Proactive: creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened; acting in anticipation of future problems or needs.

Reactive: acting in response to a situation rather than creating or controlling it

You can create and control your own health. All you need is a Proactive mindset.

What is Happiness?

In psychology, there are two popular concepts of happiness: eudaimonic and hedonic.

Eudaimonia is a Greek word that translates literally to mean “good spirit,” but has also been interpreted as “happiness” or “welfare.” Its origins can be traced back to the works of the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, who believed eudaimonic happiness to be the optimal human achievement and state of wellbeing. Eudaimonic happiness refers to the pursuit of meaningful goals in life.1,2 This means living your life in devotion to a higher purpose, or for something bigger than yourself. Aristotle explained that this meant realizing your unique talents and using them … perhaps to make the world a better place by becoming the best possible version of yourself. 

On the other hand, hedonic happiness refers to the pursuit of pleasure and enjoyment.2 Its origins can also be traced to the ancient Greek philosophers as they tried to describe the human experience and what constitutes wellbeing. Examples of hedonic happiness would include pleasurable experiences like enjoying good food, buying something nice for yourself, or taking a relaxing vacation.

Simply put, you can experience two different kinds of happiness, one (eudaimonic) through meaning  and purpose; and two (hedonic) through pleasure and enjoyment.

So, what’s the big deal? Happiness is happiness, right? Why does it matter where I derive my happiness from? While both types of happiness correlate with an increased sense of wellbeing, research shows that eudaimonic and hedonic happiness affect us differently at a cellular level. Eudaimonic happiness appears to decrease inflammation and boost the immune system, while hedonic happiness has the opposite effect.3 Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that eudaimonic happiness creates mental resilience as it may be protective against the harmful effects of certain psychological risk factors for disease, like social isolation.4

The Power of Purpose

A sense of purpose is a key component to not only happiness, but wellness. A sense of purpose gives our lives meaning, a sense of direction, and goals. It gives us a reason to wake up in the morning. It allows us to use our unique talents for a greater good, ultimately reaching our full potential and becoming our highest selves.

Just how impactful is purpose on health?

Having a sense of purpose is associated with better health overall including less inflammation, better blood sugar balance, greater mental resilience, lower risk for chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s, as well as a lower risk of death from any cause.

Amazing, right? What’s responsible for these health benefits?

Purpose driven, eudaimonic happiness lowers inflammation and improves immune function.6-15 So, we know it works on a cellular level. Another explanation could be that people with a purpose are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors like exercise, good nutrition, and stress management in order to feel and perform their best.

One study found that adults over age 50 with a purpose were less likely to become physically inactive, develop sleep issues, or become overweight compared to those who did not have a life’s purpose.6 Another study found that adults over age 50 with a purpose were less likely to develop weak grip strength.7 Did you know that grip strength is often used in research as a measure of health and longevity? Having a sense of purpose preserves not only emotional health, but also physical health, and may even lead to a longer life!

A Matter of Perspective

Perspective refers to one’s attitude toward something, or their point of view. An individual’s perspective is shaped by their experiences, culture, education, values, and circumstances. Friends and family may also play a large role in developing perspective.

Perspective impacts health, as well as disease, depending on the perspective.

Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, is famous for saying, “It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease, than to know what sort of disease a person has.”

We wholeheartedly agree. When working with a patient, we always seek to understand the person, their attitudes, and their beliefs. We try to ensure a positive perspective. We believe that healing begins here, with the right mindset.

Take the following studies, for example.

Hotel room attendants were divided into two groups. One group was told that their activity at work was enough to meet the recommended requirements for good health. The other group was not told this information. Because the informed group perceived that they were exercising enough, they lost weight and had improved blood pressure. That was without actually changing their exercise habits.16

Perception can also affect blood sugar levels. Participants with type 2 diabetes were divided into two groups. Each group was given the same beverage to drink, but with different labels. One label showed low sugar content, while the other showed high sugar content. In reality, both had the same amount of sugar. The participants’ blood sugar was checked after drinking the beverage. Blood sugar levels were significantly higher in the group that perceived a higher sugar content.17

These are great examples of mind over matter. Your thoughts can literally create a physical response in your body. Neither of these studies did anything except alter the perspective of the participants. People enjoyed the benefits of exercise when they believed themselves to be exercising enough. People caused a spike in their blood sugar when they believed they were drinking too much sugar. Just imagine what you can accomplish with a Proactive mindset.

Do You Need A Perspective Shift?

Maybe you find yourself saying things like . . .

• “It’s just part of getting older.”

• “It’s just in my genes.”

• “I’m just too busy.”

• “That sounds like a lot of work.”

• “Nothing can help me. I’ve tried it all.”

What if instead you said . . .

• “I can age well and stay active if I take care of myself.”

• “My genes don’t determine my health, I do.”

• “I live a full life, but I prioritize my health.”

• “I can implement new habits one at a time so it’s not overwhelming.”

• “I’m willing to try new strategies to find something that works for me.”

Developing a Proactive Mindset

Now that you know the science behind why maintaining a positive perspective and finding a sense of purpose could lead to health and happiness, what do you plan to do with this information?

Here are some tips for creating a Proactive mindset:

• Go one day without saying anything negative. This exercise helps us realize just how negative we can be without thinking!

• Reflect on your unique talents and how you might use them to leave this world better than you found it. That’s your purpose!

• Find a group, or community, that shares your values and has similar goals. Research shows we heal better together.

• Practice gratitude by paying attention to the good things in life. Tell someone special how much you appreciate them. Write down the people, experiences, and things that you’re grateful for. Start and end your day with this thought exercise.

• Be mindful and intentional. Pay attention to how much time and energy you give to different areas of your life. Make sure it aligns with your goals.

References:

1.     Ryff CD. Psychological well-being revisited: advances in the science and practice of eudaimonia. Psychother Psychosom. 2014;83(1):10-28. doi: 10.1159/000353263. Epub 2013 Nov 19. PMID: 24281296; PMCID: PMC4241300.

2.     Ruini C, Cesetti G. Spotlight on eudaimonia and depression. A systematic review of the literature over the past 5 years. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2019 Aug 30;12:767-792. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S178255. PMID: 31507332; PMCID: PMC6720155.

3.     Fredrickson BL, Grewen KM, Coffey KA, Algoe SB, Firestine AM, Arevalo JM, Ma J, Cole SW. A functional genomic perspective on human well-being. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Aug 13;110(33):13684-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1305419110. Epub 2013 Jul 29. PMID: 23898182; PMCID: PMC3746929

4.     Cole SW, Levine ME, Arevalo JM, Ma J, Weir DR, Crimmins EM. Loneliness, eudaimonia, and the human conserved transcriptional response to adversity. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Dec;62:11-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.07.001. Epub 2015 Jul 8. PMID: 26246388; PMCID: PMC4637182

5.     Ryff CD. Eudaimonic well-being, inequality, and health: Recent findings and future directions. Int Rev Econ. 2017 Jun;64(2):159-178. doi: 10.1007/s12232-017-0277-4. Epub 2017 Mar 30. PMID: 29057014; PMCID: PMC5645055.

6.     Kim ES, Shiba K, Boehm JK, Kubzansky LD. Sense of purpose in life and five health behaviors in older adults. Prev Med. 2020 Oct;139:106172. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106172. Epub 2020 Jun 25. PMID: 32593729; PMCID: PMC7494628.

7.     Kim ES, Kawachi I, Chen Y, Kubzansky LD. Association Between Purpose in Life and Objective Measures of Physical Function in Older Adults. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 Oct 1;74(10):1039-1045. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.2145. PMID: 28813554; PMCID: PMC5710461.

8.     Steptoe A, Fancourt D. Leading a meaningful life at older ages and its relationship with social engagement, prosperity, health, biology, and time use. 2019 Jan; 116(4):1207-1212. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1814723116

9.     Hafez D, Heisler M, Choi H, Ankuda CK, Winkelman T, Kullgren JT. Association Between Purpose in Life and Glucose Control Among Older Adults. Ann Behav Med. 2018 Mar 15;52(4):309-318. doi: 10.1093/abm/kax012. PMID: 30084896; PMCID: PMC6082637.

10.  Kim ES, Sun JK, Park N, Peterson C. Purpose in life and reduced incidence of stroke in older adults: 'The Health and Retirement Study'. J Psychosom Res. 2013 May;74(5):427-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.01.013. Epub 2013 Feb 28. PMID: 23597331.

11.  Alimujiang A, Wiensch A, Boss J, Fleischer NL, Mondul AM, McLean K, Mukherjee B, Pearce CL. Association Between Life Purpose and Mortality Among US Adults Older Than 50 Years. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 May 3;2(5):e194270. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.4270. PMID: 31125099; PMCID: PMC6632139.

12.  Cohen R, Bavishi C, Rozanski A. Purpose in Life and Its Relationship to All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Events: A Meta-Analysis. Psychosom Med. 2016 Feb-Mar;78(2):122-33. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000274. PMID: 26630073.

13.  Chen Y, Kim ES, Koh HK, Frazier AL, VanderWeele TJ. Sense of Mission and Subsequent Health and Well-Being Among Young Adults: An Outcome-Wide Analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 2019 Apr 1;188(4):664-673. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwz009. PMID: 30649174; PMCID: PMC6438813.

14.  Kim ES, Delaney SW, Kubzansky LD. Sense of Purpose in Life and Cardiovascular Disease: Underlying Mechanisms and Future Directions. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2019 Oct 31;21(11):135. doi: 10.1007/s11886-019-1222-9. PMID: 31673815.

15.  Boyle PA, Buchman AS, Barnes LL, Bennett DA. Effect of a purpose in life on risk of incident Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older persons. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 Mar;67(3):304-10. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.208. PMID: 20194831; PMCID: PMC2897172.

16.  Crum AJ, Langer EJ. Mind-set matters: exercise and the placebo effect. Psychol Sci. 2007 Feb;18(2):165-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01867.x. PMID: 17425538.

17.  Park C, Pagnini F, Langer E. Glucose metabolism responds to perceived sugar intake more than actual sugar intake. Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 24;10(1):15633. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-72501-w. PMID: 32973226; PMCID: PMC7515886.