came in last week. All of her friends have joined the local gym. They are all talking about the gym and how important it is to exercise, how much they are losing in weight, and how much fun they are having. They are pressuring my client to join with them and it is getting to be too much for her. She laments, “I know I need to exercise but just thinking of joining that gym makes my stomach turn!”

This client is one woman who should resolve NOT to join the gym. Just thinking of joining causes her distress and her stomach ties up in knots at the thought of it. While it may be true that she could exercise more, this is obviously not the proper avenue for her to pursue. In fact, it may be detrimental to her health to join!

Yes, I just wrote that it might be detrimental to her health to join a gym. Not what you expected, I know. But the truth is that her entire being is revolted by the idea of joining a gym. The stress that it would cause her if she did join would almost certainly counteract any benefits that the exercise may provide. Furthermore, it is not a resolution she could keep. Because her heart is not in it, so to speak, she would find reasons not to go and would eventually be paying for a membership she would never use. In the end, she may feel like a failure for not keeping up with her friends, and those feelings in turn could be detrimental to her health in the long run.

Another great example is the story of another client of mine who was thinking about resolving to be a vegetarian. She felt that the vegetarian approach might be healthier – she had read several articles about it and her sister had been a vegetarian for years and extolled the virtues of vegetarianism at every family function. However, my client wasn’t sure it was the right resolution for her. And I knew it wasn’t right either. As she spoke of it, I watched her body language. She looked tired, drawn, and apprehensive at the idea. Her language as she described her possible resolution also told me that it was not a good choice for her. She said, “I know that I need to lose weight and I read that vegetarians eat better and I know that my sister thinks eating meat is disgusting, but you know what Rebecca? I kinda like roast beef.”

She looked embarrassed that she admitted to liking red meat. I replied, “Good for you! So eat roast beef then!” And the change in her body language was obvious. She sat up straighter, she smiled at me, and she just seemed happier. Again, I would suggest that if she were to stop eating roast beef, she would be miserable. And that misery would counteract any possible good that could come from being a vegetarian.

You see, it has long been proven that happiness is paramount to everything else in life. It is my suggestion that you resolve this year to simply be happy.

Here’s how it works:
Your friends ask you to join the gym with them. You pause before answering and ask yourself, “Does the idea of joining a gym with my friends make me feel happy?” You will know the answer immediately – a churning in your stomach or a head pain or a feeling of anxiety or apprehension are all signals that you should say “No, thank you.” If, on the other hand, you ask yourself that question and you feel lighter somehow, you smile reflexively, or you feel stronger in some way, then you should say “Absolutely!”

Your sister says, “Don’t you think you should stop eating meat? You would be so much better off.” You pause and ask yourself, “Does the idea of not eating meat make me feel happy?” You will know the answer immediately. Trust yourself and do what makes you happy!

A colleague of mine tells me that she has adopted a new approach to her life. When a new opportunity arises, or when trying to make a decision about something, she asks herself, “would doing ‘x’ make me happy?” When the answer she feels bubbling up inside her is “Hell, yes!” then she knows what to do!

It is important to approach our health care choices like that, too. After my car accident last February, everyone I knew had advice for me. I was overwhelmed by the options that were presented. So I listened to my body and checked in with myself before I said yes to anything. The doctor handed me a narcotic for pain and as I held the bottle in my hands, I felt queasy in my stomach. I tried to open the bottle but found I just couldn’t do it. It was obviously not the right choice for me. My friend came to the house and offered to do a Reiki treatment on me. My body immediately relaxed at the suggestion so I said, “Yes, please!” And when my dear colleague Donna Costa arrived at the house with a handful of homeopathic remedies to prescribe for me, I smiled in relief for I knew that was exactly what my body needed and wanted.

So often we put our health and our happiness in the hands of others. I say we should all resolve to take it back! This year, resolve to say “YES” to happiness…it’s good for your health!