Happiness - a feeling of contentment, satisfaction, and joy - is a fundament of our psychological well-being. It is a positive emotion that we experience when we feel good about ourselves, our lives, and the world around us. It can be characterised by feelings of pleasure, excitement, higher energy levels, and fulfilment, which can arise from a variety of sources such as personal accomplishments, meaningful close relationships, and enjoyable experiences.
Happiness can moreover act as a protection against ill-being - physical and/or mental illnesses. It’s a euphoric feeling and a treasure that is both elusive and essential to life satisfaction, good health, and overall well-being.
Life is a journey with ups and downs, but these moments of authentic happiness are what we remember the most vividly, have a frequent positive effect on us and make every step of the journey meaningful life worthwhile.
The full potential of our happiness lies in our hands. Most of the time though, we struggle to let happiness into our lives because we're so busy and forget to enjoy the present moment. We are on a constant plight to seek happiness yet are disillusioned in believing that it's less attainable than it actually is. We lose ourselves in making comparisons to others, further hampering our self-esteem and future positive thinking. Time and again though, the small moments in life prove to be the most significant and can have the largest benefits on our well-being.
Often, we find ourselves buried under the weight of our anxieties, worries, or problems. During my time working in the emergency unit of the University Hospital of Zurich, a young woman once came in with tears in her eyes, stating that she was experiencing a lot of pain. Following our protocol, our next question was “where does it hurt?” She pointed to the right side of her chest, hovering over her heart. As medical professionals, our first thought was that she might be having a heart attack. We immediately went through the standard procedure for suspected heart attacks, beginning with the well-known questions; "from 1 to 10 how would you rate your pain?" and "can you describe your pain?". 1 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain you have ever experienced. The young woman rated her pain as being 10 and said, “it feels like somebody stabbed me with a knife”. Based on her responses we knew we had to act fast, so I took her in and performed an ECG, placed an IV, and drew blood. But all her results came back negative; the ECG wasn’t showing any abnormalities and her blood values seemed to be fine, except for her elevated creatine kinase (CK) value.
An elevated CK value can be a sign that the heart is overwhelmed, a common precursor to heart attacks. However, it can also occur after extreme physical activity or exertion.
To understand why her CK level was elevated we needed to further investigate with additional assessments. We asked her if she had been physically active lately and she immediately burst into tears, revealing that the love of her life had left her, that her family was in trouble, and that she felt unhappy. Her heart hurt so much that she could barely breathe.
Given our immediate thought that she was suffering from a heart attack, it was surprising to discover that her elevated CK level was a physical manifestation of high distress caused by her emotional pain and potential underlying mental health problems.
The team recognised the seriousness of her emotional pain and sought to provide her with the necessary support. A psychologist was brought in to speak with her and he reassured her that seeking help was the right thing to do. He encouraged her to remember that everyone is worthy of happiness. She reminded herself of times when she was truly happy and worked with the psychologist to reattain this state of being and improve both her physical and mental health and overall well-being.
This example shows how our mind and body are connected. At times we can become so consumed by our own distress and emotional struggles that it feels like we’re drowning in a sea of negativity and despair, unable to find a way out to catch our breath. Prolonged or severe distress or depression can have negative effects on our physical health and may lead to clinical issues. It is important to address your mental health and emotional well-being regularly in order to remain mentally resilient and maintain a better quality of life satisfaction.
Imbalances in our brain and body chemistry can lead to deficiencies in the nervous system such as depression, anxiety, and burnout, and can impact the immune and cardiovascular systems, resulting in conditions such as hypertension or diabetes.
Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D are among the vitamins that play a vital role in positive mental health. Other biomarkers and nutrients such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), the thyroid panel, hormones, homocysteine, and zinc, also have important impacts. It might be helpful to check these values and ensure that they are not deficient with the help of general practitioners or mental healthcare professionals.
Research has shown that keeping our bodies moving and in rhythm can have a positive impact on our overall health and well-being. Dancing is a multifaceted activity. Not only does it trigger the release of happiness hormones in the brain, but it can also make us feel young and alive like we’re tapping into a wellspring of energy and joy. There’s perhaps no better figure to act as a role model for happiness than Winnetou, the legendary fictional Apache Chief who dances around the fireplace at the end of the day.
Don’t underestimate the power of a good dance session when you’re feeling sluggish or down. You might just be surprised by how good you feel afterwards. Dancing is recommended for both happy and unhappy people going through both big and small life events or really any other factors. You can dance with close friends or a family member, alone in your bedroom, or with complete strangers. The physical action of dancing can do wonders for your mental health, social well-being, and self-esteem.
Dr Daniel G. Amen has released a book entitled "Your Brain is Always Listening" which speaks of the inner hidden dragons we harbour, breathing fire onto our minds and hindering our pursuit of happiness - similar to the experience of the young woman at the University Hospital of Zurich. I highly recommend reading this book, as it provides guidance on how to tame these inner dragons and gain control of our minds.
It’s time to create your definition of happiness - identity what makes you happy.
Take time to reflect on what brings you a sense of joy and fulfilment. This may involve activities such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or helping others. Once you have a clear idea of what makes you happy, make it a priority to incorporate those things into your daily life to improve your mental well-being.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to increase happiness is to practice gratitude. Take a few minutes each day to reflect on what you’re grateful for, whether it’s a warm cup of coffee in the morning or a beloved friend. This can help shift your focus away from negative thoughts and emotions and increase feelings of happiness and contentment which lead to better mental health in the long term.
Human connection is a vital ingredient for happiness and a better quality of life. Make time to connect with close friends and family members or even meet new people. You will be surprised how another life story can empower you. Have phone calls, video chats, or meet in person. Real-life connections are essential for our mental well-being.
It’s human nature to crave happiness, and one way to achieve this state of well-being is by practising benevolence. When we help others, we are really helping ourselves. Engagement in acts of kindness leads to feeling uplifted and gratified. Moreover, promoting kindness towards and around others creates better environments in which we can thrive in, contributing also to our social well-being.
Engaging in activities that you enjoy can boost your mood and increase overall happiness. Whether it's playing sports, cooking, or learning a new skill, find something that brings you joy and make time for it regularly. These activities will help you cultivate success. The more you experience these positive emotions, the more motivated you will feel, and the more resistant you will be to illness.
Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and fully engaged with your surroundings. It can help reduce stress and increase overall well-being. Try incorporating mindfulness practices into your daily routine, such as deep breathing or meditation. If you are feeling happy, enjoy the moment - be mindful and aware of your surroundings and breath. This is especially useful in helping maintain work-life balance and deal with stress.
In order to experience self-achievement and happiness, it’s important to step out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves. This can be scary at first, but pushing through the discomfort can lead to a sense of accomplishment and give us a confidence boost. When we engage in activities that push us beyond our limits we have the opportunity to learn new skills, gain valuable experiences, and discover new aspects of ourselves. Ultimately, these experiences can increase our sense of fulfilment and happiness through their impact on mental and physical well-being.
It’s important to remember that asking for help can be of benefit and sharing your story can help others to find the courage to work to improve their overall mental health. Ultimately, it’s a sign of strength and it connects people.
Let's embrace the power of positivity and strive to make every moment count, not just today, but every day. By focusing on the positive things in life and spreading kindness wherever we go, we can create a brighter world for ourselves and for those around us. Let us take a moment to reflect on the beauty of life and the joy it can bring.
By choosing to live with purpose and passion, we can create a life filled with happiness, love, and fulfilment.
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