Last week I found myself stuck in the early morning traffic.
Not an uncommon situation.
Perhaps you’ve been there yourself, more times than you’d like.
Sitting there feeling somewhat frustrated by my slow progress towards my destination, I happened to glance up to look in my rearview mirror.
And received the best gift possible to overcome my Monday morning blues.
The driver of the car directly behind me was having a moment, and in a good way.
I’m sure you know how it feels so good to dance like no one’s watching as you gyrate around the kitchen bench, or to sing your favourite song at the top of your voice in the shower, ‘cos no one other than the dog can hear you (and they don’t care)?
Or is that just me?
Well, this person was doing it all.
She was singing.
She was tapping her fingers on the wheel and moving her upper body round like she was on a swivel table.
She was enjoying herself, BIG time.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her magnificent performance.
Because I realised I was witnessing something very special – pure, unadulterated joy.
Not only did it put a huge smile on my face, but I also felt all that tension in my shoulders float away.
I arrived at my meeting (a minute or two late) but now feeling happy and relaxed.
I only wish I knew what she had been listening to. I had so wanted to tune in.
Feeling good and doing great.
Feelings.
We all have them.
They’re important because they provide us with essential data to what we’re witnessing in our environment or influencing our thinking.
But too often we can get caught up in negative thoughts.
“Dang it. All this traffic is going to make me late, and I hate being late.”
Those negative thoughts then influence what we see around us.
“Everyone looks so darned miserable. What’s wrong with these people? Why can’t they drive faster?”
Negative thoughts and perceptions of our reality can quickly spiral downwards.
Your somewhat frustrating trip to work has left you grumpy and in a bad mood before you’ve even started your day. Hurrumpf! And how is that going to play out with your interactions with your colleagues and clients?
Emotions are contagious and unless we know how to nip negativity in the bud, we can end up spreading that negative contagion to everyone else we meet.
Battling the negativity virus.
No, I’m not going to suggest you buy yourself several pairs of rose-tinted glasses and sing Kumbaya.
This is about recognising that regardless of and independent of our circumstances, learning to adopt a more pragmatic and less biased outlook can not only serve to keep you in a better mood, but this also works to keep you healthy.
It’s time to challenge those unhelpful thoughts.
Positive affect and health.
Keeping well and avoiding chronic disease matters.
But Australians aren’t faring so well in the health stakes.
The Australia’s Health 2026 Report makes for somewhat grim reading.
We are not the lucky country when it comes to our nations’ health.
We are living longer, but in poorer health, especially as we age.
Key findings include,
- Dementia has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death for the first time. Yes, this does mean we are seeing fewer deaths from heart disease.
- Mental disorders in those aged 16-24 years has increased from 26% in 2007 to 39% in 2022.
- Three in five (60%) of Australians are living with at least one chronic condition. Two in five are living with several chronic illnesses.
Considering we spend $270+ billion a year on health goods and services, this is disappointing because much of chronic disease is preventable.
We are fortunate in having a respected healthcare system available to us.
But, it’s time to change the playlist.
Listening to only one genre of music that was popular forty years ago means you’re missing out on what else is available that you may find equally enjoyable and potentially better.
Our health system was devised for a different era. Times have changed and continuing to focus only on outcomes of illness or disease means we are missing the opportunity to implement preventative measures to
a) Keep us healthy
b) Minimise the risk of developing chronic disease
Longevity clinics are missing the point.
Do we really want just a longer life?
Or one that allows to function at a level that provides us meaning and joy?
Do we just expect more pills and supplements, or are we willing to adopting those lifestyle habits we recognise actually nurture our well-being?
Lifestyle Medicine is the foundation for better health and well-being.
- It acknowledges the need for greater health equity.
- It supports the individual, our communities and our environment.
- It includes what are known as the social determinants of health.
Lifestyle Medicine doesn’t seek to replace the existing medical approach that is based on pharmaceuticals and surgery, but to work with what the evidence has shown to modify our health outcomes for the better.
One of the biggest challenges we face is not that we lack a “cure” for cancer, or an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Rather it’s whether we can change our behaviours, develop better coping skills to manage all the unrelenting stress too many of us deal with every day and work together to focus on what’s important – like building strong positive relationships, learning how to effectively mitigate some of the stress that’s grinding us down, and to prioritise those habits like eating more healthily, staying active and getting enough sleep.
The findings of the Harvard Adult Longitudinal Study, the world’s longest longitudinal study that started in 1938 and continues today was that the answer to what makes for a good life is less about what your cholesterol level is at midlife, and everything to do with the strength of your positive relationships.
Are you feeling happy yet?
Feeling happy and well matters for health because,
1. Staying in a more positive mood is associated with lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol.
2. We have a lower risk of developing chronic disease like heart disease, diabetes, mood disorders and Alzheimer’s.
One 10-year longitudinal study of 1500 individuals showed how a positive affect, even in the face of risk factors like high cholesterol, hypertension and increasing age lowered the risk of heart disease by 22% compared to those who reported being less happy.
Elsewhere another study showed how individuals living with disability had lower levels of perceived pain.
3. It’s also associated with enhanced immunity. You’re better prepared to fight off the current local lurgy doing the rounds and you heal faster.
One of my favourite studies conducted back in 1984 showed how post-operative recovery was positively influenced by having access to a window with a natural view.
Looking out on a brick wall isn’t going to make anyone especially happy, but looking out over a meadow or trees resulted in less post-operative pain relief being needed, a shorter hospital stay and the nurses reported the patients with nature views were nicer to look after!
Happiness along with gratitude, optimism and joy is more than a nice feeling, it’s a key indicator of well-being, resilience and connection.
It’s time to do what makes you happy.
And if it was you having the time of your life in your car on your way to work last week. Thank you for sharing some happiness with those around you.
You quite made my day.
The 2026 Lifestyle Medicine Conference is being held in Hobart November 13-15.
Early bird tickets are available until the end of July.
Book Now! We’ll be so happy to have your company.
References:
Andrew Steptoe. 2019. Happiness and Health. Annual Review Public Health. 40:339-359. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040218-044150
