A cheerful outlook brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
Proverbs 15:30 

Medical experts have determined that the writer of Proverbs was right:

A positive attitude brings joy to the heart because our heart is literally healthier when it is cheerful.

Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:

• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

Now, of course, the Catch 22 is that right now, it’s kind of hard to cheerful. The loss and grief and stress and chaos that has been pandemic life makes is hard to consistently maintain a positive outlook. Add to it floods and fires and international conflicts, and a cheerful heart seems like a real stretch.

But there’s more good news–about good news. Even when our own outlook is less than sunny, researchers now believe that hearing good news can have a similar affect on our health.

So seek out that Good News (check out all the Feel Good Fridays on this page!) and spread good news to cheer the hearts of others. Of course, nobody’s happy all the time. If we were, we wouldn’t be human. We’d be gameshow hosts.

Nobody’s happy all the time. If we were, we wouldn’t be human.

We’d be game show hosts.

Christian Slater in Heathers

But working at keeping a positive attitude whenever possible will help keep us healthy enough to endure those times when a smile is hard to come by.

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Rev. Anne Russ is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA), currently based in New York City. Doubting Believer provides tools and encouragement for the rollercoaster ride of your faith journey. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube. You can also follow on TikTok. Get emails to keep up with all that is happening.