7 Ways to Feel Healthier and Happier

benefits of exercise developing your mind emotional health gratitude purpose spirituality subconscious

Feeling healthier and happier comes from growing in self-awareness and learning to work gently with the three parts of our being—mind, body, and spirit. Over the years, I’ve discovered seven practices that have helped me experience greater well-being, peace of mind, and fulfillment. This is very much a journey, and I’m still learning along the way.

I’d love to share what has been meaningful for me with you.

1. Be Physically Active

I'm a strong believer in staying active—whether that's hitting the gym, flowing through yoga, playing a sport, dancing, hiking, swimming, walking, jogging, or anything else that gets you moving and brings you joy.

The benefits of regular activity are numerous. Here are just a few:

Increased breath capacity- check out my blog on the benefits of increasing your lung capacity and taking deep breaths can do for you at: https://www.gailmae.com/blog/feel-more-calm-by-deep-breathing-while-stimulating-the-vagus-nerve
Increased blood flow– It’s crucial for good health. Your heart pumps about 5 quarts of blood through your body’s system of blood vessels each minute and delivers oxygen to help eliminate waste. When circulation is poor, your blood doesn’t flow as vigorously and symptoms can include numbness in your fingers and toes, fluid retention, bloating, and lack of energy.
Increased brain sensitivity– for the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which relieve feelings of depression, making you feel happier.
Reduces anxiety.
Maintains and builds strong muscles and bones– giving you more strength and flexibility to achieve the activities you want to in life.
Increased energy.
It helps you to focus better by increasing blood flow to the brain– keeps you aware with less brain fog, increases memory and thinking skills, and causes the hippocampus (vital for memory and learning) to grow.
Helps to keep your weight down.
Reduces the risk of chronic disease.
Reduces changes in the brain that can cause Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.
Helps you relax and sleep better.
Reduces pain.

2. Take care of your Emotional Life

It’s like going to the gym or brushing our teeth—something we attend to every day. Many of us grew up in homes where emotions were repressed. We weren’t taught healthy ways to express them, or we simply weren’t allowed to. Difficult emotions were brushed aside or buried deeply, only to surface later when we’re triggered and can no longer hold them in.

When emotions are continually suppressed, shoved down, or rationalized away, they don’t disappear. Instead, they can manifest as physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

3. Develop and use your mind by:

Reading books and perhaps attending a book club.
Writing and doing research, attending a writing course.
Taking college courses or any other type of course.
Being creative, either creative writing, performing, painting, singing, dancing, improvisation, etc.
Crossword puzzles (those that stretch your mind), chess, and mind games.
Learn another language or a musical instrument.
Eat a healthy diet (more about diet below).
Teach a skill to others.
Listening to others – as we become more interested in others, we not only learn a lot but also develop different parts of our brains.
Learn a new hobby or skill.
Write things down in longhand. Research has shown that writing down new information longhand helps you integrate it more thoroughly and recall it more easily.
Stop smoking. Researchers have found evidence that smoking impedes cognitive function and may even shrink the size of your brain’s hippocampus. It can decrease your abilities related to memory, planning, and overall mental flexibility.
Getting plenty of sleep.
Listening to music.
Spirituality and faith practices such as contemplation, prayer, and meditation. As Andrew Newberg, author of the book, “How God Changes Your Brain”, says, "Spirituality and contemplation change your brain," improving empathy and reducing fear."

4. Spirituality and Sense of Purpose

Your spirituality is deeply connected to your mind, body, and emotions. When we seek happiness solely through worldly experiences, we often fall short because we rely only on our own experience. For many people, that simply isn't enough to feel truly safe, loved, and accepted.

While there are wonderful people to learn from along the way, no one else has your unique perspective or your personal connection with a higher power. God wants a relationship with us, but we must seek it, desire it, and ask for it.

As Ryan T. Howell, Ph.D., wrote in Psychology Today: "Spiritual people are gracious, optimistic, compassionate, savor life experiences, flourish, and self-actualize."

Connecting to God

Connecting to God (or whatever term resonates with you—higher power, spirit, the light, or that small still voice inside) helps you discover your purpose. A strong sense of purpose gives you the strength to get through difficult times because you know you're not alone. You'll have the inner strength to learn from experience and grow in character.

There's even scientific backing: a new study from Northwestern University found that people who know their purpose also sleep better at night.

"Having a purpose outside yourself is good not only for your mental health, but it's good for your physical health, longevity, and even your genes. Those with a stronger sense of purpose, regardless of age or education level, scored higher on tests of memory, executive, and cognitive functions than those with a weaker sense of purpose. Connecting to God will help you to feel healthier and happier all around."

Envisioning

Envisioning stimulates the creative and imaginative parts of your brain. Remember Einstein's words: "Imagination is more important than knowledge." And if you're ever doubting yourself, the Bible offers this reminder: "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).

5. Gratitude

No matter how challenging things are in your life, there is always something to be grateful for, whether that is a roof over your head, a friend you can rely on, or a pillow to rest your head on at night. When we cultivate gratitude, we increase our well-being and happiness. In addition, gratitude—and especially expressing it to others—is associated with increased energy, optimism, and empathy. From an energetic point of view, it raises your vibrational energy.

6. Give Back

As Alice G. Walton writes in Forbes magazine, “Most philosophies and religions include a strong sense of giving back to the world."

Giving back helps others and is one of the most therapeutic things we can do for ourselves. Mahatma Gandhi said,

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

When we do this, we see how our problems are not so prominent in the grand scheme of things, and that others have suffered deeply too. When we share each other’s burdens, they become lighter.

7. Eat a Healthy Diet

A healthy diet nourishes you on multiple levels—mind, body, and spirit. I won't dwell on this topic too long, as it could fill a book on its own (and many excellent ones already exist).

A few years ago, I ended up in the hospital for heart tests after experiencing dizzy spells. After three or four days of resting between tests and reading novels, I realized the culprit wasn't my heart—it was stress. All my results came back perfectly normal, but the experience was a wake-up call: I needed to take better care of myself.

I had been putting myself last while managing a move, caring for five kids, and hosting visiting family. So I visited a naturopath and overhauled my diet. At first, I had to be strict and take numerous supplements, but the results were incredible. My energy, mood, and overall well-being improved dramatically.

I hope you can incorporate some of these practices into your life. May they bring you the same positive difference they brought me!

If you would like to reach out for a complimentary 20-minute consultation. I would love to help you let go of anything that keeps you from being your healthiest and happiest. Click here to schedule a call.