Joie de Vivre: How Happiness Leads to Health and Longer Life

Robert Delaunay, Joie de vivre, 1930

Have you ever wondered why some people, despite setbacks and hurdles, have a general joie de vivre while you remain stressed? Have you ever wondered why happy people are reported to live longer? Longitudinal research sheds light on these topics and the answers may surprise some.

In the 2011 book, The Longevity Project
, authors Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin examine eight decades of research to explain longevity. Remarkably, longevity is not primarily attributed to access to the best health care or even genetics. It is attributed to emotional well-being, specifically as a result of conscientiousness, resilience and healthy connections with others.

“The most intriguing reason conscientious people live longer is that having a conscientious personality leads you into healthier situations and relationships. They find their way to happier marriages, better friendships, and healthier work situations, ” reports Martin.

So what does this research mean to us?

First step to living longer and being happy

Firstly, emotionally healthy people do not just have a better quality of life, they live longer. Conscientiousness, being mindful, remaining reactive rather than proactive, leads individuals to make brighter, better choices.

Healthy individuals know how to set and reinforce healthy boundaries leading to healthy connections. And research efforts illustrate that individuals who display “self healing” traits, commonly known as resilience, consistently follow healthier paths than those whose coping skills are lacking. 

Second step to living longer and being happy

Secondly, traits leading to healthier emotional and physical well-being are not genetic, they can be learned and incorporated into our personality repertoires. According to Friedman and Martin, resolutions may fail, but “lasting adjustments happen with progressive steps.”

Take action

Life Coaches  provide the lasting progressive steps to increase personal well-being and longevity. Don’t hesitate, contact a Life Coach today. Do it for your joie de vivre and do it for your health.