good health can bring happiness essay

Advertisement

Health and happiness: an introduction

• Published: 14 June 2017
• Volume 64 , pages 105–111, ( 2017 )

Cite this article

• Luca Crivelli 1 , 2 &
• Mario Lucchini 3  

718 Accesses

Explore all metrics

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Angner E, Ghandhi J, Williams Purvis K, Amante D, Allison J (2013) Daily functioning, health status, and happiness in older adults. J Happiness Stud 14(5):1563–1574

Article   Google Scholar  

Brickman P, Campbell DT (1971) Hedonic relativism and planning the good society. In: Appley MH (ed) Adaptation level theory: a symposium. Academic Press, New York, pp 287–302

Google Scholar  

Clark AE (2017) Happiness, income and poverty. Int Rev Econ. doi: 10.1007/s12232-017-0274-7

Clark AE, Diener E, Georgellis Y, Lucas RE (2008) Lags and leads in life satisfaction: a test of the baseline hypothesis. Econ J 118(529):F222–F243

Cohen S, Doyle WJ, Skomer DP, Fireman P, Gwaltney JM, Newson JP (1995) State and trait negative affect as predictors of subjective and objective symptoms of respiratory viral infections. J Pers Soc Psychol 68(1):159–169

Crivelli L, Della Bella S, Lucchini M (2016a) Happiness and health. In: Bruni L, Porta P-L (eds) Handbook of research methods and applications in happiness and the quality of life. Elgar, Cheltenham, pp 372–399

Crivelli L, Della Bella S, Lucchini M (2016b) Multidimensional well-being in contemporary Europe: an analysis of the use of a self-organizing map applied to share data. in: Sachs J, Becchetti L, Annett A (eds) World happiness report 2016, Special Rome Edition (Vol. II). Sustainable Development Solutions Network, New York, pp 104–127

Danner DD, Snowdon DA, Friesen WA (2001) Positive emotions in early life and longevity: findings from the nun study. J Pers Soc Psychol 80(5):804–813

Diener E, Suh EM, Lucas RE, Smith HL (1999) Subjective well-being: three decades of progress. Psychol Bull 125(2):276–302

Dolan P, Peasgood T, White M (2008) Do we really know what makes us happy? A review of the economic literature on the factors associated with subjective well-being. J Econ Psychol 29(1):94–122

Francescutti C, Battisti A, Griffo G, Solipaca A (2017) Conceptualization and measurement of disability in studies on subjective well-being: a critical review and evidence from the Italian Health Surveys. Int Rev Econ. doi: 10.1007/s12232-017-0268-5

Graham C (2008) Happiness and health: lessons—and questions—for public policy. Health Aff 27(1):72–87

Graham C, Eggers A, Sukhtankar S (2004) Does happiness pay? An exploration based on panel data from Russia. J Econ Behav Organ 55(3):319–342

Grossman M (1972) On the concept of health capital and the demand for health. J Polit Econ 80(2):223–255

Kohonen T (1982) Self-organized formation of topologically correct feature maps. Biol Cybern 43(1):59–69

Lucchini M, Della Bella S, Crivelli L (2016) Genetic and environmental contributions to life satisfaction. In: Bruni L, Porta P-L (eds) Handbook of research methods and applications in happiness and the quality of life. Elgar, Cheltenham, pp 176–195

Lykken D, Tellegen A (1996) Happiness is a stochastic phenomenon. Psychol Sci 7(3):186–189

Marmot M (2004) Status syndrome. Bloomsbury Publishing, London

Nes RB, Røysamb E, Tambs K, Harris JR, Reichborn-Kjennerud T (2006) Subjective well-being: genetic and environmental contributions to stability and change. Psychol Med 36(7):1033–1042

Piper AT (2013) Happiness, dynamics and adaptation. MPRA paper. http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/52342/1/MPRA_paper_52342.pdf . Accessed 27 May 2017

Poterba JM, Venti S, Wise DA (2013) Health, education, and the post-retirement evolution of household assets. J Hum Cap 7(4):297–339

Probst-Hensch N (2017) Happiness and its molecular fingerprints. Int Rev Econ. doi: 10.1007/s12232-017-0269-4

Rabe-Hesketh S, Skrondal A, Gjessing HK (2008) Biometrical modeling of twin and family data using standard mixed model software. Biometrics 64(1):280–288

Rutter M (2006) Genes and behavior: nature-nurture interplay explained. Blackwell Publishers, Oxford

Ryff CD (2017) Eudaimonic well-being, inequality, and health: recent findings and future directions. Int Rev Econ. doi: 10.1007/s12232-017-0277-4

Ryff CD, Keyes C (1995) The structure of psychological well-being revisited. J Pers Soc Psychol 69(4):719–727

Ryff CD, Singer BH (1998) The contours of positive human health. Psychol Inq 9(1):1–28

Sugden R (2017) Do people really want to be nudged towards healthy lifestyles? Int Rev Econ. doi: 10.1007/s12232-016-0264-1

Veenhoven R (2008) Healthy happiness: effects of happiness on physical health and the consequences for preventive health care. J Happiness Stud 9(3):449–469

Watson D, Maître B, Whelan CT, Russell H (2017) Poverty, economic stress and quality of life: lessons from the Irish case. Int Rev Econ. doi: 10.1007/s12232-016-0265-0

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Via Violino 11, 6928, Manno, Switzerland

Luca Crivelli

Swiss School of Public Health, Zurich, Switzerland

Department of Sociology and Social Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Bicocca degli Arcimboldi 8, 20126, Milan, Italy

Mario Lucchini

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luca Crivelli .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Crivelli, L., Lucchini, M. Health and happiness: an introduction. Int Rev Econ 64 , 105–111 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12232-017-0279-2

Download citation

Published : 14 June 2017

Issue Date : June 2017

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s12232-017-0279-2

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

Happiness and Health

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

Health and happiness are two basic pillars that most people agree constitute a good life. And the two turn out to be more intertwined than one might think. The question of whether one causes the other or if the two are only correlated is difficult to tease apart, but there's no doubt that a strong connection exists.

On This Page

• The Physical Benefits of Happiness
• How Health Affects Happiness

Researchers have pinned down connections between happiness and more specific aspects of health, such as the immune response we mount in response to a virus or how long our lives will ultimately be.

It’s difficult to distinguish the direction between health and happiness. Does a happy person also have better health care and stronger relationships, which benefits their health? Does dealing with a chronic illness consistently worsen mood? Researchers aim to control for these questions, but the direction will always be challenging to say for certain.

Happiness is associated with an array of physical health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, reduced risk of stroke, a stronger immune system, and even a longer life. Positive emotions are also linked to a reduced risk of injury in young adults and frailty in older adults.

Yes, happiness is correlated with a longer lifespan. People who report feeling a stronger sense of happiness and well-being live longer, on average, than do  those who report weaker feelings, and the effect exists for both men and women.

Happiness is linked to having a strong immune system, helping prevent illness and making symptoms less severe. For example, in a group of people exposed to a flu virus, those who had typically reported more positive emotions were less likely to get sick. The same occurred for people whose happiness was intentionally boosted before exposure to the virus.

There are a few different ideas to explain how happiness benefits health. One is that positive emotions lead to positive behaviors and changes, such as exercise, sleep, a nutritious diet, supportive relationships, and coping skills. Another is that positive emotions function to decrease stress and the harmful toll it can take on the body.

There’s no evidence that a happiness intervention can cure illnesses or speed recovery time. But positive psychology interventions can help reduce symptoms of depression. They can also help improve mental health and life satisfaction.

Health and happiness broadly overlap, but there are also narrower ways in which health can boost well-being. The foods we consume, the exercise we do, and the diseases we face all play a role.

There are various theories for why health may lead to happiness. Some research suggests that when people take better care of themselves, they come to feel happier. Some research suggests that people who are healthier just have a more positive outlook. Still other research suggests that an underlying factor such as genetics or personality contributes to both.

Exercise prompts the body to produce endorphins and enkephalins, hormones that relieve pain and boost pleasure. These chemicals are responsible for the feeling of a “runner’s high.” Exercise also shifts our focus away from current concerns and damaging self-talk and leads us to spend time outside or with others.

More and more research now shows an important relationship between the gut and the brain. Certain foods can strengthen the gut microbes that support mental health, such as fish, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids, and veggies, which are high in fiber.

Chronic pain or disease can take a heavy toll on well-being. People may struggle with the stress of constantly navigating the healthcare system for a diagnosis or treatment. They may be fearful  of how life will change, in terms of relationships or career, and face financial pressure. They may grieve for pieces of their life that are altered or lost.

People dealing with an ongoing illness can practice self-compassion, mindfulness, and equanimity to help manage their happiness and mental health. Self-compassion can prevent harmful self-talk and self-blame, and mindfulness can relieve people from stressful thoughts of pain and sickness by bringing them into the present moment.

A recent happiness report finds U.S. happiness plummeting, with the youth leading the way.

Discover how great leaders blend achievement, purpose, and joy to not just succeed, but truly thrive.

Personal Perspective: It can be hard to find a way around restrictions in your life. I found my road to joy in a bowling alley.

Ageism in the media seems to be everywhere, and few hesitate to make jokes about age. New research shows how these attitudes play out in everyday life.

Temu has become one of consumers’ most popular apps. Its secrets are unbelievably low prices and psychology hacks that get consumers to keep shopping.

Currents of existential self-reflection ebb and flow among Swift's melodies across a music catalogue that includes continuous dialogue with the past, present, and future Taylor.

Travel can be a trigger for mood episodes in individuals living with mental health conditions. Here are 5 strategies for maintaining your wellness while traveling.

You're tired of spending so much time barely getting through your day. Here are ways to get back in touch with what really matters to you and live with more intention.

Taking the idea of a “perfect life” or “perfect anything” with a grain of salt can be hard, but it can lead to greater satisfaction with reality.

Discover the science of self-reward. Learn to use "little treats" to boost a happier and more productive life. Transform your daily routine one reward at a time.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Centre
• Find Online Therapy
• Calgary, AB
• Edmonton, AB
• Hamilton, ON
• Montréal, QC
• Toronto, ON
• Vancouver, BC
• Winnipeg, MB
• Mississauga, ON
• Oakville, ON
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Healthy Lifestyle — Healthy is the new happy

Healthy is The New Happy

• Categories: Happiness Healthy Lifestyle

About this sample

Words: 773 |

Published: Mar 28, 2019

Words: 773 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Works Cited

• Anderson, J. E. (2018). Public Health in Nepal: An Anthropological Perspective. Routledge.
• Basnet, R. B. (2014). Health System in Nepal: Challenges and Strategic Options. Himal Books.
• Bernhardt, J. M., Mays, D., & Hall, A. K. (2019). Communication and Dissemination Strategies to Facilitate the Translation and Adoption of Health Research: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review and Evidence Map. PloS One, 14(10), e0223817.
• Brunner, L. S., Smeltzer, S. C., Bare, B. G., Hinkle, J. L., & Cheever, K. H. (2017). Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing. Wolters Kluwer Health.
• Government of Nepal. (2015). National Health Policy 2014. Ministry of Health and Population.
• Koirala, S., & Koirala, K. (2018). Health Care System in Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Nepal Medical Association, 56(210), 244-250.
• Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal. (2017). National Health Sector Strategy 2015-2020. Government of Nepal.
• National Health Insurance Board, Nepal. (2018). National Health Insurance Program Guidelines. Government of Nepal.
• Shrestha, N. R., Shrestha, A., & Shrestha, S. (2018). Health Care Delivery System in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal of Nepal Medical Association, 56(212), 330-334.
• World Health Organization. (2020). Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) Country Profiles: Nepal. World Health Organization.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 613 words

2 pages / 1006 words

2 pages / 1044 words

1 pages / 483 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Healthy Lifestyle

Exercise is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle, and its benefits are well-documented. Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to improve both physical and mental health, reduce the risk of chronic [...]

In this essay on the benefits of exercise, we will explore the multitude of advantages that regular physical activity can offer. Exercise is not merely a means to improve physical appearance; it is a powerful tool that can [...]

In the modern age, with the proliferation of technology and desk-bound occupations, a sedentary lifestyle has become the norm for many. This essay delves into the repercussions of a sedentary lifestyle on personal health and its [...]

Virginian luxuries refer to the extravagant lifestyle and possessions of the wealthy elite in the colonial state of Virginia. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Virginia was a hub for the cultivation of tobacco, which brought [...]

As the saying goes, “laugh and the world will laugh with you.” Laughing really is undeniably contagious and this has been proven in multiple situations, including public service announcements and social experiments. According to [...]

Currently, the world is facing an epidemic rise in Non-Communicable diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. These diseases are caused in a part by the trend of rising in obesity which corresponds to the declining rate of [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Sun and Mosquitoes: Summer Skin Care Guide for Children
• Maintaining Consistency in Your Health Goals
• A Conversation With Witney Carson 
• The Best Ways to Eat More Produce When Most Produce Isn’t In Season
• The D10 HOUSTON

LIFE, LONGEVITY & THE PURSUIT OF HEALTHINESS

White House Joins Other World Leaders in Fight Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Holiday Health Battle Plan

Sleep disorders may increase risk of alzheimer’s, hoarding, sorting and scrapping.

The Gift of Health Savings

Will eating bacon really kill me a look at understanding health information in the news, not all soap is created equal, what does it mean to die well and why should you care, does being healthy make you happier.

Health and happiness are synonymous. Being in good health is the greatest indicator of people’s spiritual, mental, physical well-being, and happiness.  Medical researchers tell us that people are predisposed to inherit family diseases. When people think of health, though, the absence of disease comes to mind, but health entails more than the nonexistence of the conditions that cause diseases. Moreover, people are free to make choices that diminish the value of life, health, peace, beauty, vitality, and happiness. Conversely, they can make healthy choices and live healthy, wholesome, and happy lives. Happiness is achievable when people are in good physical health, which is a function of diet and nutrition, sleep, exercise, and general wholesome (stress-free) living.

Happiness exists in the physical realm of our lives, no different from our spiritual, moral, social, intellectual and emotional lives. Notwithstanding, people’s preoccupation with “lifestyle happiness” seems to overshadow these critical areas of health, well-being, and happiness. Understanding all of the complexities of physical well-being is essential to living healthy and happy lives.

In our postmodern era, physical health has been elevated to matters of human survival, more so than physical prowess is a sign of masculinity. Medical practitioners are prescribing physical exercise as part of the healthcare regimen for their patients. Evidence of this transformation is the appearance of diet and nutrition, and fitness centers that are springing up across the urban and rural landscape.

Further proof of this revolution is the number of young people, both male and female, with yearly fitness center memberships. People, in general, are embracing a philosophy of “walk,” “jog,” “run,” as a value proposition for their physical health and well-being, which further translates to a happier pre-disposition. City planners and corporate office personnel call for bicycle lanes to facilitate physical exercise within inner cities. One can postulate that there is a direct correlation between the “abundant life” of people and their physical well-being, and happiness.

Why are people happy when they are healthy?

• People desire to be healthy and happy, and experience a long life; being in good health is a predicate of longevity.
• When people are in good health, they enjoy a more active lifestyle. People can engage in physical activities that imbue happiness such as dancing, or group activities that physically healthy people take for granted such as hiking, running a marathon, or climbing a mountain.
• Being in good physical health presents a broader range of opportunities to take on occupations that demand physical fitness such as a bodyguard, or a firefighter.
• When people are healthy, they are more likely to be better off financially. The financial burden that millions experience in meeting the cost of their healthcare needs can contribute to chronic unhappiness. Money may not buy health or happiness, but it is a crucial factor in the happiness equation.
• Good health, and freedom from chronic pain enables people to have a better social life, which strengthens relationships.

The scientific minds help people to understand better and manage their health issues and to comprehend better the magnitude of health challenges as people age. Unfortunately, some of the significant efforts of medical science are negated by the incalculable harm that some people cause to their bodies by not exercising regularly, by neglecting sleep and proper nutrition, or by working excessively, often pushing the limits of their mental and physical capabilities, ultimately impacting their health and happiness.

“Regularity in the hours of rising and retiring, perseverance in exercise, adaptation of dress to the variations of climate, simple and nutritious aliment, and temperance in all things are necessary branches of the regimen of health” ⎯Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, British Statesperson (September 1694 – March 1773).

For the benefit of a healthy and happier life, the following ten habits should help to sustain the healthy and happy equation. They are not the only criteria, but they have been helpful in maintaining the complex and multilayered paths to health and happiness.

TEN HEALTHCARE CRITERIA TO SUSTAIN HEALTH AND HAPPINESS

• Get a yearly physical.
• Strive for work–life balance.
• Avoid stressful situations.
• Mitigate or manage stressful situations.
• Seek spiritual and mental nurturing.
• Exercise frequently (daily if practicable).
• Maintain a healthy diet rich in natural foods.
• Research the family predisposition to illnesses.
• Strive for adequate exercise, rest, and relaxation.
• Eat foods from the ground, the sea, and the tree.

These ten healthcare criteria for a healthy and happy life enable people to help counteract the challenges that busy and stressful postmodern lifestyle inflict on people’s bodies and make them unhealthy and unhappy.

About The Authors: Errol and Marjorie Gibbs

Errol and Marjorie Gibbs are the authors of Discovering Your Optimum “Happiness Index” (OHI): A Self-Directed Guide to Your “Happiness Index” (HI) now available on Amazon. Connect with them at www.gibbshappinessindex.com.

Previous Do Nature Sounds Actually Do Anything For You?

Next quick food hall of shame .

Errol Gibbs

Errol A. and Marjorie G. Gibbs are avid readers, self-inspired researchers, and writers. Religious, scientific, educational, philosophical, and humanitarian pursuits highlight their work. Multigenerational family life, nurturing child development, community, business, and corporate experience underpin their quest to inspire happiness in others through their seminal work on the Optimum Happiness Index (OHI).

As someone with a blog HealthyHappyLife dot com I have long debated this exact conversation! In fact I named my blog what it is because I have always said that to be happy you have to feel healthy. And over the years I still agree that being healthy makes it WAY easier to be happy, but I have also loosened a bit on my viewpoint. I now believe that even if you have chronic health struggles or more serious health issues, you can still find happiness. It just takes a bit more effort. Because the truth is, some of us do everything “right” and still experience some health problems. And those people shouldn’t feel like they cannot find deep and intense happiness just like their “healthy” peers.

Anyways, great article. Thank you out for talking about this topic!

Thanks Kathy for the kind comments. You are right. Even though one a catastrophic illness may afflict a person, he or she can still be a happy person. The higher state of happiness if ‘Joy.’ Joy is the Sentinel that guards the soul when ‘happiness’ takes flight — hopefully temporarily. We have written much about ‘Optimum Happiness’ ‘Joy’ which is a higher value proposition for human survival as a viable species than our conventional notion of happiness.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

More Stories

Greater Good Science Center • Magazine • In Action • In Education

Articles & More

How hope can keep you happier and healthier, hope is more than just positive thinking..

Hope can erode when we perceive threats to our way of life, and these days, plenty are out there. As we age , we may struggle with a tragic loss or chronic disease. As we watch the news, we see our political system polarized , hopelessly locked in chaos. The coronavirus spreads wider daily ; U.S. markets signaled a lack of hope with a Dow Jones free fall. Losing hope sometimes leads to suicide .

When there is no hope—when people cannot picture a desired end to their struggles—they lose the motivation to endure. As professor emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University, I’ve studied positive psychology, forgiveness, wellness and the science of hope for more than 40 years. My website offers free resources and tools to help its readers live a more hopeful life.

What is hope?

First, hope is not Pollyannaish optimism— the assumption that a positive outcome is inevitable. Instead, hope is a motivation to persevere toward a goal or end state, even if we’re skeptical that a positive outcome is likely. Psychologists tell us hope involves activity, a can-do attitude and a belief that we have a pathway to our desired outcome. Hope is the willpower to change and the way-power to bring about that change.

With teens and with young or middle-aged adults, hope is a bit easier. But for older adults, it’s a bit harder. Aging often means running up against obstacles that appear unyielding—like recurring health or financial or family issues that just don’t seem to go away. Hope for older adults has to be “sticky,” persevering, a “ mature hope .”

How to build hope

Now the good news: this study , from Harvard’s “ Human Flourishing Program ,” recently published. Researchers examined the impact of hope on nearly 13,000 people with an average age of 66. They found those with more hope throughout their lives had better physical health, better health behaviors, better social support and a longer life. Hope also led to fewer chronic health problems, less depression, less anxiety and a lower risk of cancer.

So if maintaining hope in the long run is so good for us, how do we increase it? Or build hope if it’s MIA? Here are my four suggestions:

Attend a motivational speech —or watch, read or listen to one online, through YouTube, a blog or podcast. That increases hope, although usually the fix is short-lived. How can you build longer-term hope?

Engage with a religious or spiritual community. This has worked for millennia. Amidst a community of like believers, people have drawn strength, found peace and experienced the elevation of the human spirit, just by knowing there is something or someone much larger than them.

Forgive. Participating in a forgiveness group , or completing a forgiveness do-it-yourself workbook , builds hope, say scientists . It also reduces depression and anxiety, and increases (perhaps this is obvious) your capacity to forgive. That’s true even with long-held grudges. I’ve personally found that successfully forgiving someone provides a sense of both the willpower and way-power to change.

Choose a “hero of hope.” Some have changed history: Nelson Mandela endured 27 years of imprisonment yet persevered to build a new nation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt brought hope to millions for a decade during the Great Depression. Ronald Reagan brought hope to a world that seemed forever mired in the Cold War. From his fourth State of the Union address: “Tonight, I’ve spoken of great plans and great dreams. They’re dreams we can make come true. Two hundred years of American history should have taught us that nothing is impossible.”

Hope gets you unstuck

Hope changes systems that seem stuck. Katherine Johnson , the black mathematician whose critical role in the early days of NASA and the space race was featured in the movie “Hidden Figures,” recently died at age 101. The movie (and the book on which it was based) brought to light her persistence against a system that seemed forever stuck. Bryan Stevenson, who directs the Equal Justice Initiative , and the subject of the movie “Just Mercy,” has successfully fought to help those wrongly convicted or incompetently defended to get off death row.

Stevenson laments that he could not help everyone who needed it; he concluded that he lived in a broken system, and that, in fact, he too was a broken man. Yet he constantly reminded himself of what he had told everyone he tried to help: “Each of us,” he said, “is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” Hope changes all of us. By regaining his hope, Bryan Stevenson’s example inspires us.

Regardless of how hard we try, we cannot eliminate threats to hope. Bad stuff happens. But there are the endpoints of persistent hope: We become healthier and our relationships are happier. We can bring about that hope by buoying our willpower, bolstering our persistence, finding pathways to our goals and dreams, and looking for heroes of hope. And just perhaps, one day, we too can be such a hero.

This article was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article .

About the Author

Everett L. Worthington Jr.

Everett L. Worthington, Jr., Ph.D. , is Commonwealth Professor Emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University and co-editor (with Nathaniel G. Wade) of Handbook of Forgiveness , 2nd ed. (2020, Routledge). He studies forgiveness, humility, and other character strengths and virtues within positive psychology.

You May Also Enjoy

This article — and everything on this site — is funded by readers like you.

Become a subscribing member today. Help us continue to bring “the science of a meaningful life” to you and to millions around the globe.

English that goes straight to the heart

Good Health and Well Being Essay

An essay is a piece of writing that revolves around a particular theme and contains the academic opinions of the person writing it. A basic essay mainly consists of three parts: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.

Good Health and well being would guarantee an agile and active mind. Regular exercise helps us to keep fit and simultaneously keep an alarm in mind.

Daily Test - Attempt Now

Good Health and Well Being Essay (900+ Words)

Man, who is a reasonable creature, has a superior mind compared to other creatures. He has been able to control nature due to his advanced brain. However, man needs to keep his body and mind healthy. It is commonly said that “A healthy man is a wealthy one”. Regular exercise helps us stay fit and also keeps our mind alert. Good health ensures an agile and active mind. Poor physical health can have a negative impact on an individual’s psychological well-being.

Recent studies have shown that the stress of modern life is causing various medical conditions, especially heart and neurological problems. Good health helps us maintain a positive attitude towards work and life in general.

Despite facing difficulties and obstacles, life is meant to be positive and joyful. To enjoy the beauty of life, we need energy and enthusiasm, which comes from having a healthy body capable of facing life’s challenges.

The foundation for good health is laid in childhood. It depends on the mother’s health and nutrition, as well as the hygiene of the surrounding environment. These are the two fundamental requirements for a healthy mother and baby. Many children suffer from dreadful illnesses such as polio, diphtheria, and typhoid. Therefore, preventing such diseases is crucial for children’s well-being.

Parents love their children and see them as their best hope. They dream of having healthy, intelligent kids and take responsibility for their physical and mental growth. However, it’s not just the parents’ responsibility to ensure their well-being as children are the future of the country and everyone’s hope.

A child’s development determines the kind of person they become, and a healthy child becomes a healthy adult. A well-rounded upbringing can produce a resourceful individual who can contribute to society and humanity. It’s perfectly fine for others to lend a helping hand in maintaining the good health and well-being of children.

Various individuals, such as educators, neighbors, friends, athletes, teachers, trainers, media personnel, social workers, doctors, and gymnasts, can inspire children to maintain good health and well-being.

In school, a child can develop physically and mentally. Good health and well-being have always been important, but in this competitive age, they are even more crucial to meet modern demands. Life has become fast-paced and stressful from an early age.

The educational curriculum is extensive, and expectations for students are high. Competitions are becoming increasingly difficult, and students must study hard and sit in the classroom for extended periods of time. Educational institutions should prioritize physical exercise and recreational programs to promote good health and well-being among students. This is the primary way for students to learn effectively and maintain their health.

A good school or educational institution is remembered for its facilities for sports and other activities that provide students with physical exercise and entertainment. After long periods of mental work, students need outdoor activities to refresh their minds and overcome mental fatigue.

Regardless of the career they choose, young individuals with a decent academic record and good health aim to achieve their life goals. Good education, good health, and well-being provide the necessary confidence to face challenges and achieve progress and success.

Further examination reveals that individuals with good health and well-being can perform better in any profession. Both physical and mental health are equally crucial for better performance and results. Therefore, it is essential for everyone to prioritize their health to become a result-oriented individual.

Even an untalented person can succeed in their occupation with good health and well-being. We can observe many physically fit people working on farms, putting in their energy to provide for themselves and their families. This work gives them a sense of mental satisfaction and a good night’s sleep. Additionally, physically and mentally strong individuals can provide better support to society and earn the appreciation of others.

Good health is a crucial requirement for various professions, such as the armed forces, paramilitary, police, and other similar forces. Individuals who are physically and mentally fit can excel in these fields and earn recognition and awards for their outstanding performance and bravery in difficult situations.

In the private sector, where professional skills are prioritized, a strong and healthy appearance is also valued. Good health is essential in every aspect of life and can have lifelong benefits.

A person’s mental state reflects on their physical appearance. Negative thoughts and emotions can lead to disappointment and disease, while positive thoughts and a healthy mind can bring a sparkle to a person’s face. The mind and body are closely connected and can trigger a cycle of reactions if not controlled.

Improving access to healthcare facilities is crucial in areas where people are suffering due to the lack of medical attention. In many rural areas, hospitals run without proper medical staff or supplies, leaving people with multiple diseases or injuries untreated. The poor cannot afford treatment in big cities or private hospitals. However, awareness and regular exercise can also play a significant role in maintaining good health.

People who prioritize their health often join gyms and yoga camps, inspiring others to follow suit and make efforts toward disease prevention and overall well-being. By freeing the mind of negative thoughts and focusing on physical health, a person can avoid most illnesses of psychological origin and achieve overall good health and a better state of mind.

Essay on Brain Drain

Essay on Law and Order

Essay on Pleasures of Reading

Daily reading comprehension test - attempt now, 1 thought on “good health and well being essay”.

Great Job maaan!

Comments are closed.

Discover more from English Luv

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

• Myth: The power of positive thinking.
• Myth: We need money to be happy.
• Myth: We need to be kind to be happy.
• Myth: We are happier with few possessions.
• Myth: We need to suffer to be happy.
• Myth: We need to love ourselves.
• Myth: We need to be loved to be happy.
• Myth: We need close relationships to be happy.

Myth: Having good health is a key to happiness.

• Myth: We can choose to be happy.
• Myth: Happiness – fake it until you make it!
• Myth: Happiness comes from having low expectations.
• Myth: we need to foster compassion to be happy.
• Myth: We can earn our self-worth
• Myth: We should aim to succeed.
• 1. State what needs to happen from now on.
• 2. You are not obliged to give a reason.
• 3. Show the person you understand their point of view.
• 4. Don’t run away.
• 5. You don’t need to solve the other person’s problem
• 6. You are not obligated to answer all questions.
• 7. Ensure your question is answered.
• 8. Don’t be a citizen of Wimp City.
• 9. Don’t be an ‘are you sure?’
• 10. Don’t be a ‘Maybe’.
• 11. Get rid of the ums & ers.
• 12. Ask why.
• 13. Ask for help.
• 14. Learn to say ‘no’.
• 15. Ask for something in return.
• 16. Accept compliments.
• 17. Remain unattached to the outcome
• Don’t turn the other cheek.
• Dealing with an angry person
• Dealing with a nasty person.
• Dealing with hostile emailers.
• Kids: avoid being ‘nagged’ by a parent.
• Steps to take if you need to confront someone.
• Getting away from talkers.
• Opportunities to practise being assertive.
• 1. Why it helps YOU to say ‘Thank you’.
• 2. Avoid the underminers.
• 3. Be the gatekeeper.
• 4. Ulysses and the sirens.
• 5. Don’t cheat, don’t steal.
• Do I deserve to be happy?
• Why did I write this book?
• Is the Dalai Lama an anger avoider?
• Why does poo smell bad?
• About the author.

If you are suffering from the eye-bulging pain of dengue fever then no, you won’t be happy. Having bad health will make us unhappy, but that doesn’t mean the reverse is true, that good health makes us happy. There are plenty of healthy, glum people about.   Fairly obviously, get plenty of sleep, eat nutritious food, and avoid catching dengue fever.

Q. ‘Are you saying someone with poor health can’t be happy?’ No, because it is feasible that someone with chronic poor health, perhaps even chronic pain, might eventually come to terms with their illness and return to the same level of core happiness (the day-to-day general feeling of well-being) they had before. Naturally, they’d give anything to be well again and free of pain, but that would not have to mean their level of core happiness is low.    I have met people with chronic pain who do consider themselves to be leading happy lives. And I’ve met people with perfect health, with no major problems, who aren’t happy.

Q. ‘Could someone with a terminal illness be happy?’ Again, it is feasible that a person suffering the pain, anguish and fear of a terminal illness, and who is terribly unhappy, might still consider themselves to be leading a happy life.   ‘How? How could that be?’   Because they can instinctively distinguish between their temporary unhappiness and their core happiness. Yes, they’ll be experiencing bucket-loads of misery, yet still be aware that underneath it all, life is worth living and enjoyable. At least, that’s how I see it. I have not asked heaps of people with chronic pain or terminal illness how happy they are. Nor will I.    I do remember a neighbour grieving terribly for the loss of his missus, but he still considered himself to be happy. It’s a contradiction explained by making the distinction between our temporary happiness and core happiness.

Here are some other happiness myths: – The power of positive thinking . We are often told that we need to look on the bright side if we want to be happy. We need to see the glass half full. But is that helpful advice? – Myth: we need money to be happy .  Surely we need money to be happy, don’t we? Without it we would be in dire straits. So, why is it a myth? – Myth: to be happy we need to be kind . Countless times we are told that becoming a kind person will make us happier. Why isn’t that true? – Myth: We are happier with only a few possessions . Will having fewer possessions make us feel happier? How does that work? – Myth: We need to suffer before we can be happy .  Helen Keller once said: ‘The hilltops would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.’ Is she right? – Myth: We need to reach our full potential . The life coaches offer to help us become better people, yet in another breath tell us to accept ourselves for who we are. What’s going on? – Myth: We need to love ourselves to be happy. We keep hearing that, but is it true? No, it’s not. – Myth: We need to be loved to be happy   This isn’t true either! At least, not after our teens. – Myth: We need close relationships to be happy . It’s the biggest, most common myth about happiness of them all. Nearly everyone says it. Yet, it’s not true. – Myth: We can choose to be happy .  This is one of the most pernicious myths going around. Of course we can’t choose to be happy! – Myth: We need to fake it until we make it .  Supposedly, if we act happy, we will become happy. But it’s just not true. – Myth: Happiness comes from having low expectations . Don’t expect much and you won’t be disappointed, goes the saying. But does that equal happiness? Of course not. – Myth: We need to foster compassion to be happy . The Buddhists are particularly keen on the idea of fostering compassion. So, should we foster it? – Myth: We can earn our self-worth .  How many of us live our lives trying to earn our self-worth? Might you be trying to earn your self worth? – Myth: We should aim to succeed . Life-coaches want to tell us how to succeed, but we shouldn’t even try.

2 Responses to Myth: Having good health is a key to happiness.

I enjoyed readiing your post

Thank you, Beau!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

About this book.

Happiness does not come from positive thinking, random acts of kindness, a high self-esteem, or from having close relationships. Nor does it come from trying to reach our full potential. It comes from satisfying long-term, ongoing innate needs. Two of those needs are to feel safe, and to feel that we belong. This book looks at both.

SECTION 1. WHY IS HAVING RESILIENCE IMPORTANT?

• What is happiness?
• How did happiness evolve?
• Getting the balance right.
• Should we even seek happiness?

SECTION 2. THE NEED TO FEEL SAFE

• The difference between stoicism and resilience

1. What are you feeling?

• What are you thinking? What are you feeling?
• Label it. And be specific!
• Distinguish between your thoughts and feelings.
• What presses your button?
• Don’t talk like a zombie
• Charlotte and the Creatures of the Dark Forest
• Ignore the dills in the peanut gallery
• The Adventures of Sir Thrustalot.
• Find the hidden concerns.

2. Emotional beliefs

• Be aware of your emotional beliefs
• Weaken your disabling emotional beliefs
• The Tyranny of the Should – our expectations of the world.
• The Tyranny of the Should – our expectations of ourselves.

3. Anger is a wonderful emotion.

• What makes you angry? Wrong answer!
• An incident occurred and I’m angry!
• Be angry with yourself

4. Be vulnerable.

• Be vulnerable.
• Allow yourself to be criticised.
• Admit your mistakes
• How to give a quality apology
• How to give a lousy apology
• Don’t lie to yourself
• Don’t lie in general
• Do scary things.
• Develop the feeling of abundance.

5. Reduce the intensity of an unwanted emotion

• Edward de Bono’s shrug
• Get out of the habit of complaining

6. Unwanted thoughts.

• Think what you like.
• It’s okay to be judgmental but . . .
• Dealing with Unwanted Thoughts

7. To become an adult

• Take responsibility for how your life unfolds.
• Look for the part you played when something goes wrong in your life.
• Look for the part you played when something goes right in your life.
• Become unbreakable.
• Resisting peer pressure
• The one true freedom

8. Feel invincible.

• Why do soldiers get fit?

9. Section 2 Concludes.

Section 3. the deep need to belong.

• Our deep need to belong – introduction

1. Our Need to Feel valued

• Our need to feel valued.
• I ask of you a favour.
• Help people feel valued
• Ways to feel valued.
• Our self-worth
• We evolved to have a fragile self-worth
• Feeling loveable.
• 1. Be open to receiving love.
• 2. Ditch the mask and be yourself.
• 3. Just two things exist.
• 4. I am better than no one . . .
• 5. Don’t live in Wimp City.

2. Our Need to Contribute.

• Introduction.
• Follow your heart, a little bit.

3. Our Need to Feel Connected.

• Feeling connected
• 1. When someone speaks to you.
• 2. When you speak to someone.

4. Connecting with the people close to us.

• Introduction
• 1. Don’t snipe
• 2. Be gracious.
• 3. Tell people what you are feeling.
• 4. Tell the person what you want.
• 5. Distinguish between wants and needs.
• 6. Say ‘Thank you’ – Part 2
• In conclusion . . . .
• This book concludes.

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Ross Douthat

Can the Left Be Happy?

By Ross Douthat

Opinion Columnist

A crucial moment in the development of modern left-wing culture arrived some time in 2013, when Ta-Nehisi Coates, reading books about the ravages and aftermath of World War II by the historians Tony Judt and Timothy Snyder, realized that he didn’t believe in God.

“I don’t believe the arc of the universe bends towards justice,” Coates wrote for The Atlantic then. “I don’t even believe in an arc. I believe in chaos … I don’t know that it all ends badly. But I think it probably does.”

I apologize for pinning so much on one writer’s existential crisis. But it’s fair to describe the author of “ The Case for Reparations ” and “ Between the World and Me ” as the defining pundit-intellectual of the late Obama era, the writer whose work on race and American life set the tone for progressivism’s trajectory throughout the Trump years and into the great “racial reckoning” of 2020 (by which time Coates had made an enviable escape to fiction).

And in his crisis of faith, his refusal of optimism, you see the question that has hung over left-wing culture throughout a period in which its influence over many American institutions has markedly increased: Does it make any sense for a left-winger to be happy?

The left-wing temperament is, by nature, unhappier than the moderate and conservative alternatives. The refusal of contentment is essential to radical politics; the desire to take the givens of the world and make something better out of them is always going to be linked to less relaxed gratitude, than to more of a discontented itch.

But the 20th century left had two very different anchors in a fundamental optimism: the Christianity of the American social gospel tradition, which influenced New Deal liberalism and infused the civil rights movement, and the Marxist conviction that the iron logic of historical development would eventually bring about a secular utopia — trust the science (of socialism)!

What’s notable about the left in the 2020s is that neither anchor is there anymore. The secularization of left-wing politics has made the kind of Christian-inflected cosmic optimism that still defined, say, Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign seem increasingly irrelevant or cringe-worthy. Meanwhile, the revival of Marxism and socialism has not been accompanied by any obvious recovery of faith in a Marxist science of history. I know many people on the left who think Marx was right about capitalism’s contradictions; I know many fewer who share his expectation that the dialectic will yield a worker’s paradise.

Instead you have a fear that when “late capitalism” crashes, it will probably take everybody down with it, a sense we should be “learning to die” as the climate crisis worsens, a belief in white supremacy as an original sin without the clear promise of redemption.

For the stern-minded, pessimism of the intellect can coexist with optimism of the will. “I’m also not a cynic,” Coates wrote in the same 2013 essay. “Those of us who reject divinity, who understand that there is no order, there is no arc, that we are night travelers on a great tundra, that stars can’t guide us, will understand that the only work that will matter, will be the work done by us.”

But it should not be a surprise that some of those “night travelers on a great tundra” might incline a bit more than past left-wingers to despair. Nor should it be a surprise that amid the recent trend toward increasing youth unhappiness, the left-right happiness gap is wider than before — that whatever is making young people unhappier (be it smartphones, climate change, secularism or populism), the effect is magnified the further left you go.

The smartphone theory of increasing youth unhappiness has been especially in the news this past week, thanks to Jonathan Haidt’s new book, “ The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness .” And it’s been striking how certain critiques of Haidt’s theory from the left seem to object to the idea that youth unhappiness could be anything but rational and natural.

Take the prominent review for Nature by a child development scholar, Candice L. Odgers, which cited American “access to guns, exposure to violence, structural discrimination and racism, sexism and sexual abuse, the opioid epidemic, economic hardship and social isolation” as plausible causal alternatives to Haidt’s social-media diagnosis.

The tone of the review suggested that kids really ought to be a bit depressed. Wouldn’t you be, growing up amid “school shootings and increasing unrest because of racial and sexual discrimination and violence”? And for an answer to this unhappiness, with neither Providence nor scientific socialism available, Odgers turned to the therapeutic process, lamenting the dearth of school psychologists to help kids process “their symptoms and mental-health struggles.”

This seems like where a good portion of the American left finds itself today: comforted by neither God nor history, and hoping vaguely that therapy can take their place.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , X and Threads .

Ross Douthat has been an Opinion columnist for The Times since 2009. He is the author, most recently, of “The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery.” @ DouthatNYT • Facebook