Some would put it down to genes. But that is only a very small part of our possibilities. Much more is down to the choices we make, as to whether our life works out as we would choose. This month the theme is happiness. Some interesting work is being done on the physical results of happiness. It even boosts your immune system! There seems to be scientific research able to back the theories, but observation of the people involved speaks for itself. Quite simply your expectations and beliefs can work for you, or against you. Freud would have something to say, but it seems that everyone keeps an image of their parent(s) in their head. The "reality" may be quite different. Since people carry a construct in their head, much better to revise and adapt it to be positive and on your side. Levels of serotonin, cortisol and a strengthened immune system have been measured in a number of studies.

Dr Michael J. Valenzuela - "It's never to late to change your mind."

His thesis is that to keep active at all levels, physical, mental and social, keeps renewing the brain cells, so instead of accepting the aging process, you can actually turn back the clock.

The British study, The Young Ones (based on American research, Professor Ellen Langer) took a number of well known elders and placed back in the year 1975. It showed them reversing the aging process; from Sylvia Sims to Dickie Bird to Lionel Blair, 78 going on 56.

The choice of the year 1975 was quite arbitrary, except that it was an earlier period of their life. Too many people accept society's view of aging and put their slippers on, and their feet up and wait to die. They don't think they are allowed to lead an active and exciting life.

IT'S YOUR CHOICE

That's why it is as important to choose your age, not your biological one, and to act. It's exciting to find that you can change your name, your address, your age and even your family. "Friends are God's apology for family."  One of the healthiest moves you can make.

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"Making Australia Happy" was conducted by a skeptical psychologist. Since he was originally English, he was full of limiting beliefs: such as class: boss doesn't drink with workers, and as a working class man he wasn't entitled to a university education. So, after some years of living in Australia, he was up for a challenge.

They took several people from the most miserable area of Sydney, (don't ask how they know). They measured their levels of cortisol, serotonin and physical fitness and then set to work. The book is called "8 Steps to Happiness", and many of the techniques would be recognized by NLP Practitioners. One of the most challenging was doing 5 random acts of kindness day for 6 weeks! In all cases of altruism they found improved levels of serotonin, and endorphins.

People are naturally empathic and, when allowed the society as a whole benefit. See Midgely article in RSA magazine.

The English Government is to do a survey on whether people are happy or not, then form their policies accordingly. I think the day of the students' fees vote, they were getting a very clear message that many people aren't happy. They are clearly unable to appreciate how people view them. Not strong on empathy, the Oxbridge Bullingdon boys. Most of this is such common sense, but there are a number of limiting beliefs to challenge. Ultimately you always have a choice to improve your life.

Interestingly some of the work on the sustainable environment dovetails into this. So can we choose that human nature is naturally altruistic, as opposed to the competition of the selfish gene? Are men naturally competitive, or is it a necessary component for developing politicians and soldiers? Men hunt, women gather and share. The choice is yours. Before the Boer war, the soldiers had to be conditioned to shoot to kill, as it wasn't natural to them.

So give it a go. A random act of kindness today, tomorrow, help carry a bag, give up a seat on the tube, smile at someone. It doesn't always bring flowers and champagne, but try spreading the virus of a smile, as you walk. It's amazing, and it's boosting your immune system! 

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