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"Good health is the bedrock on which social progress is built. A nation of healthy people can do those things that make life worthwhile, and as the level of health increases so does the potential for happiness" - Marc Lalonde, Minister of National Health and Welfare, 1974.

he facts are in, happy people are healthier! Medical science now has evidence to support something most of us have known intuitively for awhile - happiness, including feelings of joy, pleasure, contentment, and our physical health are linked.

A recently published research study, found that happiness leads to lower levels of stress chemicals in the body. Stress chemicals, like cortisol, are linked to serious health problems like abdominal obesity, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and autoimmune disorders. People who report feeling happy more often, throughout the day, have lower levels of stress chemicals in their bodies. So, their risk of developing these diseases is smaller.

For the participants in the above study, leisure time away from work and engaging in enjoyable activities were most often associated with feelings of happiness. Another study, a review of research studies on happiness from around the world, revealed that having positive family relationships, social networks, support networks and a sense of belonging were key aspects in ensuring people's happiness.

Social support networks are also a key determinant of health because their effect on our health is estimated to be as important as risk factors like smoking and obesity. This underlines even further the importance of striving to have positive relationships with others in our lives.

It's true that the meaning of happiness may vary from one person to another, and like beauty, it may be that its definition lies in the eye of the beholder. Nevertheless, the good news is that in order to achieve a happier life, there are clear steps we can all take. For example, the Canadian Mental Health Association urges us to focus on improving our mental fitness which "helps us to achieve and sustain a mentally healthy state, just as physical fitness helps us to achieve and sustain a state of good physical health."

Take the CMHA's mind+body fitness quiz to check your mental fitness level.

Here are some simple ways we can all start to practice mental fitness suggested by the Canadian Mental Health Association:

• Daydream - Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a dream location. Breathe slowly and deeply. Whether it's a beach, a mountaintop, a hushed forest or a favourite room from your past, let the comforting environment wrap you in a sensation of peace and tranquility.



• "Collect" positive emotional moments - Make it a point to recall times when you have experienced pleasure, comfort, tenderness, confidence, or other positive emotions.



• Learn ways to cope with negative thoughts - Negative thoughts can be insistent and loud. Learn to interrupt them. Don't try to block them completely (that never works), but don't let them take over. Try distracting yourself or comforting yourself, if you can't solve the problem right away.



• Do one thing at a time - For example, when you are out for a walk or spending time with friends, turn off your cell phone and stop making that mental "to do" list. Take in all the sights, sounds and smells you encounter.



• Exercise - Regular physical activity improves psychological well-being and can reduce depression and anxiety. Joining an exercise group or a gym can also reduce loneliness, since it connects you with a new set of people sharing a common goal. Try your local recreation centre for free or low cost classes. Join - or start - a walking club in your neighbourhood.



• Enjoy hobbies - Taking up a hobby brings balance to your life by allowing you to do something you enjoy because you want to do it, free of the pressure of everyday tasks. It also keeps your brain active.



• Set personal goals - Goals don't have to be ambitious. You might decide to finish that book you started three years ago; to take a walk around the block every day; to try a new sport; to call your friends instead of waiting for the phone to ring. Whatever goal you set, reaching it will build confidence and a sense of satisfaction.



• Keep a journal (or even talk to the wall!) - Expressing yourself after a stressful day can help you gain perspective, release tension and even boost your body's resistance to illness.



• Share humour - Life often gets too serious, so when you hear or see something that makes you smile or laugh, share it with someone you know. A little humour can go a long way to keeping us mentally fit!



• Volunteer - Volunteering is called the "win-win" activity because helping others makes us feel good about ourselves. At the same time, it widens our social network, provides us with new learning experiences and can bring balance to our lives.



• Treat yourself well - Find simple pleasures that bring joy to your life. Read a book. Cook yourself a good meal. See a movie. Call a friend or relative you haven't talked to in ages. Whatever it is, do it just for you. Treating yourself doesn't have to involve a lot of money or time.

Start today on the road to a healthier and happier life!