The human brain is an incredibly powerful organ. It solves complex problems, recalls forgotten memories, and triggers a dizzying array of emotions. But its most incredible power is the effect it can have on the rest of the body. When it comes to love, well, our brains certainly love it, and our bodies reflect that. LESS STRESS Human beings thrive on a sense of connection and belonging, and studies have shown that love actually has positive effects on a person’s physical health as well as mental. The security and commitment felt in a loving relationship are shown to reduce stress by stunting the production of cortisol, the body’s stress-inducing hormone. Less stress means lower blood pressure, a healthier heart, and a lower risk of stroke, especially in men. HEALTHIER IMMUNE SYSTEMS Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that calm, happy people can fight common colds and the flu more easily than those who are anxious or depressed. The physical benefits of love even go as far as healing wounds quicker. Small injuries inflicted on a wide test group at Ohio State University Medical Center healed nearly twice as fast on people who experienced consistent warmth and care than CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE? THE SECRET TO LIVING A LONGER, HEALTHIER LIFE
those who experienced hostility. In fact, the latter group needed almost a full additional day to achieve the same amount of healing as the first group. LONGER, HAPPIER LIVES Being surrounded by love may even save your life. A statistic from the National Health Interview Survey states that single people face a 58% higher risk of mortality. Further bolstering that claim is the Harvard Health Blog, which claims happily married participants experience better health as they age when compared to peers in unhappy partnerships. In fact, the blog asserts, “People in stressful, unhappy marriages may be worse off than a single person who is surrounded by supportive and caring friends, family, and loved ones.”
So, it seems the results are in: Loving someone is a healthy lifestyle choice. Even having a strong network of friends and family boosts your odds of living a long life by 50%. So, get out there and make the healthy choice for yourself and those around you by leading a life full of love. CHURCH, AND SWEAT, AND PURITY
The month of February is named after the Latin term februum, meaning purification. This month offers an excellent opportunity to reflect on the things that keep me centered and pure, and one of them for sure is exercise. I know when I need to exercise. I get tense, I’m more susceptible to stress, and I don’t have the patience I strive for. When I get that way, I know I need to go to the gym and have a good sweat. My wife goes to the garden, and that’s her alone time, her time to recenter and ground herself.
Me, I go to the gym.
I love being sore from the gym — it feels like an accomplishment. In the past, I used to go with the purpose of throwing a bunch of weight around. I’d be lifting the heaviest weights around, trying to bulk up, but those times are long gone. These days, it’s just about maintaining muscle tone — and sanity.
Another thing that keeps me centered and pure is going to church.
It’s easy to get swept up in life. But every Sunday, church is a forced time when I have to focus on just one thing — my relationship with God. There are other people in the church with me, but I still have my private relationship with God. When I leave each week, I feel renewed and ready to act the way I know I am supposed to.
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