Those who are already known to worry about their health become paranoid. They start speculating about the increasing incidence of disease and spread needless panic in the process. Many people start wondering: “In spite of doing everything right, if she or he is not immune to cancer, what chance do ordinary people like me have?” Such feelings are heightened if the celeb in question wasn’t known to have any unhealthy habits and appeared to lead a happy life. People flood social media with posts expressing all kinds of fears and distress. The celebrity’s life is dissected in the attempt to find a probable cause; many hypotheses are thrown around—maybe it was the toxins in their cosmetics or perhaps their erratic schedule is responsible; if nothing else, they blame their relationship challenges.

Can we ever know for sure?

It’s natural to want to know the cause of an illness, because no one likes uncertainty. But here is something to ponder upon: whether it’s a celebrity or someone else, no one can know for sure what causes the cancer, or any terminal illness for that matter, in a person. Sure, medical textbooks and journals enlist probable causes like smoking, exposure to toxins, environmental pollution, processed foods and so on as risk factors. But these are only ‘probable’ causes. The fact is that even if the person is genetically predisposed, not everyone with that same gene gets the disease. Epigenetics tells us that it’s the environment that triggers the gene. Environment here encompasses everything—from your diet to your emotions to the very air you breathe. So we can never know for sure what was the exact cause of cancer.

Not to forget that there are several examples of individuals who follow perfectly healthy lifestyles, only to be diagnosed with cancer or other chronic disease and equal number of those who smoke, eat junk foods and follow a poor lifestyle, yet live to a ripe old age without suffering any serious health issues.

When you approach your wellbeing from a holistic perspective, you are being pro-health rather than anti-illness

So what’s the point?

So does that mean we should throw all care to the wind and stop looking after our health? Actress and model Lisa Ray was once asked why, in spite of being a practitioner of yoga and following a healthy lifestyle, was she diagnosed with multiple myeloma [blood cancer]? Her response: “You don’t do these things solely to avoid disease. But when unexpected things happen or you are diagnosed with a disease, you are able to manage yourself better because you have been already taking care of yourself. I was able to go through the treatment better because of my yoga and meditation practice.”

That’s a very balanced approach to self-care. It teaches us to view healthy living as an attitude of complete wellbeing—living well and aiming for the highest quality of life in all areas—rather than as an effort in preventing illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and so on. When you approach your wellbeing from such a holistic perspective, you are being pro-health rather than anti-illness. On the other hand, if you look after your health solely to avoid disease, you are working backwards and such a mindset is not only counterproductive but keeps us trapped in needless fear. And fear hurts our immunity which, in turn, increases our risk of disease.

So instead of being fearful and anxious about getting a disease, take care of your emotional and physical health lovingly. Live each day with gratitude, resolve your resentments as soon as you can and eat a healthy, balanced diet without being too rigid about it.

And yes, the next time you hear about someone diagnosed with cancer or any terminal illness, don’t look for a ‘why’ nor compare your lifestyle to theirs. Just send them your silent blessings and be grateful for your health.

The post Why did she get cancer? appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

“Laughter,” says Dr Bradley Wilde [USA], “provides a rhythmic movement of the abdominal muscles, gently massages the intestinal organs, improves digestion and blood circulation.”

In the Harvard and Yale Universities of America and at the University of California Los Angeles’s Neuro-psychiatric Institute at West Los Angeles, neuro-biologists and medical researchers have confirmed that smiling, laughing and cheerful expressions set in motion happy waves in the mind and generate neuropeptides that revitalize the immune system. This helps prevent and fight disease. People who stay away from negative thoughts and emotions such as jealousy, envy or greed, are healthier than those who live cloistered, unhappy lives.

Why you should laugh more

Many modern hospitals and clinics display messages like: “Laugh your way to health”, “Laughter may be hazardous to your illness” and “Cheerfulness is the new wonder drug”.

Doctors are of the view that our blood molecules contain receptors that get signals from the brain. If a person is happy and content, the receptors transmit signals of happiness, and healing is accelerated. Modern science has discovered that the more you laugh, the healthier you become. Science has even established that cheerful physicians are more effective than grumpy, serious doctors as patients respond better to them.

Cheerfulness is the greatest lubricant of the wheels of life. It diminishes pain, fights disease, mitigates misfortunes, lightens burdens and eases one’s life.

The importance of cheerfulness

A young girl, suffering from a dreaded disease, was brought to a hospital. When she was being prepared to be taken to the operation theatre, she found the nurses sad and glum. “I know what you are thinking,” she said to the nurses. “But, let me tell you, I am not going to die so soon. God has other plans for me. I have spoken to Him and that is what He has told me.” When she was taken to the operation theatre, she kidded the doctors, until she came under the influence of the anaesthesia. The doctors opened her up and found that cancer had spread so extensively, that it was no use performing the operation. So they stitched her up.

When she regained consciousness, she was told that she has only 3 – 6 months to live. She was advised to restrict her movements and live a relaxed, activity-free life.

The young woman was not taken in. “I have long cherished a desire to visit Switzerland,” she said. “And even if it takes the life out of me, I will do it! Switzerland is known as the heaven on earth. Before I visit God’s heaven, let me see the beauty of the earthly heaven to be able to compare the two and decide which one is better.”

The doctors did all they could to dissuade her. “The strain of the trip will kill you,” they said to her. But she remained adamant, and guess what? Both the travel and the climate did her good. When she set out, she had to be taken in a wheelchair; when she returned, she walked with a straight gait, and a rose-tint on her cheeks. The doctors were amazed. Till this day she lives a happy life and bears testimony to the fact that if you live cheerfully, not focusing your attention on disease and illness, health and strength, vigour and vitality will be yours. Cheerfulness is a virtue that has enormous value in your daily life.

Cheerfulness is therapeutic

There would be no need for hospitals if only people could be happy and light-hearted!

Two years ago, on the sacred day of Muharram, they took me to Imam Bara. There, I met a man who went by the name Mr Agha. He said to me: “Your people, I am aware, do a lot of service. But, I too, in my own humble way, render service to people.”

“What do you do?” I asked him.

“I appear on the TV, and make people laugh!”

How true! Those who make people laugh, also serve. Many of us have forgotten the ancient art of laughing.

Cheerfulness is therapeutic, indeed.

How to stay cheerful — simple and effective ways

I wish to share with you a few practical suggestions on how a person can keep up the spirit of cheerfulness.

Start your day on a happy note

Wake up in the morning with a smile on your face and the words, “Good morning, Lord!” on your lips. These words are from the title of a book written several years ago by an American businessman. He has been waking up this way for many years and says that doing merely this much has added a new dimension to his life. You can tweak this affirmation in your own way, so long as it ensures that your day starts on a happy note.

Look at the bright side

Always look at the bright side of things. Everything has two sides, the bright and the dark or as I wish to put it, the bright and the less bright. But it is the way you look at it that matters. Optimism is a powerful ally of cheerfulness.

Laugh heartily at least thrice a day

Get a hearty laugh at least three times a day—once before breakfast, once before lunch and once before dinner. If you find it difficult to laugh for no reason, look into the mirror and make funny faces at yourself. Or read/watch something funny.

The takeaway

Cheerfulness is indeed a physical, mental and spiritual tonic. By striving to be cheerful, you are not only adding joy and love to your own life but also making this world a more joyful place, one cheer at a time.

The post The value and importance of cheerfulness appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.