Six Steps to a Happy Heart

Research has confirmed the healing power of a positive attitude and a good laugh. This is not alternative medicine or the wishful thinking of eternal youth-seeking baby boomers. These six steps are essential for giving yourself a happier, and healthier, heart.

1 Feed your soul
Belief, whether in a higher being, the power of nature or even yourself, is both grounding and healthy. A big part of this is optimism. People who use words such as “joy” and “hope” to describe their attitudes towards life outlive their more pessimistic counterparts by a decade. No matter what your situation, the power to do away with anger and embrace the good things in life lies in your hands.

2 Enjoy life
Some time between leaving our parents’ homes and signing up to a 25-year mortgage of our own, we stop having as much fun as we used to. We all have serious adult responsibilities, but we also have a responsibility to our hearts to let go and have some childlike fun. Studies show that people whose lives are filled with laughter are much less likely to have heart disease.

3 Practise relaxing rituals
As life gets more rushed, stress rises and heart disease follows. You can’t change the world, but you can change your response to it. Daily rituals such as meditation, yoga, quiet time, bedtime relaxation and even just walking a dog can quell stress and reduce your risk of heart disease.