Looking for health through happiness

Some people are incredible, going through life having tragedies happen to them and still holding their head up high.

I tend to focus on what I don’t have and overlook the blessings in my life, like my parents, hilarious brothers, and angels of friends.

Stewing on negative thoughts about past events, I tend to focus on things that went wrong and how I was shortchanged. I ask myself, how can I get over this?

A few months ago I was watching an episode about happiness on The Oprah Winfrey Show when the guest was an expert who studied happiness. He found that the happiest of people think “in with the good, out with the bad.” Another guest on the same show was a funeral director, who said he was fulfilled with life because he felt he brought comfort to the families and friends who had lost their loved ones.

A study done by Harvard researchers found that happiness doesn’t depend on what you are doing so much as how much attention you are devoting to it. One should focus on the present moment, taking attention away from wandering thoughts. It doesn’t matter where you are. As long as you give what you’re doing your full attention, this makes for the happiest of feelings.

Happiness, to me, means the feeling I get from being close to someone. I love affection and the feeling of belonging.

Happiness means being surrounded by accepting people who don’t try to control my actions.

It means believing that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be at this moment in time, having peace of mind, and being completely nonjudgmental toward others.

I consider the healthy thinkers in my life to be my role models. I seek advice from my close friends who lead joyful lives, and try to take what life brings as best I can.