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Terms Conditions

Terms & Conditions Home » Terms & Conditions The following Terms and Conditions govern your use of the websites or applications provided to you by Live Happy, LLC or one of its subsidiaries, and any content made available from or through these websites or downloadable applications (the “Sites”). By using the Sites, you accept and agree to these Terms and Conditions as applied to your use of the Sites. If you do not agree to these Terms and Conditions, you may not access, visit and/or use the website. Acceptance of Terms Live Happy, LLC (“Live Happy” or “we”, “us”, “our”) provides access to the Live Happy website,located at LiveHappy.com, and the Live Happy magazine website, located at LiveHappy.com, Live Happy Magazine: Digital Edition are subject to your acceptance of this website User Agreement(“Agreement”). BY USING the Sites, YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, UNDERSTAND IT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. When using a particular feature of the Sites, you may also be subject to any posted guidelines,rules, privacy policies, or other contractual provision as noted. Live Happy may update this Agreement from time to time without prior notice to you. We encourage you to review this Agreement periodically for any updates or changes. Account and Password (a) You are solely responsible for all activities within your account under your password and username/email address. Your password should be treated with care and should not be disclosed to anyone. You cannot use your password or anyone else’s password for any unauthorized purpose. You indemnify Live Happy and its staff from all claims and liabilities made by a third party resulting from all activities incurred within your account. (b) In consideration of your use of the website you agree to: (i) provide true, accurate, and current and complete information about yourself as prompted by the website (the “Registration Information”); and (ii) maintain and update the Registration Information to keep it true, accurate, current and complete. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, or we have reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, we may suspend or terminate your account and decline to permit your continued use of the website and future access to the website. (c) You represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years old and are of sufficient legal age to enter into the binding legal obligations you may incur as a result of creating an account. You agree to be financially responsible for any liability you may incur as a result of using the website. Rights & Trademarks Unless where otherwise indicated and excluding User Content (explained below): Copyright © 2014 Live Happy, LLC. All rights reserved. All content of the Sites (including but not limited to text, copy, articles, photographs,illustrations, graphics, artwork, audio and video), code, data, statistics and all other content,information and materials made available on the Sites are our property. You use of the sites does not grant to you ownership of any content, code, data, information or materials you may access through the sites. All trademarks, logos and service marks displayed on the sites are our property or the property of other third parties. You are not permitted to use the marks without our prior written consent or the consent of such third party which may own the marks. Licenses We grant you a non-transferable, non-exclusive license to use the sites for your personal,non-commercial use. We also grant you a non-transferable, non-exclusive license to install and use the applications we make available for mobile and other devices, solely on your own device and for your personal, non-commercial use. Linking and Framing Policy (a) The sites may contain links to other websites operated by third parties. The linked sites are not underour controlandwe arenot responsible for their content. Such links do not implyour endorsement or guarantee of the products, information, or recommendations provided by any third party site.The third party site may have a privacy policy different fromours and may provide less security thanthis website.We disclaim all liability with regard to your access to such linked websites.We provide links to other sites as a service to users, and access to any other sites linked tothis websiteis at your own risk. (b) Any links to the Sites, when activated by a user, must display the website full-screen and not within a “frame” on the linking website. Further, the appearance, position and other aspects of the link must not be such as to damage or dilute the goodwill associated with the Live Happy name and trademarks or create the false appearance that Live Happy is associated with, approves of, or is a sponsor of, the linking website. Live Happy reserves the right to revoke its consent to any link at any time in its sole discretion. (c) Happiness Ambassador websites (explained below) may only be displayed at the assigned Happiness Ambassador URL (available at username.mylivehappy.com), and not within a “frame” on a URL purchased, licensed, acquired or otherwise used by a Happiness Ambassador. User Registration In the course of your use of the Sites and/or services made available on or through the sites, you may be required to register with the sites, in which case you will provide certain personalized information to us. Our information collection and use policies with respect to the privacy of such user Information are set forth in the sites’ privacy policy which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. You acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for the accuracy, content and confidentiality of your personal information, and we will not be responsible for misuse of your user registration by any third party, whether authorized or not. User Content Any information, creative works, demos, ideas, suggestions, concepts, methods, systems, designs, plans, techniques, photos or other materials submitted or sent to us (including, for example and without limitation, that which you submit or post to our articles, post to the Acts of Happiness wall, survey responses and/or blog, or send to us via email) is User Content. User Content will be deemed not to be confidential or secret, and may be used by us in any manner consistent with the Sites’ Privacy Policy. By providing User Content to us, you represent and warrant that the materials are original to you, that no other party has any rights thereto, and that any “moral rights” have been waived. You also grant us, our affiliates and other users of the Sites a royalty-free, unrestricted,worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive and fully transferable, assignable and sublicensable right and license to use, copy, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, display and incorporate in other works any User Content in any form, media or technology, including for promotional and/or commercial purposes. Public Discussion Areas We do not necessarily endorse, support or agree with the comments, opinions or statements posted,sent or otherwise made available on or through the Sites, including in our social, community and public discussion areas. Any User Content posted, sent or otherwise made available on the Sites is the views and responsibility of the user and do not necessarily represent our views or the views of our affiliates, vendors and/or service providers. You agree that we and our affiliates, vendors and/or service providers are not responsible, and shall have no liability, with respect to any User Content posted, sent or otherwise made available on the Sites. Monitoring of User Content We reserve the right, but do not have an obligation, to monitor and/or review all materials posted to the Sites or through the Sites’ features, including in our social, community and public discussion areas, by users, and we are not responsible for any User Content. We may also remove or modify User Content, impose limits on certain features of the forums, restrict user’s access to part or all of the social, community and public discussion areas, terminate User Registration and/or report a user to law enforcement authorities if we believe the user is in breach of the guidelines set forth in our Terms and Conditions or applicable law, or for any other reason without notice or liability. Prohibitions on Use Any commercial or promotional distribution, publication or exploitation of the Sites, or any content, data, information or materials on the Sites, is strictly prohibited unless you have received the express prior written consent from us or the applicable rights holder. Other than expressly allowed in these Terms and Conditions, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, change, edit, crop, alter, revise, adapt, translate, enhance, reformat, remix, rearrange, resize, create derivative works of, move, remove, delete, erase, reverse engineer, decipher, decompile, disassemble, store, cache, aggregate, publish, post, display, distribute, broadcast, perform,transmit, rent, sell, share, sublicense, syndicate or otherwise provide to others, or use any content, data, information or materials on the Sites, in whole or in part. If you make other use of the Sites, you may violate copyright and other laws and may be subject to liability for such unauthorized use. You agree that while using the Sites, you shall not: Access and/or use another’s User Registration, or access, visit and/or use the Sites by use of another’s User Registration; Authorize or permit anyone to use your User Registration; Impersonate any person or entity or misrepresent your affiliation with another person or entity; Misrepresent or imply any affiliation, association or connection between you or another person or entity with the Sites, Live Happy, our licensors, vendors and/or service providers; Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other computer systems through the Sites; Attempt to gain unauthorized access via automatic, manual or other means to users’ contact or personal information; Use the Sites in any way with the intent to overburden, damage, disable or impair the Sites; Attempt to circumvent, reverse engineer, decrypt, alter or interfere with the Sites, services or content; Use the Sites in violation of any applicable law; Post, upload, transmit, send or otherwise make available through the Sites any materials which are fraudulent, deceptive, unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, libelous, defamatory,obscene, vulgar, offensive, pornographic, profane, sexually explicit or indecent; Post, upload, transmit, send or otherwise make available through the Sites any materials which constitute or encourage violation of any local, state, national or international law; Post, upload, transmit, send or otherwise make available through the Sites any materials which contain a virus, spyware or other harmful content; or Post, upload, transmit, send or otherwise make available through the Sites any materials which provide professional advice about medical, health, legal, tax, financial or investment issues; Offer to buy or sell any product or service on or through comments submitted in public discussion areas. Any prohibited activities may result in actions including but not limited to immediate termination of your User Registration. Anti-Spam Policy Live Happy strictly prohibits the sending of unsolicited bulk email (spam). Spam is defined for this purpose as sending messages similar in content to any persons, entities, newsgroups, forums,email lists, or other groups or lists unless prior consent has been obtained from the email recipient or unless there is a preexisting business or personal relationship with the email recipient. Live Happy also prohibits using false headers in emails or falsifying, forging or altering the origin of any email in connection with Live Happy and/or its products and services.Live Happy prohibits engaging in any of the foregoing activities by using the service of another provider, remailer service, or otherwise. If you or anyone you know is “spammed” by someone who is promoting Live Happy, its products or the Happiness Movement, please contact us promptly so that we make take appropriate action. Indemnification You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless us, our licensors, vendors, service providers,and each of our respective officers, directors, members, employees, independent and subcontractors, agents, representatives, successors and assigns from and against any and all claims, disputes, demands, proceedings, cause of action, judgments, damages, liabilities, losses,costs or expense (including, but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees) of any kind and nature, known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed which may arise out of or are in any way connect with your access, visitation and/or use of the Sites, your placement or transmission of any message, content, information, software or other materials through the Sites, or your breach of violation of the law or of these Terms and Conditions. We reserve the right, and your expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter for which you are required to indemnify us and you agree to cooperate with our defense of these claims. Merchandise, Products & Services We may make certain merchandise, products or services available to users of the Sites. You agree to pay all fees, applicable taxes and charges in full either by credit or debit card concurrent with your order or by other means acceptable to use. If payment is not received by us from your credit or debit card issuer or its agents, you agree to pay all amounts due upon demand by us. We may charge fees in advance and on a monthly, yearly or other basis. All fees are due promptly.You must notify us about any billing problems or discrepancy within thirty (30) days after they first appear on your statement; otherwise, you waive any right to challenge or dispute such problem or discrepancy. If there is a cancellation associated with fees charged in advance, such as with a Live Happy subscription, you will receive a prorated refund for any remaining fees. If you order any merchandise, products or services, you hereby represent and warrant that you are 18 years old or older. Product Colors and Descriptions We have made every effort to display as accurately as possible the colors of our products that appear at the Sites. We cannot guarantee that your computer monitor’s display of any color will be accurate. Additionally, some products have intentional variations in the color of the fabric, so products received may differ from those pictured. If a product offered is not as pictured, your sole remedy is to return it in new condition (unworn, unwashed, with all tags attached). Errors, Inaccuracies & Omissions Occasionally there may be information on the Sites that contains typographical errors,inaccuracies, or omissions that may relate to product descriptions, pricing, promotions, offers, and availability. We reserve the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update information or cancel orders if any information on the Sites is inaccurate at any time without prior notice (including after you have submitted your order). If a product offered is not as described, your sole remedy is to return it in new condition (unworn, unwashed, with all tags attached). Third Party Sites & Ads The Sites may contain links to third party websites, services and advertisements for third parties. You acknowledge and agree that we have no responsibility for the information, content,products, services, advertising, code or other materials which may or may not be provided by a third party website. Links to third party sites do not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation by us of such websites. You use all third party sites at your own risk. When you link to a third party website, the applicable third party’s terms and policies apply, including the third party’s privacy and data gathering practices. Any reliance on the contents of a third party website is done at your own risk and you assume all responsibilities and consequences resulting from such reliance. Copyright Complaints We respect the intellectual property of others, and we ask that people who use the Sites do the same. If you believe that your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, you may provide us with notice. The notification must be a written communication that includes the following information, pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. sec. 512: A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed; Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple copyrighted works at a single online site are covered by a single notification, a representative list of such works at that site; Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed to access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate such copyrighted work Information reasonable sufficient to permit us to contact you, including an address, telephone numbers and if available, an electronic mail address at which the complaining party may be contacted; A statement that the complaining party has a good faith belief that use of the copyrighted work in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. FOR COPYRIGHT NOTICES ONLY Live Happy ATTN: Copyright Agent P.O. Box 645 Happy, TX 79042 Only copyright complaints should be sent to the copyright agent. No other communications will be accepted or responded to. Disclaimers The sites, including, without limitation, all services, content, functions and materials provided through the sites, are provided “as is,” “as available,” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, without limitation, any warranty for information, data, data processing services, uptime or uninterrupted access, any warranties concerning the availability, playability, displayability, accuracy, precision, correctness, thoroughness, completeness,usefulness, or content of information, and any warranties of title, non-infringement, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose, and we hereby disclaim any and all such warranties, express and implied. We do not warrant that the sites or the services, content, functions or materials provided through the sites will be timely, secure, uninterrupted or error-free, or that defects will be corrected. We make no warranty that the sites or the provided services will meet users’ requirements. No advice, results or information, whether oral or written, obtained by you from us or through the sites shall create any warranty not expressly made herein. We and our affiliates also assume no responsibility, and shall not be liable for, any damages to, or viruses that may infect, your equipment or account of your access to, use of, or browsing in the sites or your downloading of any materials, data, text, images, video content or audio content from the sites. If you are dissatisfied with the sites, your sole remedy is to discontinue using the sites. We try to ensure that the information posted on the sites is correct and current. We reserve the Right to change or make corrections to any of the information provided on the sites at any time And without any prior warning. We neither endorse or are responsible for the accuracy or Reliability of any opinion, advice or statement on the sites, nor for any offensive, defamatory,Obscene, indecent, unlawful or infringing posting made thereon by anyone other than our authorized Employee spokespersons while acting in their official capacities (including, without limitation, other users of the sites). The content available on or through this service is in no way intended to and shall not be Construed to: (a) constitute professional medical, health, legal, tax or financial advice; (b) Recommend, endorse, or advise regarding any financial instrument or investment strategy; or (c) Diagnose, cure or treat anymedical, health or other condition. Always seek the advice of a Qualified professional. For example, seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health Provider prior to starting any new diet and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a Medical condition. Without limitation of the above in this section, we and our affiliates, licensors, vendors and/or Service providers make no warranties or representations regarding any products or services ordered Or provided via the sites, and hereby disclaim, and you hereby waive, any and all warranties and Representations made in product or services literature, frequently asked questions documents and Otherwise on the sites or in correspondence with us or our agents. Any products and services Ordered or provided via the sites are provided by us “as is,” except to the extent, if at all, Otherwise set forth in a license or sale agreement separately entered into in writing between you And us or our licensor, vendor or provider. Limitation of Liability In no event, including but not limited to negligence, shall we, our affiliates, or any of our Directors, officers, employees, agents or content or services providers be liable for any direct,Indirect, special, incidental, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages artising from, or Directly or indirectly related to, the use of, or the inability to use, the sites or the content,Materials and functions related thereto, your provision of the information via the sites, lost Business or lost sales, even if such protected entity has been advised of the possibility of such Damages. Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental Or consequential damages so some of the above limitations may not apply to certain users. In no Event shall the protected entities be liable for or in connection with any content posted,Transmitted, exchanged or received by or on behalf of any user or other person on or through the Sites. In no event shall the total aggregate liability of the protected entities to you for all Damages, losses and causes of action (whether in contract or tort, including, but not limited to,Negligence or otherwise) arising from the terms and conditions or your use of the sites exceed, in The aggregate, the amount, if any, paid by you for your use of the sites or purchase of products Via the sites. Applicable Laws We control and operate the Sites from our offices in the United States of America. We do not represent that materials on the Sites are appropriate or available for us in other locations.Persons who choose to access the Sites from other locations do so on their own initiative, and are responsible for compliance with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable. All parties to these terms and conditions waive their respective rights to a trial by jury. Termination We may terminate, change, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the Sites or the Sites’ services at any time. We may restrict, suspend or terminate your access to the Sites and/or its services if we believe you are in breach of our Terms and Conditions or applicable law, or for any other reason without notice or liability. If your access is restricted, suspended or terminated, by you or by us, we have no obligation to retain or remove any User Content from our Sites. Jurisdiction The Terms and Conditions, and the relationship between you and us, shall be governed by the law of the State of Texas, United States of America. You agree that any cause of action that may arise under the Terms and Conditions shall be commenced and be heard in the appropriate court in the State of Texas, County of Dallas, United States of America. You agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located within Dallas County in the State of Texas. Our failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of the Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. If any provision of the Terms and Conditions is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the parties nevertheless agree that the court should endeavor to give effect to the parties’ intentions as reflected in the provision, and the other provisions of the Terms and Conditions remain in full force and effect. Changes to Terms and Conditions We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to change, modify, add or remove any portion of the Terms and Conditions, in whole or in part, at any time. Changes in the Terms and Conditions will be effective when posted. Your continued use of the Sites and/or the services made available on or through the Sites after any changes to the Terms and Conditions are posted will be considered acceptance of those changes. Contact Us If you have any concerns about the website or these Terms, please send an e-mail to customerservice@livehappy.com.We will make every reasonable effort to address your concerns and remedy any problems you bring to our attention. Happiness Ambassador Account The Happiness Ambassador Account a person who “joins the movement”. There are no costs or fees involved with creating a Happiness Ambassador Account. Happiness Ambassador Accounts may be accessed by logging in at LiveHappy.com. Happiness Ambassador Account Closures A Happiness Ambassador Account may be closed at our discretion if no Points are accrued during an 18-month period. Happiness Ambassador Account Activity We reserve the right to revoke, cancel or suspend any Happiness Ambassador Account, Reward and/or take other action at our discretion, at any time with immediate effect and without written notice,if we believe a Happiness Ambassador has (1) violated any of the Program Rules, (2) failed to pay any bills or accounts due to us, (3) acted in a manner inconsistent with applicable law,regulations or ordinances, (4) engaged in any misconduct or wrongdoing in connection with the Program, including without limitation, (5) violated any of the Terms and Conditions herein. Last revised on October 28, 2015
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Circle of coworkers bonding.

Listening With Your Heart

Healing the world—and building your own happiness—one conversation, one breath at a time. When Vermont music teacher Sue Detweiler and her pastor husband Larry were looking for a new house, a key concern was that it have extra bedrooms. Sue, who believes in radical hospitality, wanted to make sure they had enough room to throw open their doors when people arrived on their doorstep in need. They found the house, bought it and before they’d even unpacked, a family of four filled the extra bedrooms. And just as that family got back on its feet and was ready to leave, an abused woman and her small child arrived. Sue’s house hasn’t been empty since.And when Toni Dudley, a South Carolina woman who had worked on an assembly line at the local Honda plant, discovered that a former co-worker had advanced cancer and no one to care for him, she rolled up her sleeves, cleaned his house, brought him food. Then, as he got worse, she moved into his home and cared for him every moment of every day for the rest of his life.What drives us to selflessly care for others? Plain and simple, it all comes down to compassion, that inward emotion that leads to outward acts of kindness. It’s what moves us to help one another and heal the breaches between us. And it’s key to our survival—as people, as nations, as a planet. “Despite what people think, ‘survival of the fittest’ is not something Darwin ever said,” says Emma Seppala, Ph.D., associate director of the Stanford University Center for Compassion & Altruism Research and Education in California. “Darwin’s message was more ‘survival of the kindest.’ ” We survive not because we’re the biggest, strongest or most intelligent beings on the planet, but because we live in a community of people who reach out to us in times of trouble. We are amazing, compassionate creatures. It’s what makes rescuing stray dogs on the streets of Los Angeles a passion, stuffing neighborhood food cupboards in Maine a commitment, and sending Doctors without Borders to the victims of hurricanes in the Philippines and Haiti a reality. What makes us do it? It’s part of who we are. Empathy in Action While we use the word “compassion” freely, we may be hard-pressed to come up with an actual definition. In its literal form, the translation of “compassion” is “to suffer together.” What it means in our daily lives is that we are compelled to relieve the suffering of others. The Dalai Lama is among those who say compassion is essential to overall wellbeing; he calls love and compassion necessities in life, not luxuries.  But compassion is more than just kindness to others—he says it is the sensitivity to the suffering of others, combined with a commitment to do something about it. In other words, it is empathy in action. Rev. Molly F. James, Ph.D., and an ordained Episcopal minister, understands the action side of compassion: “When I was a hospital chaplain, we referred to it as ‘getting in the boat.’ It’s being where the person in pain is, doing whatever it takes to become a companion for them and letting them know that they’re not alone. It’s letting people tell you their story and concentrating on their words, rather than thinking of your solution to their problems.” “You don’t have to be a minister to do this,” Molly says, “It’s about care and compassion—we are all born with a capacity for both.” Compassion is also a commonality among numerous religions. “Compassion is a shared value and virtue across many faith traditions,” the adjunct professor says. “It’s probably one of the strongest correlations between them.” Witnessing others in the act of compassion can have long-term, positive effects on us. When Molly needs to gather strength in her life, she calls one particular example to mind. It took place as she was helping organize a prayer service and funeral for a victim of the Newtown, Conn., shooting. Adding to the unthinkable grief and despair of the time was a troubling rumor: Picketers would try to disrupt the funeral procession. “I have a powerful image of the day,” Molly says. “When we reached the church, we saw a wall of people around it.” In the human circle she remembers Boy Scouts at attention—in their shirtsleeves even in the cold December weather. “There were boys not much older than the one who was killed. People formed this human wall around the church, and they stayed there the entire time. I saw the community do a beautiful, good, compassionate thing in light of the horrific tragedy of that dark week when so many hearts were broken.” “Sometimes compassion is about being kind and understanding,” says Monica Hanson, a senior teacher for Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. “But when it’s combined in someone with a longing to make a difference in people’s lives, it becomes a fierce compassion that can change the world.” Wired for Compassion Today, many psychologists embrace the notion that compassion is an instinct, a natural trait that has evolved over time and helped ensure our survival. Its benefits are both physical and mental, and some believe it can speed up recovery from disease and even lengthen our life. That’s because compassion provides us with pleasure. National Institutes of Health neuroscientist Jordan Grafman headed up a brain-imaging study proving the “pleasure centers” in our brain are activated by charitable acts. His research shows the great feeling that comes from enjoying dessert, spending time with friends or by spending money on ourselves can also be experienced by offering charitable acts to others The benefits, however, go beyond simply feeling good. A study from the University at Buffalo says people who practice compassion tend to be less affected by stress, while other studies have shown that compassion is directly linked to stronger social connections and improved physical and psychological health. There’s actually an underlying biological response to seeing someone in need, explains Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph.D., science director for the University of California at Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. “We are exquisitely built to be sensitive to other people,” she says. “When you encounter someone in trouble, your chest and the back of your neck tighten, your forehead rises, and you mirror the feelings of the person who’s in need,” Emiliana says. Then the brain’s circuitry triggers other neuronal networks that appraise the situation and toss in their 2 cents about what’s going on. Dacher Keltner, also of the Greater Good Science Center and author of Born to Be Good, says we are wired for compassion. He points to studies conducted at Princeton University showing that certain areas of the brain light up when subjects were asked to contemplate harm being done to others. Study authors Joshua Greene and Jonathan Cohen concluded, based on the brain activity, humans are designed to respond compassionately to others’ suffering. “When we feel compassion, our heart rate slows down, we secrete the bonding hormone oxytocin and regions of the brain linked to empathy, caregiving and feelings of pleasure light up, which often results in our wanting to approach and care for other people,” the Greater Good Science Center says on their website. While compassion is as old as humanity, Dacher notes that scientific studies into how it affects us—and what triggers it—are relatively new. However, recent research has looked at the role of oxytocin, called “the cuddle hormone” or “the love hormone,” as a factor in compassion. In fact, studies into oxytocin indicate that our base level of compassion may be genetic. Oxytocin has four types of nucleotides—A, T, C and G—and each of us receive one copy of this nucleotide from each parent. A study published in the November 2011 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says the level of compassion an individual possesses varies based on the combination of genes, with A genes creating the least amount of empathy and compassion and G genes providing a greater amount of compassion. There are numerous combinations, but the study showed that individuals with the GG combination had a much higher level of compassion than all other subjects. However, Dr. Heike Tost of the Central Institute of Mental Health in Germany points out that even though an individual may be genetically wired to be less compassionate, empathy is “a complicated behavior regulated by more than one factor.” Another factor is the vagus nerve. Starting at the top of the spinal cord, the vagus nerve runs throughout the body and is interconnected with the oxytocin network. The vagus nerve has been associated with a stronger immune system and can regulate inflammation throughout the body, help regulate the activity between our breathing and heart rate, support our communication and, because of its connection with oxytocin, help us empathize and feel compassion. In a 2012 presentation, Dacher called it “the caretaking nerve” because it reacts to both tragic and inspiring news. He found that when people indicate they are feeling compassion, the vagus nerve has a stronger response, meaning everything in the body—from our heart and breathing rates to immune activity—are affected. “In that state of having a strong vagus nerve response, [we] feel common humanity with many different groups,” he says. “These deep ethical intuitions of common humanity are tracking a physiological practice.” Individuals with a stronger vagus nerve response have been shown to possess increased positive emotions overall, are more resilient, more sympathetic, have stronger social networks and tend to be trusted more by strangers. In children, he says, this often shows up as “the kids who intervene when [another] kid is being bullied” or will donate time at recess to help other children with their homework. What this proves, Dacher concludes, is that while we tend to think of compassion as a core emotional component, “it really is part of our nervous system as well.” He adds that a higher vagus nerve response can be cultivated by actively practicing compassion and through mindful acts, such as meditation and deliberate acts of kindness. So even if compassion is, at certain levels, a genetic and biological factor, it can be enhanced and further developed through self-awareness and practice. Creating a Compassionate Brain Even those who don’t feel they have a naturally compassionate brain can fine-tune it to become more compassionate. “If you take a deep breath and exhale slowly—breathing out longer than you breathe in—you can trigger the vagus nerve that runs from the brain to nearly every part of your body,” says Berkeley’s Emiliana. “It will immediately lower your heart rate, help you relax and give your brain’s caregiving and reward circuits the opportunity to come online. It will flood you with the feel-good chemicals oxytocin and dopamine—and the warm glow of heroism, motivated by compassion, will negate those feelings of discomfort.” You’ll hear yourself say, at the deepest level, “That person is just like me.” Few of us can remember to breathe deeply on the fly without training, so in the past few years, a bevy of researchers from Stanford and Berkeley to the University of Wisconsin and Emory have investigated whether or not we can be trained to do so—and whether or not doing so would, in fact, encourage us to become more compassionate. At each institution, researchers turned toward meditation techniques that focus on deep breathing. In a recent study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for example, researchers Richie Davidson, Ph.D., and Helen Weng found that two weeks of training seemed to double study participants’ inclination to behave in a compassionate manner toward others—to reach out and help someone, even when they had to spend their own dollars to do so. What’s more, when Richie and Helen scanned study participants’ brains, they found neural changes that supported the behavioral changes, suggesting that not only are we wired for compassion, but that we can actually change our brain’s biology to increase compassion and the acts of kindness it triggers. A second study, this one from Stanford University’s Center for Compassion, Altruism and Education Research, found that the benefits of a daily compassion meditation emphasizing deep breathing over a nine-week period enabled participants to strengthen their awareness of others’ suffering and increase their compassion. What’s more, study participants also increased a sense of self-compassion—and reported a substantial increase in happiness. Sharing the Love One of the many wonderful things about compassion is that it is contagious, meaning your simple act of kindness could have a greater effect than you will ever know. James Fowler, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Diego, and Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a medical sociologist at Harvard University, conducted a research project in which participants could receive large sums of money—and found that those recipients, in turn, rewarded others with generous gifts. It’s something we’ve seen over and over: Small acts of compassion, such as paying for the coffee of the person in line behind you can start a “pay it forward” chain reaction that lasts for several hours. Beyond the physical gift it provides, there’s an uplifting psychological benefit that lets us simultaneously enjoy happiness and give it to others. And, as we see the happiness of those who receive our compassion, we become happier. And the best part is, it doesn’t take a large act of compassion to make a difference; it just takes a little action. With additional reporting by Paula Felps.
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Raising Kids Who Give Back

Now that we’re in the heart of summer—and school vacation—many parents are left wondering how their children can best spend all of this free time. While some opt for camps to fill the summer months,as a parenting expert for Brainly, I think it is the perfect time to get your kids involved in volunteer work.Here are six volunteer ideas to help your kids add a little more purpose to their lives this summer. Identify Your Kid’s Interests Before Deciding on Any Activity If your child is not interested in sports, volunteering with the Special Olympics will most likely be a flop. On the other hand, if your kid loves art, volunteering for a local museum may be a great match. Focus on what your kid loves, and then use that to find philanthropic inspiration. After all, you do want your child to enjoy giving back so that he or she continues with the charity throughout adulthood! Match the Activity with your Child’s Age While volunteering positions offer a fantastic foray into the worlds of both philanthropy and work for teenagers that are middle school- and high school-age, there are countless ways for younger children to give back. The developmental importance of more elementary philanthropic activities should not be underestimated. Start off your young kids with fun, age-appropriate activities. Think of charitable day camps or even simple at-home activities like going through a kid’s possessions and deciding what they would like to donate. Opening a dialogue on privilege and disadvantage, especially among other children, is vital for helping your children cultivate a benevolent attitude. Consider Collaborating with Your Kids You don’t want your child to feel overwhelmed, or else they may grow to resent philanthropic work. Instead, choose an altruistic activity that can be used as a means of spending time together so that you can bond, work together, and give back all with the same project. This way, your kid can feel proud to be part of something bigger than he or she could accomplish alone. Such an endeavor may look like a toy or food drive, where you and your child can gather toys from your community in order to donate them to less privileged children. Explore Opportunities that are Educational in Nature Volunteering gives kids a sense of purpose and teaches valuable skills, and it can also help them reinforce knowledge and enhance their academics. You and your child can opt to volunteer virtually, adhering to CDC guidelines and staying out of COVID-19’s way. For example, by becoming avirtual volunteeron a peer-to-peer learning community such asBrainly, volunteers build lasting relationships, get access to special tools, features, events, and contests, and gain recognition across the broader Brainly community. There are various volunteer tasks and responsibilities that students can choose from based on their personal preferences and unique skills. Whether that’s welcoming newcomers, sharing tips and tricks on creating a great question or answer, or sharing feedback on Brainly features – their contributions help the Brainly community thrive and grow each and every day. Teenagers and high schoolers can also earn the prestigious title of being a certified moderator on the world’s largest online learning community, which looks great on college applications or resumes. Emphasize Togetherness Whether your kid is more interested in spending time with friends or getting quality family time in, use philanthropy as a social activity. For example, you can either accompany your kid to a soup kitchen or better yet bring his or her friends along so that they can have fun spending time together while simultaneously giving back and doing something great for the community. Utilize the Power of Virtual Philanthropy Consider a simpler means of giving back: online philanthropy. As an example, you could use the internet to research ways you can help your child sponsor a child in need or protect an endangered species. You would be surprised how much change can be made with just a small investment of time.From video chatting with lonely senior citizens and operating crisis call lines to provide at-risk youth with guidance, or transcribing historical documents for nonprofit museums to make their collections more accessible, there’s something out there for everyone.Catchafireis a volunteer search tool exclusively for online volunteer projects, and it’s a great place to start.You may find this approach excites your kids, as they can establish connections with kids, causes, or animals around the globe! These are just a few ideas for students of all ages—from elementary school to high school and college—can step up to give back to their communities during the summer downtime (notto step up their resumes or college applications a notch above the rest during their summer downtime.
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Happy for Life

A long, full and vibrant life has long been seen as an enviable stroke of good luck, the result of good genes or perhaps a gift from the gods. As technology continues to provide new medical breakthroughs that can expand our lifespans, the idea of a long life seems to be an attainable goal for most of us. But there’s a catch, says David Ekerdt, Ph.D., a professor of sociology and gerontology at the University of Kansas. While David acknowledges that a longer life has become a valued public health objective, he observes that, “At the individual level, longer lives are a goal only if [the individual] remains healthy.” His study, “Is longevity a value for older adults?” was published in December in the Journal of Aging Studies. He looked at aging adults from China, Germany and the U.S. and found they all shared one common belief: A long life requires good health to make it worthwhile. Recent research shows the path to long-term health may not be as dependent on genes or good luck as we once thought; science shows that our thoughts and actions play a bigger role in overall health than we previously realized. Starting Younger, Living Better If it’s a long, happy life you’re after, the time to start is now—regardless of whether you’re 5 or 35. The foundation for a long life is established early on; the habits and mindset you pick up along the way will affect your health much more than your family traits and curses. George Vaillant, director emeritus of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, says how long and how well we live is about much more than our genes, jobs, physical exercise or diet. The Harvard study, launched in 1938, examines what creates a long, healthy life. Today, it extends to the descendants of that original research project and gives an unprecedented look into what allows us to live better. “Genetics has much less effect on how long someone lives than their habits,” says George, who headed the study for 30 years. He found alcoholism and smoking to be the two deadliest practices, while moderate exercise and a stable weight tend to equal a longer life. Beyond that, the research shows, longevity depends upon our emotions and relationships. “People who live a long time have a lot of positive emotion,” he says. “And that means being part of a community. It’s hard to have positive emotion on a deserted island; you need other people.” Finding Your Tribe Positive emotions and good relationships are not only bedrock principles of positive psychology; they have been found to be instrumental to good health. While unhappy marriages and stressful relationships have been proven deterrents to good health, individuals with healthy relationships have 35 percent fewer illnesses. “The key to healthy aging is relationships, relationships, relationships,” George says. Well-being researcher Dan Buettner agrees. The Blue Zones author has studied what leads to longer, more fulfilling lives and has found that not only are happiness and good health tightly intertwined, but that social interaction can help you live longer and better. “We are more likely to be happy if we get five to seven hours of meaningful social interaction a day,” he says. “Making sure that you have happy friends affects how long you live, because that’s contagious. And focusing on your immediate social network is more important than either diet or exercise programs when it comes to living a long, happy, healthy life.” He says having five positive-minded people who share interests in recreation—whether it’s golfing, walking or gardening—and who truly care about you will have powerful incremental effects on your well-being. “That is almost the surest thing you can do in the long run for both making it to a healthy age 90 or 95 and enjoying the journey. [Happiness adds] about eight years to your life expectancy; it’s almost as good for you as quitting smoking.” Tending to Your Telomeres If the notion that simply being happy and focusing on positive relationships can offset aging seems hard to believe, Elissa Epel, Ph.D., has the proof. Elissa co-authored the book, The Telomere Effect with 2009 Nobel Prize winner Elizabeth Blackburn, Ph.D., and their research shows that greater happiness equals longer lives. Telomeres—those caps at the end of each strand of DNA—protect our chromosomes and affect how quickly and how well our cells age. Telomeres shorten as we age, but practices like smoking, lack of exercise, a poor diet and stress also can shorten them. But now, Elissa says, there’s growing proof that just changing your mindset can change your telomeres, leading to a longer, happier life. Focusing on the positive and finding ways to be fully engaged with your life has a proven association with longer telomeres. Practices like meditation, tai chi and qigong can reduce stress and increase the production of telomerase, an enzyme that replenishes telomeres. Adopting happiness practices and learning to focus on the positives are scientifically proven to be some of the most beneficial practices for maintaining the length of telomeres. “Mindset and mental health are some of the most important parts of healthy aging,” Elissa says. “We can’t forget the daily work of good, healthy habits…but fewer people realize that where we put our attention is also critically important.” Don’t miss Paula’s interview on the Live Happy Now podcast with Dr. Joe Bates as he explains how to use brain exercises to keep your mind young and fit. This article originally appeared in the October 2018 edition of Live Happy magazine.
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Building on Friendship

Over the last two years, I spent a lot of time helping my colleague Sandy Lewis launch her business. I live in Washington state and traveled to her community in Texas to help. Through many texts and phone calls, I provided advice and served as a mentor. She told me she would never have achieved the success she did without my help. She is always grateful and appreciative. It should be no surprise that we have become close friends, almost like sisters. I value how ourrelationship has matured, that we can be honest with each other with no concern about feeling weak or wrong. Knowing that I am always just a phone call away, she forges ahead and has achieved notable success while growing through the inevitable ups and downs.All this time, her husband, John, had been quietly observing all the positive changes and growth in his wife, knowing that it was through our relationship that she was becoming a strong businesswoman. While I was visiting Texas last year, John told me he was so appreciative of my efforts to help his wife that he wanted to reciprocate.Despite my concerns about the distance, and time and money investments it would take for him to visit me in Washington, he continued to insist. Knowing that my home desperately needed numerous repair and improvement jobs,John asked me to make a list. Although retired from his career in sales,he is an accomplished carpenter and “fix-it” handyman who thoroughly enjoys this hobby. So, despite my concerns, John packed up his four-door Honda sedan with every hand and power tool imaginable, plus a ladder, table saw, chain saw, nails, etc. He then drove 2,200 miles in three days from Kerrville, Texas, to Lacey, Washington. He set to work immediately, rebuilding a fence and new gate.As if that was not enough, he tore out a rotten porch, built a replacement, installed new siding on the house, cut down trees and installed a new screen door and a smoke detector.Here for two weeks, he also fixed my broken toilet, got the automatic garage door to work and repaired a portion of my roof, among other things. He made numerous trips to local lumberyards and home improvement stores.(My responsibility was to supply the investment for all materials).Getting an early start each day, he was like the Tasmanian devil of solving problems and making a difference. Two weeks later to the day, we packed up his car for the return trip, and he drove back to Texas. Who does this?! You can only imagine my delight as I watched the transformation of my home. It was one of the most memorable and heartfelt experiences of my life.My neighbors were astounded, having never imagined such a selfless act of giving that John demonstrated. It has taken me many years to develop an “ask for help” attitude. What I have learned is that most people want to help—some even are desperate to help—and that they have talents and experiences that are hugely valuable.Accepting help can feel daunting or even threatening, but most of the time it is the best path to success.It also fosters relationships that mature over time.And it lends both parties an opportunity to reciprocate—which can lead, as in this case, to a most generous and unexpected surprise. This article originally appear in the December 2015 issue of Live Happy magazine.
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How Teamwork Can Make Your Life Better

Anytime two or more people come together with shared goals, common vision or commitment, the character strength of teamwork becomes important. Research shows that those who are high in this character strength have a positive view of others and more social trust, which can lead to greater success on the task or goal at hand. Consider the many ways that teamwork is important in your life. Here are some examples: A mother and father work together, as a team, in parenting their child with behavioral challenges. They ensure they give the child consistent messages of positive support and steady boundaries, in which they are on the “same page.” A family has a “family meeting” each month to discuss what went well and what needs improvement in their efforts to keep a clean, well-maintained home. Each child and parent equally listens, shares ideas and offers a way to help. Five adolescents on a basketball team pass the ball back and forth selflessly as a unit, looking for the best opportunity to score. Eight members of a work group verbally comment on the strengths they appreciate in one another after working together for two months on an important and demanding project. A committee initiates a new recycling campaign that involves a team of city employees and several volunteer teams to make the community project a success. Want to give your teamwork strength an extra boost? Try these research-based activities from my latest book: 1.) Use “team talk”: Try using positive self-talk about your team (not yourself). Instead of saying “I will do a good job,” say to yourself, “we will perform well,” “we are focused and ready” and “we believe in our abilities.” 2.) Use a positive approach: Whether your team members are fellow students, family members or co-workers, be positive, encouraging and proactive by taking initiative and making efforts to hear their opinions. 3.) Validate successes: Look for team members’ mini-successes (finishing a small task, starting a project early, having a difficult conversation) and compliment them on their efforts and progress. This will build team confidence. 4.) Link strengths and roles: When you notice another team member doing something that is energizing or seems to make them happy, point it out. Talk about the strength you see them using and connect it to the role they are playing on the team or the task at hand. For example, “I see how excited you get when you use your curiosity strength. That seemed to really help you connect with that customer." This article originally appeared in the October 2018 edition of Live Happy magazine.
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Sample Page

This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I'm a bike messenger by day, aspiring actor by night, and this is my website. I live in Los Angeles, have a great dog named Jack, and I like piña coladas. (And gettin' caught in the rain.) ...or something like this: The XYZ Doohickey Company was founded in 1971, and has been providing quality doohickeys to the public ever since. Located in Gotham City, XYZ employs over 2,000 people and does all kinds of awesome things for the Gotham community. As a new WordPress user, you should go to your dashboard to delete this page and create new pages for your content. Have fun!
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Home

[homepage-article] Happiness in your inbox! If you’re not subscribed to the weekly Live Happy newsletter, you’re missing out! Sign up to discover new articles and research on happiness, the latest podcast, special offers from sponsors, and even a happy song of the week. Subscribe for free today! [mc4wp_form id="16050"] Happy Acts Shop Workplace Science Relationships Self-Care Podcast Live Happy is a company dedicated to promoting and sharing authentic happiness through education, integrity, gratitude and community awareness. Our mission is to impact the world through a happiness movement that inspires people to engage in living purpose-driven, healthy, meaningful lives. We're a resource and movement about a timeless quest: Living a happy life.
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7 Ways People-Pleasers Can Meet Their Own Needs

If you are a good-hearted person, it is natural to want to please others. As one who seriously considers the feelings of those around you, you likely engage in several selfless and kind behaviors that benefit your loved ones and strangers alike. Whether you bring cookies to your elderly neighbor, offer an empathetic ear to a distressed friend, or allow a harried mom to step in front of you in line at the grocery store, your attempts to contribute to others' happiness and well-being are noble and laudable. But sometimes, it is possible to take it too far. If your desire to please others is stronger than your need for self-care, your people-pleasing ways may negatively impact your well-being. If, for example, you felt pressured to spend all weekend helping a friend move—but as a result, missed an important work deadline on Monday—then your job performance may seriously suffer. Or, if you stayed up all night on the phone with an upset friend (who said you were the only one who understands her), you might not be able to concentrate on that important exam scheduled the next morning. When you go too far, allowing your own self-care to take a back seat to others' needs, you will likely become frustrated, exhausted and discouraged. And when you regularly disregard your own wants and needs to appease others, you may even experience chronic stress and other health problems. So, what can you do to address your own needs while showing kind consideration to others? How can you strike a healthy balance between selflessness and self-consideration? 1. Start to recognize your people-pleasing behaviors. Change is not possible without awareness. Pay attention to the choices you make to please others: If your colleague asks you to take on some of her tasks, do you do it because you don’t want to tell her “no”? If your mother asks you to come by for dinner after work—even though you just wanted to go home and relax—do you go anyway so you don’t let her down? Or, if the waitress gives you the wrong dish, do you eat it anyway so you don’t inconvenience her? If you find yourself appeasing others in this way, don’t judge yourself. Simply notice. Determine how often you make choices to please someone else despite what you really want to do and make a note of it. 2. Notice the consequences of your choices to people-please. When you dropped everything on your list to do something for someone else, what happened to the things you wanted to get done? How did you feel emotionally? When you said "yes" and really meant "no," how did that work out for you in the long run? Did you end up having to attend meetings you didn't want to go to? Were you exhausted because you didn’t get the rest you needed? 3. Ask yourself, “How willing am I to change?” Change is only possible if you are willing to embrace it. Would you like to adjust your people-pleasing behaviors so that you can take care of your own needs more? How might this impact your quality of life? Your desire for more control over your life must exceed your need to please others. 4. Increase your internal focus. If you are a people-pleaser, how others see you and act toward you strongly impacts your feelings and sense of self. With such a dominant external focus, it is likely that you are not in touch with your thoughts and emotions or your physical and spiritual needs. Committing to change involves increasing your internal awareness of these things and intentionally stopping and tuning into what you want. What were your plans for the day? Did you really want to be on that committee? 5. Catch yourself in the act of people-pleasing. As you become more aware of your motivations, try to catch yourself before you say “yes” and mean “no.” Notice if you are more concerned with what the other person is thinking than what you need. If so, redirect your focus to yourself and consider your needs. Don’t judge yourself and have compassion as you are learning to change a difficult habit. 6. Learn to live with not always pleasing others. This can be challenging. People-pleasing is all about having others like you, think well of you, and be pleased with you. To risk removing these sources of self-identity and self-esteem can seem like an impossible task. Reassure yourself of your worth and the importance of meeting your needs. Remind yourself that you want to find a better balance between your self-care and the needs of others. Then, be prepared to let the other person have their own feelings of disappointment or judgment - and resist the temptation to try to change or fix their feelings. 7. Learn to live with pleasing yourself and meeting your own needs. When you do this, you may find that you are not on a community board you didn’t want to be on, that you have some time to relax after work, or that you don’t have to eat a meal that you didn’t want in the first place. By taking your own wants and needs into consideration along with those of others, you will discover that your life has changed—for the better. There is nothing wrong with people-pleasing until it causes you to feel resentful, unhappy and out of control in your own life. As you likely already know, people-pleasing does not always produce the results you hope for. The recognition, approval and appreciation you long for are elusive even after you jump through countless hoops. Learning to listen to and respond to yourself, and appreciating the benefits of doing these things, can not only earn you the respect you long for, but also can give you the peace and self-confidence that you deserve.
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4 Stress-Busting Tips to Boost Your Happiness

Stress is and will always be part of our lives. But, as we enter another month of masks, stay-at-home orders, social unrest and uncertainty, our stress and anxiety levels being pushed to the max. According to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Stress in America Report 2020, 46% of parents with children under age 18 report their stress levels related to the coronavirus pandemic are high and 83% of Americans believe the future of our nation is causing them a significant source of stress. Living this way is not only unsustainable, but it is also very bad for our mental and physical well-being. Research shows that when we properly manage our stress levels, we can prevent some really bad health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and depression. So, if you are going a little stir crazy, here are a few tips to help relieve some of this newfound stress and get some peace of mind. 1. Practice Mindfulness While you and your family are stuck at home crawling all over each other, it may feel as if you have suddenly been transported into that trash compacter scene from Star Wars. Just to reassure you, the walls are not actually moving in on you and those feelings of suffocation are in your head. Practicing mindfulness can help clear out some of those anxieties and other brain clutter that adds extra stress to your life. Experts believe that a good time to try a relaxation technique is right after lunch. This is our rest and digest mode and it is the opposite of fight or flight. If possible, let your co-workers and family members know that you need 10 to 15 minutes for quiet reflection. If you need help calming your system, try a simple exercise of closing your eyes and breathing in for four seconds, holding your breath for seven seconds and then exhaling for eight seconds. Repeat this five times in a row and you’ll start to notice a sense of calm blanketing you. If you need some guidance on how to practice mindfulness, a few apps to check out are Calm, Smiling Mind, Mind Free and Headspace. Plus, if you are unemployed because of the pandemic, you can sign up for a Headspace subscription free for one year. 2. Make More Connections Even before we had social distancing due to the global pandemic, social isolation and loneliness was becoming a national epidemic. According to a 2018 survey from AARP, one out of every three adults over the age of 45 is lonely. While the current situation of stay-at-home orders hasn’t exacerbated the loneliness problem yet, the ties between social relationships and happiness are inextricably linked, and maintaining positive connections with others is associated with positive health outcomes. No matter if your connections are personal, professional, or both, strong relationships keep us happy. While you can’t physically reach out and touch someone right now, you can stay connected through technology. Try using FaceTime or Skype to call a loved one, a coworker or an old friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Talking to someone you trust and love will calm your fears and increase your happiness. Research shows that tight connections to other people is also good for our physical health because it helps lower those cortisol levels that lead to stress while boosting the immune system. If you need someone or a group to reach out to for support, self-care social media app Lyf offers its platform as a place to connect and share thoughts and experiences with other users, access to licensed psychologists 24-hours a day to answer any questions you may have about how you are feeling, or to just to vent your frustrations. If you are a frontline worker, Lyf is offering free, 60-minute support sessions with mental health experts during the COVID-19 crisis to help deal with issues of anxiety, fear, helplessness and anger. 3. Keep Your Body Moving Exercise is vital for physical health, but it is also important for maintaining mental health. So, being physically active not only keeps you healthier but happier too. In a study recently published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers found a correlation between the frequent physical activity and happiness in people who exercised at least 5 days a week between 30 and 75 minutes. According to the APA, regular exercise helps the brain deal with stress and can be a great mood-booster to fight off the effects of anxiety and depression. In fact, some studies claim that 20 minutes of exercise a day can improve your mood for up to 12 hours. Even though you can’t visit the gym or a yoga class right now, there are still plenty of ways to stay fit even if you are stuck in the home. Virtual classes are readily available online or on apps and treadmills are a great substitute for outdoor running. 4. Eat a Healthy Diet Stress can have a huge impact on your eating habits by throwing off your metabolism and making you more susceptible to emotional eating. Health officials from the Cleveland Clinic advise to keep plenty of healthy snacks around to prevent overeating foods that aren’t good for you and to give the body maintain proper nutrition to help fight off stress. Healthy foods, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, will also stabilize your blood sugar which will keep your emotions in check too. Healthy food and comfort food don’t have to be mutually exclusive, according to Chef Gerard Viverito, The Sustainable Chef. Instead of filling up your cart with junk food, he offers a few sustainable solutions that are pleasing to the palette. If meat prices are too high in your area, Gerard recommends eating more fish as well as becoming more familiar with how to prepare it. If you want to control snack attacks, try fiber-rich foods from the ground that fill you up faster. If you stuck at home and looking for family-fun activities, Gerard suggests making food fun by planting “a garden with kid-approved brain foods such as strawberries, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach and broccoli.” Now, the Bright Side As we continue to navigate these troubled and stressful times, it’s important to keep a positive mindset as much as we can. Positivity will put is in a better position to fight off the negative effects of stress and anxiety. Being stuck inside and having limited connections with the outside world may not be all bad. Home services and products review site Reviews.org recently surveyed 500 Americans to determine the impact COVID-19 and social distancing has had on our personal lives and found a few positives side effects of social distancing. According to their findings, 54% of Americans say they feel closer to friends and family, 50% feel like they have more pride in their community and 47% say they have learned a new skill or hobby. It just goes to show that even in the darkest of times, people are hopeful, innovative and resilient.
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