Category: Reck, Ross; Dr.

There aren’t many medicines that even come close to delivering the benefits that laughter delivers.  To start with, laughter makes us feel good, makes our burdens seem lighter and makes the difficult times seem less difficult.  In addition, laughter strengthens the immune system, helps you heal more quickly, reduces food cravings, reduces stress, anxiety and anger while providing you with a better night’s sleep.  And, the more we laugh, the more of these benefits we accrue.  The problem is that we simply don’t laugh enough.  Recent research shows that adults average only 17 laughs per day while a kindergartener laughs 300 times per day–and guess who is happier and healthier?  The lesson here is that we all need to make it a point to laugh more each and every day.  If we do, just like those kindergarteners, we’ll find ourselves happier and healthier.

References:

• RossReck.com

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Don’t worry, be happy.” While it may sound trite, numerous medical and psychological studies show that this is sound advice to live by. These studies found that that happiness causes good things to happen across a number of fronts. For example, happy people have higher incomes, more fulfilling marriages, healthier lifestyles, better relationships, superior work performance, are more involved with their communities, have better health and live longer lives. In addition, happy people are more optimistic, kind, have more energy and are less likely to have heart problems. As Dr. Karina Davidson, of the Columbia University Medical Center put it, “If you are not a naturally happy person, try acting like one.” Doing things like cooking a meal for someone who is sick or grieving, slowing down in traffic to allow someone can cut in front of you, running an errand for someone, or doing something to brighten another person’s day can cause these same good things to happen in your life.

Read all of Dr. Ross Reck’s Reminders at RossReck.com

Many of us, if left to our druthers, would prefer to live our lives within the friendly confines of our “comfort zone.” And why not? That’s where life is easy, familiar, and totally risk free. Many people view their comfort zone as a sanctuary that protects them from all the dangers lurking out there in the in the world. The truth, however, is that our comfort zone is more like a prison than a sanctuary. And the longer we live within it, the more fearful we become of what’s on the outside—we stop trying new things, the size of our dreams begins to shrink, and life becomes stagnant and unfulfilling. When you think about it, that’s a hefty price to pay for a thimble full of security. So, do yourself a favor and break out of that self-imposed prison. Get out there and try some new things—make some new friends, go to some new places, try some new recipes, read books from a different genre, or take that class you always wanted to take. This will cause you to learn and grow while adding a dimension of fun and excitement to your life. It will also improve your level of confidence, broaden your perspective, and give you a lot more to talk about in your conversations with others. 

References:

• RossReck.com