Judaism says “Happiness is not a happening. Happiness is a state of mind. You can have everything in the world and be miserable or have relatively little and feel a sense of joy.”

The question that arises is: How is happiness related to health? Researchers have been studying well-being, life satisfaction and happiness and its positive effect on health.

Research indicates that there is quantifiable evidence that optimism can add years to one's life. A study conducted at the Mayo Clinic tracked 839 people over a period of 30 years. Those who scored high in pessimism on a standardized scale had a 19% greater chance of premature death than those who scored more optimistically. Optimists gets fewer colds, have more effective immune systems and recover from major surgery sooner and with less trauma. Optimists usually meet stressful events with better internal resources.

Dr. Martin Seligman of the Center of Applied Cognitive Studies at the University of Pennsylvania quotes that one can identify optimists and pessimists by the way they perceive and interpret adversity and success.

Dr. Seligman identifies these differences with three words:
1. Personalization
2. Permanence
3. Pervasiveness

When bad things happen, a pessimist thinks: It's my fault (personalization); it's never going to get better (permanence) and it's going to affect an aspect every part of my life (pervasiveness). An optimist takes the same event and thinks: I will do better next time (personalization), the problem is temporary (permanence) and this too shall pass (pervasiveness).

The act of perceiving life on the bright side has in effect proven positive on one’s state of health and well-being.

Further research indicates that there is no correlation to an individual's social status, income, gender or physical attractiveness with happiness. Having more things is not a guarantee to happiness. It is interesting to note that when one achieves more material comfort, the individual is seeking more. The act of striving for better and better never truly allows one to feel satisfied, therefore causing one to never acquire any level of contentment.

Our Sages have taught us that the key to happiness is pure appreciation for all our blessings. In Perkei Avot 4:1, it says “Who is rich? The one who appreciates what he has.”

Through Torah and research we can deduce that happiness is a direct link to health and longevity. In order to obtain this level of peace it is important for one to begin to consciously master the art of noticing and appreciating what you have. The act of thanking G-d for life and the ability to see and think can be a beginning.

To begin appreciating life:
1. Think about something you are grateful for and notice it everyday.
2. Set some time each day to contemplate these pleasures and feel gratitude.
3. Become conscious of these feelings by writing them down. By writing these down we can begin to see what we have and not what we don't and wish to.
4. Take a moment each day to appreciate all those around you. Comparing each pleasure enforces how much you truly are blessed with.

Once this realization is embedded into our being, we can experience happiness and peace. This subsequently will result in peace of mind and well-being.
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Rochelle Harary is a certified school psychologist.