Blessing here with She Health.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live a happier life? Our society promises us that we will be happy if we are thin, more successful and rich but at the end of the day chasing what society tells us will make us happy only makes us more dissatisfied and tired. This article focuses on the 5 Things You Need To Live a Happier Life.
Spiritual
health.
This is one
of the most overlooked areas of health. Spiritual health affects every area of
our health and includes mental and physical health. There is a lot of health
advice that can be found in the bible.
For example:
Be anxious for nothing.*
Let’s face it anxiety is a form of stress and
stress leads to the release of cortisol. Many of us are chronically stressed
and this leaves us at higher risk for chronic diseases like heart disease,
stroke, dementia, diabetes. It also leads to the dysregulation of the appetite
hormones (ghrenlin and leptin) and can lead to unwanted weight gain. Ghrenlin
tells our bodies when we’re hungry and leptin tell us when we’re full and lets
us know when it’s time to stop eating. When we take our cares to Christ, who
cares for us, we don’t have to worry about our circumstances.
It is
important to set aside some time for your devotions and prayer. This helps you
be better prepared for the day by decreasing your stress levels, building your
spiritual health and improving your overall health.
Be
Content.
Be content with such things as you have. **
We tend to
take this as a suggestion instead of a command. In our flashy, perfectionist
and self- centered society, the search for fulfillment and success in the eyes
of others can make you become ungrateful.
Just as
gratitude has good health benefits, being ungrateful has its own negative
health risks. Being ungrateful changes your body chemistry, increases secretion
of cortisol and increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, as well as
obesity. It makes you more susceptible to mental health disorders like
depression, anxiety; it increases aggression, disrupts quality of sleep, puts
extra stress on heart and may increase your cancer risk.
God created
you to do a specific job here on earth and when you waste time comparing
yourself to others or living someone else calling it can affect your health.
Nourish
your body.
Our body
needs fuel in order to function well. We have our choice between the types of
fuels that we want to put in our bodies. When you feed your body nutrient
dense, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, lean protein, legumes and
grains, your body can do what it needs to maintain your blood sugar and energy levels
(so you don’t have to depend on energy drinks, coffee or sugar to stay awake).
Exercise
Did you know
that exercise helps boost your feel good hormones? Exercise raises your levels
of serotonin and dopamine (which decreases cortisol levels and increases your
quality of sleep). In addition to supporting mental health, exercise helps
improve insulin sensitivity, manages blood sugar levels, decreases your risk of
chronic disease, helps manage your weight, and is a natural mood booster as
well as a stress reliever.
Manage
Stress
There are
seasons in our life when it is hard to find “balance” even when you prioritize;
this is why it is important to find ways to manage your stress though everyone
is different; some people manage stress by exercising (make sure you don’t over-exercise),
listening to music, talking to friends, crafting, painting, and the list goes
on. Find something that you love that helps you relax.
In order to
live a happier life you need to make sure you don’t neglect your spiritual
health. Since spiritual health affects your mental and physical health. In
order to stay healthy and prevent chronic diseases, you need to eat foods that
nourish your body and give it the energy it needs to function. And last but not
least, stress management is important too. Managing stress is necessary for
good health and it is important to note that over exercising is a form of
stress. When it comes to finding ways to manage stress; don’t go overboard when
it comes to exercise or treating yourself.
* Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-8
**Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you
have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews
13:5
Photo:The Cut
Photo:The Cut