‘Tis the season to be Jolly, fa-la-la-la-la.
Santa brings joy and cheer to us from afar at this special time of year, with a merry twinkle, a deep laugh, and thoughtful gifts. He’s a saint in some traditions. Not to trivialize the darkness in the world, but jolliness, gladness, and good will do bring us light in times of darkness.
Can being jolly help us?
There really is evidence that keeping a positive outlook supports our good health and extends our lifespan. One example: people with a family history of heart disease, who also had a positive outlook, were somewhat less likely to have a heart attack within five to 25 years than those with a more negative outlook.
Did you know that smiling can make you feel more positive? A University of Kansas study found that smiling, even fake smiling, reduces our heart rate and blood pressure during stressful situations. A few minutes of YouTube humour therapy can give us a real lift when we’re worrying about the cost of living, the absurdity of politics, the war-weary world, or feeling furious over a work or family situation. It’s difficult not to smile while you’re watching a funny video or movie. Just keep on smiling.
When I was little, my father often quoted from a then-popular book, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. Peale would remind us to, “Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.” Friends of my dad knew what a jolly man he was, even though he didn’t have the easiest life. There are whole books promoting laughter therapy on bookshelves. Even when we force a smile, we all feel happier.
We always welcome that jolly, positive energy in our TOPS meetings, while at the same time, we fine-tune what we know about eating healthier meals, finding out what’s in the food we buy, learning what exercises we can incorporate into our daily lives, and so many other important things as well. These are the kinds of subjects we discuss in our TOPS group each week. And we remind one another that we can still smile as we enjoy our special seasonal treats.
While weight loss might be our goal and meeting that goal can often lead to greater happiness, sometimes it doesn’t take away a deeper sadness, and our mood issues might need to be addressed on their own. Whatever your reasons for wanting to adjust your weight, along with having good medical advice, TOPS membership is a great option, especially for keeping your focus, and carrying on even when you occasionally feel like giving up. We’re a great support group that you can always rely on to help you meet your goals.
Please join us at TOPS Wednesday mornings at the Community Centre, from 9:00 to 10:00. Our meetings are informative, encouraging, and friendly. We’re a low-cost, international self-help program that welcomes everyone. Check out our website at www.tops.org. (Your first visit is free.) If you want to join us, please contact .
Submitted by Amber Harvey
References: