Do you LOVE your life?

Loving your life, research shows, is a lifesaver.  Scientists have found that an optimistic attitude does more than put a smile on your face and make you good company.  Studies show that it cuts your risk of getting sick when exposed to the common cold virus; reduces your odds of developing heart disease by 50 percent; and increases the likelihood that you’ll recover from a heart attack, live longer after a cancer diagnosis, and even have fewer everyday health complaints, such as upset stomachs, intestinal distress and breathing problems.
 
Here are some clues to loving your life:
 
Laughter is important
It releases endorphins that create a feeling of joy and euphoria, erases stress and tension, and creates balance in your life no matter what’s going on.  Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that laughter prompts the delicate inner lining of blood vessels to expand, increasing blood flow to the heart and other organs.
 
A Sense of Purpose and meaning matter
Studies show that faith, prayer, and the support of a friendly religious community can cut stress and improve your odds of recovering from illness.  Having a rock-solid set of core beliefs seems to boost immunity, according to the studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, and increase stress resilience as well.
 
Slowing down and letting go of the past
This can get you in the door to happiness.  But if you cling to od dreams and goals that haven’t been fulfilled, you can become bitter.  The goal is to keep changing, to look at yourself in new ways, and to change your dreams as you move forward in life.
 
Action step
Constantly monitor yourself of negative, angry thinking and replace such thoughts with a reasonable sense of optimism. As you age and things may slow down (retirement, kids growing up, etc) it is important for a Long & Healthy life to keep active.  The best suggestion is to find something interesting to do.  The easy choice is merely to relax: Watch more TV, eat out more often, talk on the phone as much as you want.  The better choice, not only for your happiness but also for your health is to discover something more meaningful to devote yourself to and pursue it wholeheartedly.  A growing body of scientific research shows that doing something that interests you offers big mind-body benefits in your fifties, sixties, seventies and beyond.

Here is another way to love your life. Plenty of research – and plenty more real people- prove that following everyday interests is a powerful antidote to aging. 
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Some advice is to get involved, feeling the sense of flow that comes when you’re absorbed in something – whether it’s baking cupcakes, reading a novel, or playing a game with friends.  In one study, for example, people who found time every day for hobbies, reading and friends ranked their satisfaction with the aging process higher than those who were isolated and had fewer interests. 

The extra benefit of pursuing your interests:  By cutting stress, it can lower your blood pressure and tame stress hormones that can wreck havoc with your blood sugar – thereby cutting your odds of having heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes. 
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