THE BENEFITS OF STAYING HAPPY AND CALM DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Stay happy in this coronavirus pandemic. Besides our physical health, our mental and emotional
health is especially crucial. First of all, we and our family deserve a happy and calm life. Our
mental health can help us make better decisions and pass through this crisis. When we are
happy, our brain works better. Our brain is more focused and uses its resources for solving
problems, rather than trying to escape from unhappiness and feel better. Remember that
tough times do not last, tough people do. If our mind is working well, we can pass through any
problem. Also, our children’s mental health is affected by our mental and emotional health. If
we stay cheerful despite difficulties, not only the children will stay happy, but also it will give
them an example of how to think, feel and behave during their own challenging times in the
future. When we are happy, our relationships will be better, and our family will be stronger.
Then we can focus on the essentials rather than arguing over simple and unimportant stuff.

Our mental and emotional health affects our physical health in many ways.

1. In many studies, such as the Harvard happiness study, it has been shown that happy
   people live longer, get sick less and recover faster. Staying happy works like a vaccine.
   So, if you want to stay healthy, recover faster and live longer you must stay happy.
2.  When we are happy our body has a higher physiological functioning. The body heals
   itself faster. When we are happy, our body is more in balance and runs smoothly.
3.  When we are happy, we have more emotional and physical energy to do whatever is
   necessary to do to heal. There is more chance that we will stick to the CDC and WHO
   guidelines that are necessary not to get infected with coronavirus.

How can you stay happy?

• The most important thing that you can do is TO DECIDE TO BE HAPPY.
  Decide you will stay happy no matter what.
• Imagine and feel that you are a happy person.
• Repeat to yourself under your breath or out loud: “I feel happy. I feel terrific. I am
  happy.”
• Act happily: smile, walk with head high and shoulders back.
  By doing the above suggestions your brain will start believing that you are a happy person and
  you will become happier in any situation.

The second most important thing that you can do to be happy is BE GRATEFUL. By being
grateful, your brain starts seeing the things you have in life rather than what is missing in your
life.

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”

Marcus Aurelius

Please repeat to yourself at least 10 times right now: I AM HAPPY

Dr. Rashidi