Pursuit of Happiness
BSW experts say people who are happy in life usually do a better job managing stresses related to high prices, work issues and uncertainty
Two women share a laugh during a comedy show at Corkys in Downtown Temple. According to experts, happiness can help a person live a healthy life. David Stone
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
Founding father Thomas Jefferson once said that without good health, there can be no happiness. Today’s science shows the opposite is true as well: Happiness is an important part of maintaining physical and emotional health.
A troubled mind can contribute to myriad health problems, and according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, up to 80 percent of visits to primary care doctors are due to conditions that are caused or exacerbated by unmanaged stress.
Being happy doesn’t just make people feel better, it improves health. It helps folks eat healthier, be more active and sleep better. Because happiness leads to healthier behaviors, it helps stave off high blood pressure and excess body fat, resulting in lower risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease
But, experts point out, maintaining happiness can be difficult in today’s world.
“The percentage of US adults who received mental health treatment increased from 19.2 percent in 2019 to 21.6 last year,” said Lisa George, a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. “Women were more likely than men to have received any treatment.”
Drs. Jeethu Joseph and Alejandra Ferris, both postdoctoral fellows in clinical health psychology at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, said more people are getting help for disorders such as depression and anxiety, issues which can get in the way of happiness and good health.
“I think we are seeing a reduction in the mental health stigma and people are getting the help they need,” Joseph said. “During the pandemic, we started seeing people via video visits, and I think these virtual visits have made health care more accessible.”
“It is important to be happy in life, but I caution against pursuing a stress-free lifestyle,” Ferris said. “Stress is important — people strive for happiness, but not all of life’s milestones come with happiness. These milestones make happiness more valued.”
According to the Temple physicians, happy people face less anxiety and generally do better at coping with stressors.
“Behaviorally, lots of stress can cause sleep issues — sometimes it makes people sleep too much, other times it can deprive a person from getting quality sleep,” Dr. Ferris said. “Stress also can affect how a person eats — they may overeat or hardly eat at all. It can cause a person to gravitate toward unhealthy food. Too much stress can impact relationships, as well as emotional and physical well being.”
People who are happy in life usually do a better job managing the stress of today’s life where high prices, work issues and uncertainty can lead to depression and anxiety.
“Good stress management regulates the release of cortisol,” said Dr. Ferris. Cortisol is an essential hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in the human body and helps regulate a person’s response to stress, regulates blood pressure and blood sugar, and controls a person’s sleep cycle. Having higher or lower-than-normal cortisol levels can be harmful to health.
“Managing stress is key to better happiness and a healthier life,” she said. “It helps you engage in the activities you love — activities that support being happy. Being healthy will likely make you more happy.”
So how do you achieve a greater level of happiness? Dr. Joseph said happiness is a very personal thing — what makes one person happy may not work for someone else.
“A person must find a way to connect with themselves,” Joseph said. “They must know what brings them joy — it could be religion or a hobby or anything else. They must pinpoint their source and they can lean into these.”
Finding a ‘happy’ place
Temple residents use hobbies, religion and a good drink to balance rigors of life with happiness
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
Ongoing post-pandemic economic stress caused by higher housing and food prices are fueling depression, the leading mental health disorder in the United States according to experts at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
In fact, according to information provided by Centers spokesperson Lisa George, 21.6 percent of American adults have been treated for stress-related issues such as depression and anxiety in the past year.
But, while the numbers are trending upward, many Temple-area residents are finding their “happy places” in life to balance and manage daily stress.
For some, a “happy place” is a certain place, activity or people they associate with joy and relaxation. For some, it is a quiet place in the yard, a sunset or time spent with pups and children.
“To me, happiness is a deliberate process to discover myself and cultivate the right mental attention to live a positive life,” said Temple resident and Killeen ISD educator De Conlin. “Happiness is powerful because if you have true happiness, it will remain in place despite life circumstances and my own emotions.”
Lisa Carlisle reaches her happy place by getting away from sounds that aren’t natural — sounds such as television, traffic and cell phones — and Sharon Harrison simply goes out the back door.
“I love when the day’s activities have ended,” Harrison said. “I retire to my happy spot in my yard.”
Dori Plamondon can relate.
“My garden is my place,” she said. “Watching the bees, butterflies, birds and my dog brings me happiness.”
People like Tim Simecek and Sharon Hicks — both nurses — blend stressful jobs with the rewards of helping others.
“My job can be extremely stressful, but I love what I do because I know I’m helping others,” Simecek said. “It takes the edge off a stressful day.”
Ruby Jett finds peace in the smile of a young family member.
“When I look at my great grandson’s smile, I forget all my cares,” she said.
JD McBride relaxes with a glass of fine bourbon, and dozens of Temple area residents said wine helps dull the rigors of a day and helps them unwind.
Temple-area photographer Nanci Kelly said she turns to religion to fill a void in her life that once was full of depression and anxiety.
“Two years ago I was baptized at Freedom Road Biker Church,” Kelly said. “I had known who God was and everything that goes with that, but something was missing. When I found the church, everything started clicking.”
“I started praying more and studying the Bible more,” she said. “I learned to understand what it means to give our lives and our problems to God. When I was baptized, a huge weight was lifted. Yes, things still bother me, but I pray on it and ask for clarity.”
“When I talk to God about things and pray, I feel worry go away, and without the worry, happiness and joy return.”
Danny McDonald also focuses on others to escape his very real pain.
McDonald, a Temple cyclist, is recovering from his eighth surgery related to neck and back issues, but that hasn’t stopped him in his fight against childhood cancer.
McDonald was born with an extra vertebrae and a cluster of extra nerves around the bottom of his spine. Then, a few years ago, he suffered a work-related injury and a bicycle accident while riding near Pepper Creek.
“I’ve been diagnosed with a degenerative disk disease,” he said.
Since 2016, Danny has logged more than 6,500 miles and raised more than $15,000 through the American Cancer Society and Great Cycle Challenge, a group committed to ending childhood cancer and saving little lives.
“Every hill I climb and every mile I pedal is to honor those lives lost to cancer,” Danny said. “I stand with those brave kids still fighting to survive. These kids won’t give up, and neither will I.”
Ali Luna said she finds happiness in her relationship.
“Happiness is holding my girlfriend’s hand, or making her laugh, or cooking dinner together,” she said. “Or working on a puzzle together. Happiness is talking about our days and things we have coming up — aligning our schedules and carving out dedicated time together.”
Carmon Longbotham-Hughling said she enjoys mowing the yard and doing yard work to relax, and Ermalinda Chavarria said her “happy place” involves two things.
“The beach makes me happy. And chocolate.”
HappyActs
Here are some tips for creating and spreading happiness:
Pick up trash in your neighborhood.
Leave a positive review for a local small business you love.
Plant a flower or tree, or start a community garden.
Make a funny social video with friends or a pet.
Volunteer or donate to a charity.
Invite a new co-worker or neighbor to lunch.
Hold a door open for someone.
Take action to reduce your carbon footprint.
Plan an errand date with a friend.
Volunteer or donate supplies to a local animal shelter.
Donate needed items to Amy’s House or the Ronald McDonald House. Give them a call and see what is needed.
Try a new healthy recipe.
Shop local and try something new.
Thank a health-care worker, member of the military, firefighter or police officer for their service.
Take a healthy treat to the office.
Give someone a sincere compliment every day.
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