5 Life-changing Reasons Why Being Happy Matters
Studies have found a link between happiness and longevity
In our busy lives, we don’t have time to get sick, being sick is never fun; even though it’s sometimes nice to have an excuse to lie in bed and binge watch Netflix all day!
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1. Happiness can protect you from falling ill.
Happiness may not cure illness but, happier people naturally participate in healthier activities. For example, being more inclined to watch your weight, engage in activities, drink and smoke less and create a healthier home environment for yourself, making you more resilient to illness.The physical effects from chronic unhappiness on the body, such as activation of the fight-and-flight response, higher blood pressure, and a lower immune system, are well understood, can result in sickness and ultimately a shorter life.
2. Being happy brings you good things into your life via the law of attraction
What is the law of attraction?
The law of attraction is the ability to attract what we focus on into our lives and states that all thoughts turn into things eventually.
Therefore, if you focus on happiness and the good things you want in your life the law of attraction will bring you more happiness and good things.
Alternatively, if you focus on negative things and unhappiness that is what you will attract into your life.
How can the law of attraction work for you?
Imagine you have a long to-do list to get through and on top of that, you are looking for a friendly new flatmate.
Scenario 1: You struggle to get out of bed in the morning and stay focused on your daily tasks. You don’t end up leaving the house and watch TV instead. You get none of your tasks done and you don’t meet that dazzling new flatmate.
Scenario 2: You feel your to-do list is overwhelming and you are dreading your daily chores. You get through them but find the day stressful and rush around to get through your list. You don’t celebrate today’s successes and just worry about how you are going to find a new flatmate and pay the rent.
Scenario 3: You wake up feeling good. You are looking forward to getting out and about 
and get your chores done. You get through all your chores quickly. While in the supermarket you get chatting to the person in line in front of you, Katie. Katie seems nice so you mention you are looking for a new flatmate. Turns out Katie has a friend, Sam, who is looking for a new place to live! Boom you just got your shopping done and found a new flatmate with ease.
Why did you get everything you want in scenario 3?
In all three scenarios, you got what you were focused on. In scenario one and two, your focus was narrow and you missed finding a new flatmate.
In scenario three, you were happier and more confident. You were more open to meeting new people and easily approachable. You weren’t overly focused on your daily tasks because you knew you would get through them making finding a new flatmate more of a focus for you, increasing your chances of finding one.
Makes sense? Read more on thelawofattraction.com
3. You are more productive when you are happier
Remember your never-ending to-do list? Well, being happier can help you get through it faster and get that promotion you’ve been eyeing up.
A study from the University of Warwick found that happier employees were 10-12% more productive than their counterparts.
Another study from Wharton & Warwick Business Schools found that companies with happier employees, in countries such as the UK and USA, did better in the stock market year after year.
Add a task that makes you smile before you start to tackle that next big job.
4. You are more creative when you are happier
25 years of mood-creativity research has found that positive moods, such as happiness, produces more creativity than neutral or negative mood states.
Add increased creativity with productivity and you could have some amazing innovative ideas.
You might even find some creative ways to get through that never-ending to-do list faster.
What is your favorite creative task? Photography, drawing, painting, writing, sewing? Take 20 minutes out of your day to work on your favorite creative task. Feel the energy from this fuel you for the rest of your day.
5. Your happiness makes your friends, family & neighbors happier
Happiness is contagious!
By becoming happier you also pass on all these wonderful benefits to your family, friends, and neighbors.
A study starting with 5209 people in 1948 from The University of California and Harvard University followed three generations in Framingham Massachusetts. They found that happiness ripples throughout a social network. With one person’s happiness influenced people, up to three degrees of separation from them.
So, if you want to live in a community of happy people be happy yourself and spread those good vibes around.
This also means that being with people that make you unhappy not only affects you but your family, your friends, and your neighbours. So, next time think twice before you hang around that person that always brings you down a notch.
Take-away messages
Why you should put in the effort to be happier;
You will be healthier
You will get what you want through the law of attraction
You will be more productive
You will be more creative
Your friends, family, neighbors, and community will live happier lives
So why wouldn’t you try to be happier every day when all these good things come along with it?
References
- Baas, M., De Dreu C., & Nijstad, B. (2008) A meta-analysis of 25 years of mood-creativity research: hedonic tone, activation or regulatory focus? Psychological Bulletin, 134(6), 779-806. doi: 10.1037/a0012815. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18954157
- Edmans, A., Li, L. & Zhang, C. (2014). Employee satisfaction, labour market flexibility and stock returns around the world. European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) – Finance Working Paper No. 433/2014. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2461003
- Fowler, J & Christakis N. (2008). Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network: longitudinal analysis over 20 years in the Framingham Heart Study. British Medical Journal, 337 (no. a2338), 1-9. http://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2338
- Oswald, A., Proto, E. & Sgroi D. (2015). Happiness and Productivity. Journal of Labor Economics, 33 (4), 789-822. https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/staff/eproto/workingpapers/happinessproductivity.pdf
- Veenhoven, R. 2008. Healthy happiness: effects of happiness on physical health and the consequences for preventative health care. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(3), 449-469. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-006-9042-1
- What is the law of attraction? Open your eyes to a world of endless possibilities. (2012). Retrieved 6 November 2017 from http://www.thelawofattraction.com/what-is-the-law-of-attraction/
- Williamson, M. 2014. Why does happiness matter? The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/03/why-does-happiness-matterth it?
