Lifestyle

Does money make us happier? This long-standing debate has been analyzed for decades, but recent research suggests the real key to happiness may not be how much you earn, but what your income allows you to do. For years, researchers believed happiness plateaued once basic needs were met. After a certain income threshold, having more was thought to not really add to your emotional well-being. New findings, however, may reveal what role money does play. When it Helps, and When It Doesn’t A large study summarized by Wharton researchers tracked tens of thousands of working adults across more than 1.8 million real-time moments in daily life. The results showed earning more money can lead to more happiness, but only during certain parts of life. Some of the key finding include: Higher income is linked to greater happiness during most non work activities. During the workday, higher earners are not significantly happier than lower earners. The emotional benefits of a higher income only seem to come into play outside of work and during leisure time. In other words, earning a bigger paycheck may make you happier, but the actual work doesn’t move the joy needle that much. Instead, a higher income can improve happiness when it affords you the freedom to choose how you spend your free time. Researchers concluded that income boosts happiness because it increases autonomy, except at work, where choices are more limited. One exception found that the top 3% earners were found to happier inside and outside of work. Why Autonomy Matters The pursuit of happiness may also be easier to achieve in the land of free. New research from Aalto University in Finland, the happiest country in the world for the last eight years, found that people with greater freedom and control over their lives report higher levels of happiness. The cross-cultural study using data from nearly 100,000 people across 66 countries suggests that autonomy is positively associated with greater life satisfaction all over the world — but more so in wealthier and more individualistic countries where people spend less time worrying about survival and more time exploring personal goals. According to Aalto University psychology researcher and happiness expert Frank Martela, there are two views on autonomy: “There’s a theory that autonomy is a universal human need, so it should be connected to well-being no matter the culture and individual preferences. Others have argued that autonomy is something especially valued in wealthy and individualist countries, while other needs are more important in other contexts. Our study basically shows that both are right.” The Bottom Line Together, these two studies may tell a consistent story: Money is a factor in happiness when it increases freedom, control, and personal choice. While you may not be able to buy more happiness, more money can afford you more freedom to get the most joy out of life.

For some, dancing is what happens at a prom, a wedding, or a Taylor Swift Concert. For others, dancing is more than a fun activity — it’s an inspirational metaphor for how they move through life. In 2010, 17-year-old Chelsie Hill was on top of the world. A competitive dancer since childhood and looking forward to her future after high school, she found herself in a car with friends after a party. Unbeknownst to her, the driver was inebriated and drove the car headfirst into a tree. The impact paralyzed Chelsie instantly, and her world was changed forever. Finding a Spark of Possibility “When the doctor told me that I was never going to walk again, I immediately thought ‘Well, what do I do now with my life?’” Chelsie recalls. “About a month after the accident, I remember lying in the hospital bed and my dad walked in with a laptop and he was like ‘I want you to see this.’ He shows me this woman, Auti Angel, in her wheelchair dancing on stage with Snoop Dogg, and it gave me this little glimmer of hope where I was like, ‘Oh, I could still dance however long I'm going to be in this chair.’” With a newfound inspiration towards a new journey, Chelsie soon realized that the support of her family and friends would offer enormous comfort and motivation as she entered the next chapter of her life. “When I finally got home from the hospital, my high school dance team surprised me by doing a wheelchair dance routine with me,” she smiles. “My dad went and found 14 wheelchairs from all over Northern California, brought them in, and all my girls who are fully able-bodied got into chairs, and I got to perform with them for the first time since the accident. I felt like myself again for the first time in about two months, and every time I dance now, I still feel that same feeling: ‘Oh, I'm me. They're looking at me for what I can do, not because I look different.’ From Inspiration to Leadership Realizing that dancing with others in wheelchairs was incredibly freeing, Chelsie began to work toward the formation of a dance team that could inspire at a higher level. Thus, the Rollettes were born. “I was on a show called Push Girls on the Sundance Channel, which was the first reality show about women in wheelchairs and living their lives.” she remembers. “During the second season, I decided to use my TV exposure to start my own wheelchair dance team.” She reached out to six girls all via social media, to see if they would be interested in her idea. All six said yes. “They stayed at my house on my couch and air mattresses, and at the end of the week, we did a big fundraiser in my hometown called ‘Dance for Life’ to show my community that I wasn't the only one that was paralyzed in this world” A Community That Keeps Growing The Rollettes grew, as did Chelsie’s passion for creating empowering experiences for those with disabilities. Now a twice-a-year event powered by her growing popularity as a social influencer, the get-togethers grew from six U.S.-based attendees to 32 flying in from various countries. It was time to take things to the next level. “In 2017, I had my new manager, who had experience in the dance industry, and he said ‘You get a hundred girls there and I'll get you a ballroom,” she laughs. “I said ‘A hundred girls in wheelchairs that want to dance and can come to L.A.? You’re crazy!’ But I got 115 from 14 countries that came the next year. It’s now grown to over about 300 wheelchair users, and we’ve even opened it up to guys in chairs.” Empowerment Without Limits Today, Chelsie continues to inspire, lead and move with the music, even launching her own virtual mentorship program — The Boundless Babe Society. However, her life’s mission has taken on a much broader purpose than simply allowing those with physical challenges to pursue their passion for entertaining. “I really want people to respect that people with disabilities are so much more than the limitations that they put on us,” Chelsie explains. “I can do so much more than what the average able-bodied person probably can because I have been faced with adversity in a way that a lot of people will never experience, so I really want people to understand that.” Grief, Growth, and Gratitude Even with all of her success, Chelsie admits that she struggles with mental and emotional challenges that stem from her disability. “I grieved for a long time over what I thought my life was going to be like, what walking down the aisle would be like… even what becoming a mother would be like,” she shares. “There is an ongoing, underlying grievance, but I absolutely love the life that I've created. It’s a life that I'm proud of.

If you turned on a radio in the 1990s, you’ve probably heard her voice — and chances are you know her story. From growing up without running water or heat in the Alaskan tundra to spending her nights in her car while playing music in coffeehouses in San Diego, Jewel Kilcher’s journey to superstardom — selling more than 30 million albums worldwide and earning four Grammy Award nominations — is an inspiration to anyone chasing a dream. Obviously, a lifetime of peaks and valleys comes with a great deal of mental struggles and emotional baggage. With an artist’s introspection, Jewel stood tall against those challenges — learning, growing, and prioritizing self-awareness along the way. “I got discovered very young — homeless, from a rough background, and knowing that not many people become successful,” she shares. “This job really has a high mortality rate — high drug incidents, high suicide incidents. I knew I was a candidate for those things, so I had to make some pretty defining decisions really young. For me, it was being honest about my flaws. That also really protected me because authenticity became how I was able to operate in the world, which just feels better.” Redefining Mental Health Advocacy That quest for knowledge led Jewel to not only learn more about herself but also about an entirely new world that not many people were talking about yet: mental health. Much like she’d already been doing for years with her music and other work, she knew early on that she wanted to share her insights with those who could benefit from it most. That desire manifested itself in the Inspiring Children Foundation (ICF), the nonprofit organization she co-launched to help youth and families heal, grow, and become their best selves through a whole human approach to physical, social, emotional, and mental health.” “When we started, mental health wasn't even a word and mindfulness didn't exist, so it was a very unusual thing to focus on,” she recalls.  “Refining our techniques in time for what we're facing now in the world, where there really is a mental health pandemic, feels really good. It feels important. Being a musician is very fun, but helping people enjoy living is the most fun.” More than 25 years since launching, the ICF continues to evolve, taking a major step four years ago with the inception of the #NotAloneChallenge, a free resource for mental health care and a reminder to people that they are not alone. The annual campaign, supported publicly by everyone from Billie Eilish to Deepak Chopra, brings together thought leaders in tech, finance, music, sports, and healthcare to raise awareness around mental health. “We encourage our kids to help with everything,” Jewel beams. “One of them brought up this idea of a social media challenge, and so the foundation began to build it out. It’s largely run by the kids, and it's become the most successful mental health social media campaign going.” Building a Community of Hope With so much momentum behind the campaign, Jewel and her partners are kicking things up a notch by launching the first-ever iHeart #NotAlone Awards on November 11. Held at the Wynn Las Vegas, this landmark event will celebrate trailblazing individuals and organizations who are transforming the global mental health conversation. “It’s really about recognizing people who've fought this battle and been in the trenches a long time, the pioneers in the space, as well as honoring people in pop culture that are really championing this and helping erase the stigma,” Jewel explains. “People like Olivia Rodrigo and Selena Gomez and so many people that have been really open about what they're going through and encouraging young people to know it's a normal part of life.” While the high-profile nature of these awards (which will be broadcast on iHeartRadio) will undoubtedly bring more awareness to the ICF’s cause, the underlying motivation to create this awards ceremony is rooted in one of Jewel’s fundamental philosophies: the importance of gratitude. “I think gratitude practices are well-researched and shown to work partly because of neuroplasticity and what we focus on begins to be how our brains build,” she shares. “Taking more time to notice what's going right rather than what's wrong begins to build those new neural pathways, but it has to be the type of gratitude that moves you — not just a mental exercise, but an emotional one where you really feel it.” The Power of Perspective As fans of her music, poetry, and visual art know very well, Jewel is that rare artist who is supremely talented in expressing herself in many different ways. Her multitude of projects, along with her philanthropic work and dedication to parenthood, make for a hectic schedule, giving her a better understanding of another of life’s key challenges: balance. “I've started to really think about life kind of like a forest where there are many things happening and we have to really pay attention to what needs tending,” she muses.  “I have a work life, I have my own life as a human and as a woman, I have my life as a mom, I have so many things as all of us do. It's an entire ecosystem, and I've really learned to just dedicate myself to being deeply present. As things grow and evolve, I can respond to them appropriately.” Finding Happiness Within While balance and gratitude are crucial ingredients for happiness, Jewel knows all too well that one challenge could serve as one’s ultimate mental health nemesis: anxiety. After years of suffering through panic attacks, compulsive shoplifting, and other addictive behaviors, she finally realized that her Achilles’ heel could be better addressed with a simple change in perspective. “When I quit looking at anxiety as my enemy that I had to conquer, it got better for me because our anxiety is actually trying to teach us something,” she smiles. “It's kind of like food poisoning. If you eat something bad and feel really sick, you shouldn't get mad at feeling sick; you should figure out how not to eat whatever it is that made you sick.” “Anxiety is kind of that way. It means we've consumed something that doesn't agree with us, and it's only when we pay attention and look at it as an ally that we can start to realize it,” she continues. “It's only by building a relationship with our anxiety in a way that helps us start to come into harmony with it and be able to get it to change.” Photo by Dana Trippe

For years, The Home Edit cofounder Clea Shearer’s brand of books, products, and streaming shows inspired fans who wanted to revamp their spaces. Little did she know that she’d soon be seeking inspiration of a much more pressing variety after a 2022 diagnosis of stage 2 invasive mammary carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer. “Diagnosis day was definitely the lowest moment of my life,” Clea recalls. “When I woke up the next day, my first thought was, ‘I am a cancer patient.’  I didn’t know how I was going to make it through, and I think that that is a very normal feeling. I cried to myself every hour of the day, and tried to tell myself I would be okay. Then it would hit me again, and I would just wail.” Changing the Narrative on Cancer Clea struggled with mood swings and a nagging feeling of hopelessness — that is, until she decided to follow through on a previously planned trip to Paris that was intended to celebrate her 40th birthday. “There was a turning point in that trip where I started to feel really empowered and think, ‘You know what? Forget this. I am going to crush this disease,’” she smiles. “There was a typewriter in our suite, and I started writing a letter to cancer on it where I was like, ‘you should be afraid of me, I'm not afraid of you,’ and it really changed my perspective.” With this newfound shift in attitude, Clea discovered an inner strength that prepared her for the biggest fight of her life. “I started to realize this isn't a ‘why me?’ situation. It's like a ‘why not me?’ situation,” she explains. “One in eight women get breast cancer? Let me be that one woman. I have all the resources, I have the family, the friends, the work flexibility. I have the best medical care, I have all of these things at my disposal, so let me take on cancer.” Of course, like most people who are unexpectedly thrust into a lifestyle-changing battle, Clea didn’t truly know what to expect. “Hollywood has done us no favors in portraying the cancer journey,” she chuckles. “When I was diagnosed, I immediately expected to be bedridden and sick all the time, and that simply was not true for me. Of course, everyone's experience is unique, and of course I was going to be sick and have bad days, but I actually experienced a lot of times where I was just with my family and friends where I was able to laugh and find joy in things. I think a lot of people don't associate that as being possible, so it was really important for me to find out. Turning Pain Into Purpose Since that fateful day in 2022, Clea’s quest to conquer cancer has been buoyed by an even more powerful mission: to share the experiences and insights she’s picked up along the way, culminating in her amazing new memoir, Cancer Is Complicated: And Other Unexpected Lessons I've Learned. “When I was diagnosed, I made a promise to myself that I would turn my experience into something that could help others,” she recalls. “I wanted to put everything out there — the good, the bad, the ugly, the very raw and unfiltered. I wanted to be that friend for someone else who felt really alone and isolated in their feelings. Writing it was very cathartic for me, but the actual reason I wrote it was because if I could help even one person feel better by sharing what I’ve learned, then I knew it would be worth it.” One of the biggest lessons Clea has learned? A successful war against cancer often requires a team effort. Cancer is Complicated offers plenty of advice for partners, family, friends, or anyone who is part of a patient’s all-important support system. “Cancer is a hard disease to describe to people because there are so many emotional ups and downs … a real roller coaster,” Clea explains. “You have moments where you appreciate your loved ones, but then you have moments where you randomly get resentful because they can leave and go to a concert or go on a trip. That's why it's important for others who aren't patients to read this type of stuff so that they understand that there's a lot going on beneath the surface.” Show Up for Those You Love With a deep appreciation for the support she’s received from family, friends and fans all over the world, Clea also offers great advice for those who want to help their own loved ones but don’t know how. “Everyone wants to help — to provide as much comfort and care as possible, but we don't always know what to ask for,” she explains. “Whether you want to bring over dinner once a week or sit with your loved one during a chemo treatment, figure out the way you want to show up and just do it. A patient is going through enough, and that support is invaluable.” Photo courtesy of John Shearer

Nikki DeLoach is many things. She’s a full-fledged member of The Mickey Mouse Club and a literal hallmark of the Hallmark Channel. More importantly, she just completed a three-year term as President of the Foundation Board of Trustees at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, one of the nation’s few pediatric safety-net hospitals that open their doors to all children regardless of their financial or insurance situation. To celebrate this amazing facility’s 125th anniversary, she’s spearheading its largest fundraising campaign ever, with the incredible goal of raising $1.25 billion to help ensure CHLA’s future. She’s an entertainer. She’s a leader. Most of all, Nikki DeLoach is a caregiver. “My mom said that I was doing this in preschool,” she laughs. “I was figuring out a way to get crayons for kids who needed them, and this is when I was three years old. I think I was really lucky that I was born with a heart for service.” From Small-Town Girl to Disney Star A product of Blackshear, Georgia, DeLoach was also born with a passion for entertaining, leading to her first big break — joining the cast of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (alongside future megastars like Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, and Ryan Gosling) in 1993. Countless movies, TV shows, and Hallmark films later, she’s amassed an incredible resume on camera and behind the scenes, all without losing sight of her desire to help people. “I'm so lucky to be able to write and produce and act, and directing is next,” she shares. “I love this job so much, and also I love its ability to give me some kind of platform to do the thing that I care about most, which is being of service in the world.” A Mother’s Fight and a Hospital’s Heart As we all know, service (and the kindness that inspires it) is most important to those dealing with tragedy, a fact that DeLoach was unexpectedly reminded of during the most challenging period in her life: the heart defects that were discovered in utero when she was pregnant with her second son, Bennett, in 2017. “It was a dangerous pregnancy, and we didn't even know for a while if I would even be able to carry the baby full term,” she admits. “He had three congenital heart defects that were severe, and he also ended up with the worst-case scenario of having a fourth, so he needed a total rewiring of his heart at birth.” [caption id="attachment_21894" align="alignright" width="297"] Photographer: Inda Reid @imagesbyinda; Hair: Kyle Hennessy @kylehennessyhair; Stylist: Erin Richards @alaskaerin[/caption] With every parent’s nightmare becoming her reality, DeLoach focused on the only thing she could control: choosing the best place for her son to receive care — a facility that she now proudly champions, Children's Hospital Los Angeles. “Dr. Vaughn Starnes is one of the best pediatric heart doctors in the world, and CHLA has an incredible cardiology division because they don't just take care of the child … they take care of the family,” she explains. “Sometimes I was just saying to myself, ‘just get to the next 60 seconds, get to the next 60 seconds’ when you're waiting in that room for eight hours for your child to come out of surgery, so my heart goes out to every parent who does this, and part of my job at CHLA is to be a liaison for parents - holding their hand and talking to them, not just about the logistics, but the emotional stuff.” Finding Strength in Self-Care With additional surgeries at 12 and 18 months old, the now-eight-year-old Bennett’s medical journey has been a challenging (albeit successful) one.  A natural caregiver, it was years before Nikki truly understood the toll that years of stress took on her, and it was a lesson she literally took to heart. “After years and years and years of giving care, it took me having an enlarged heart, cholesterol through the roof, and a lot of other health issues for me to finally wake up and realize that I needed to take care of myself,” she sighs. “The hardest thing I ever had to learn how to do was ask for help. It is hard and so vulnerable, and it might start small. I have to go for a 30-minute walk every day. I have to put food in my body. I have literally rearranged how I live my life in order to preserve my mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health. Because if I don't do it, nobody else is going to do it for me.” Sharing Joy, One Story at a Time Even with her never-ending work to help people through charitable efforts and support, DeLoach’s fans have never let her lose sight of the happiness she has provided for them through the movies (like her highly-anticipated new Hallmark movie, Home Turf, premiering this October) and TV shows that continue to touch their hearts – especially during her appearances at fan conventions like Thats4Ent’s annual Christmas Con event in New Jersey. “It's the most humbling thing you'll ever experience — just tears and boxes of Kleenex all day long being doled out, because I want to hear those stories,” she explains. “It is a beautiful, authentic transaction of being able to have a conversation with somebody, and then see them the next year when they come back and be like, ‘How's your daughter doing?’ And they say, ‘Oh my gosh, she's great. She beat cancer!’ I'm crying. They're crying. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so. I think that's the point, at least for me.”

Gratitude has been proven to be an effective way to improve our happiness and well-being, and a recent study says it might influence how long we live, too. The study, “Gratitude and Mortality Among Older US Female Nurses,” from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, was published in JAMA Psychiatry in July. It found that older adults who scored high on a Gratitude Questionnaire had a 9% lower risk of all-cause mortality than those in the lowest-scoring segment. Gratitude showed protection against cardiovascular disease in particular, although it appeared to be protective against every cause of mortality — even after researchers adjusted for other factors including lifestyle, sociodemographic data, health history, and social/religious involvement. Much of the data used for the Harvard study came from the Nurses’ Health Study, which tracked over 70,000 nurses for several years. It found that those who regularly practiced gratitude reported significantly better health outcomes. Participants who engaged in gratitude exercises, such as keeping a gratitude journal or expressing thanks to others, experienced lower levels of stress and depression. This emotional uplift not only improved their mental health but also correlated with better physical health markers, including lower blood pressure and improved immune function, researchers found. How Gratitude Helps Gratitude fosters a positive mindset, which is crucial for overall wellness. As people focus on what they’re thankful for, they move their attention away from negative thoughts and stressors. This shift can lead to a cascade of health benefits, including better sleep quality, which is essential for longevity. A good night’s sleep allows the body to repair itself and maintain optimal functioning, reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Gratitude offers a social aspect as well; expressing thanks strengthens relationships, creating a supportive network that is vital for emotional resilience. The nurses' study indicated that those who actively expressed gratitude to colleagues and loved ones reported feeling more connected and supported, which is a key factor in mental health and longevity. Strong social ties have been consistently associated with a longer life, as they provide emotional support and reduce feelings of isolation. The benefits of gratitude extend beyond individual health. Communities that foster a culture of gratitude tend to be more cohesive and supportive. This collective positivity can lead to improved public health outcomes, as individuals are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors when they feel supported by their community.