6 Illnesses That Happiness Can Decrease

Health Benefits of Happiness

Just as stress creates a negative impact on health so happiness creates a positive impact on health. This is not just the removal of the problems caused by stress but actual improvements in health due to happiness.

Some illnesses that happiness has the potential to either decrease the risk of or limit its severity include:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular disease
• Pulmonary disease
• Colds
• Upper respiratory infections

With those sorts of benefits being happy is worthwhile, not that anyone really wants to be anything but happy. However, judging by the number of unhappy people around, being happy may not be that easy at times.

Even though your particular circumstances may be difficult, finding ways to create moments of happiness can pay big dividends.

Athletes have found that when they get fatigued and feel like they can't continue, if they smile it changes their body. They can have a 30% increase in their performance for the next several minutes. That tells us that even if we have to "act as if", even a pretend smile or laugh can bring some benefits to our health.

Things to do

• Laugh
• Smile
• Maintain relationships
• Make friends
• Do some fun activities
• Go for a walk
• Smell the roses, enjoy the scenery
• Think happy thoughts
• Get proper sleep
• Find ways to replace the worrying thoughts with happier ones

An article by the American Happiness Association says that neuroscience has discovered that optimism is important for the health of our brains. The brain has a center for optimism and if that center is not developed we get depressed. Food for thought anyway.

Be happy,

Jocelyn

A 9 Point Affirmation

Affirmations could be said to be inspiring self talk. Now that has to be better than telling yourself negative stuff or beating yourself up about something.

Here are 5 positive benefits to using positive affirmations:

• Develops a positive attitude to life
• Relieves stress
• Act as motivators
• Helps to develop a happy frame of mind
• Trains the subconscious mind

Over the years I have used affirmations at various times. I remember at one time I had a whole stack of affirmation cards that I would go through a couple of times a day.

In the last little while, I have come across an affirmation, that to me, is the most complete affirmation I have seen. It is like all the affirmations combined into one short statement.

I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious, happy, intelligent and affluent.

I came across the concept for this affirmation in The Master Key System by Charles Haanel. This work, written in 1912, was the basis for the popular movie "The Secret". I have added the last two words to the original affirmation as I felt that it rounded it out more fully.

By memorizing this one affirmation it is easy to use it at any time, many times a day.

Be great,
Jocelyn

13 Money Saving Tips for 3 Areas

In the economic times that we are living many people are looking for ways to make their money go further. More and more people are finding that they are spending more than they are earning. There is of course a limit to how long one can continue to spend more than what comes in.

Whether your situation is as dire as that or just under mild pressure, some tips on how to make your money go further never go astray.


Cut Food Costs - This does not mean cut your food.

• Do not go grocery shopping when hungry
• Shop with a list
• Look for specials
• Do not buy convenience items. - Cook from scratch as much as you can.
• Buy meat when on special and freeze
• Choose fruit and vegetables by freshness, cost and what is in season. Adjust menus to what you bought rather than buying something expensive because it is in the recipe.
  

Cut your energy costs

• Keep your furnace filter clean
• Whether it is for heating or cooling adjust your thermostat. Don't set it to hot in winter or for summer cooling don't set it to cool. This can save about 5% of your costs.
  
• Use energy saving bulbs.
• Check the deals for the different energy providers. Maybe there is a better deal.

Save on your phone bill

• Check your mobile phone costs. Is there a provider that can meet your needs for less?
• Check all your phone calling patterns. What offers are there that can provide what you need for less?
• Consider using VOIP for your phone calls. If you already have high speed broadband it could save a considerable amount.

There are plenty of ways that costs can be reduced. Shop around for everything. Always get more than one quote.

More detailed tips and information on making your money go further can be found in Douglas Hanna's "Surviving the Recession". For more information on the book visit http://savemoney.jocelynkaye.com