What if the key to the fountain of youth wasn’t through expensive treatments but via a natural source that we all have the capability of tapping into?
The secret is out: Research has shown that happiness is directly linked to how our skin ages
Happiness has many known physical and psychological benefits to our overall health and well-being, but the impact it has on our skin and how it ages isn’t one that is often focused upon. How we feel affects our skin so when we feel happy our skin looks happy. Happiness doesn’t just improve the look of our skin but can actually slow down and reverse signs of aging. So that youthful, clear, and glowing, clear skin we’re after may just be a few positive feelings away.
When we experience happiness it triggers the feel-good hormones dopamine, endorphins, serotonin and oxytocin to be released into our bodies. There are many benefits to this, including an increase in collagen production, as well as improved blood circulation and oxygenation, which are crucial for the rejuvenation and reparation of our skin.
When we’re feeling happy we’re also alleviating ourselves from feeling stress, and if happiness is nature’s anti-aging remedy then stress is nature’s aging accelerator. When we’re under stress our skin often shows signs of it, such as through acne and dark circles. An excess in cortisol, the stress hormone, is responsible for many negative effects in our body including the breakdown collagen and elastin, which we count on to keep our skin looking youthful. So when we experience chronic stress, it leads to the development of premature wrinkles and sagging skin.
While life can often be out of our control, how we manage and feel about it is. So let’s get proactive and fight signs of aging with some practical tools to feel more happiness throughout the day:
1) Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
When we experience gratitude our brain releases all those delicious feel good hormones, which doesn’t just improve the quality of our skin but the quality of our lives. Start wiring yourself to experience gratitude more effortlessly by journaling or listing things you are grateful for when you wake up in the morning or before you go to bed.
2) Mindfulness and Meditation
Feeling overwhelmed and like your cortisol levels are spiking? Take a moment to step back and focus on your breath. This sends a signal to your brain to relax and in no time your anxiety will subside. Research has shown that practicing meditation regularly has an abundance of positive effects including reducing anxiety and improving emotional wellbeing.
3) Focus is Everything
Ever hear the saying “where focus goes energy flows”? We may not be able to control what’s going on around us, but we can choose what we give our attention to. Start turning your focus onto the positives that are all around you, in any given situation. The more you practice this the easier it is to alleviate stress and feel good about where you are now!
4) Get Moving!
Exercise, particularly aerobic exercise, is nature’s best anti-anxiety and antidepressant treatment out there . Get moving, and have fun while you’re doing it! Take walks in nature, run with your dog, dance with your friends, or hula hoop in front of your bedroom mirror-the options are endless!