Creating Happiness for Health

There is a new movement underway called Positive Psychology. It's a new field of research that looks at what givse people fulfillment and meaning in their lives.

I came across this in an article in my hometown paper, The Plain Dealer, by Ellen Jan Kleinerman. She reports on studies that have connected positive emotions to our well-being. One such study, done by Robert Emmons of the Univ. of Calif at Davis, found that acts of gratitude imporove physical health and raise levels of energy.

If you want to test yourself to see how happy you are you can go to Dr. Martin Seligman's site and see how you rate.

Dr. Seligman and Sonja Lyubomirsky ( also of the Univ. of Calif.) suggest some ways to create a more fulfilling life.

--Writing a gratitude journal and name three good things that occurred on a weekly basis.
An adaptation of this is to daily count your blessing. I try and do this first thing when I awake and when I go to bed.


--Thank people who have helped you.
Why not sent an email or text. It doesn't have to be big production.

--Perform random acts of kindness
One of my favorite ways is designate one day a week to compliment everyone I come into contact with that day. There is always something nice to say.