The Happiness Factor

A Key to Health and Longevity

The Happiness Factor plays a key role in health. Where are you on a scale of 1 to 10 happiness-wise? Do you wake up in the morning excited to be alive or just feel like staying in bed? Most people don’t give a thought to their emotions, until they feel overwhelmed by them; then run to a professional for help. However, in many cases they will find the wrong kind of help; costly, but of little benefit. Most doctors have little nutritional awareness that their patient’s poor diets have left them nutritionally vulnerable to unchecked emotions. Good nutrition is paramount to one’s emotional needs. When one experiences unhappiness in life. perhaps it could be changed by simply feeding the brain right. Years ago, a book entitled Sugar Blues by William Duffy gave people a little insight into why they felt sad for no logical reason.

Good Nutrition can make all the difference in the world in regard to Attitude, as the Wrong Foods rob the body and the Brain of the Nutrients that create Good Health. If people would like to have excellent mental and physical health, they must focus and give more thought to eating foods that nourish their brains as well as their bodies. Happiness does depend on one’s physical health. It is difficult to be happy, if one is suffering from ill health. It is much easier to be happy, when one’s health is excellent and one is not restricted in any way.

Granted…Nutrition is not the only Factor in Creating Happiness, but good Physical Health can create Emotional Health that copes with the stressful times we live in. Humans were not designed to be living on an emotional roller-coaster, such as, many are experiencing in life today. Technology, such as, electric lights totally changed society. It extended the hours of daylight. At one time, people went to bed close to the time the sun went down and got up at dawn. Today, ‘awake’ time has been stretched immensely, because of electric lights. Today, people are so stressed by their daily work, when they do get into bed, they can’t sleep. Lack of good sleep is causing great emotional stress It has triggered nervous breakdowns in many people’s lives.

The Discovery of Electricity led to many other electronic gadgets, which people believe are indispensable; and are unaware how detrimental they are to health. The Electro-Magnetic Energy unbalances the body and the brain’s electrical energy fields. Many health experts are warning people not to have electronic items, such as, TVs, laptops and glowing clocks in the bedroom. The bedroom needs to be totally dark, without any electronic devices for a decent night’s sleep. It is of maximum importance to get enough of the right kind of deep sleep as it effects one’s emotional stability and happiness.

Technology may have made life easier, but it has not created Healthier Humans. We’re living in a less Physically Demanding society, but more Mentally Challenging. People need to be more physically active on a daily basis like our ancestors were, in order to sleep more soundly at night. The mental stresses of daily life challenge the brain and cause it to be overworked. Yet, many don’t compensate for this by feeding their brains nutrient-rich foods. The food they are eating can rob the body of the nutrients it needs. Many think that anything goes in the way of food, as long as it fills the stomach. They don’t understand that the brain requires many specific nutrients. They have little comprehension that Depression and Unhappiness are created, when the brain isn’t getting the nutrients it needs; in addition to the deep sleep it requires.

The most important nutrients for the brain are the whole B-Complex Vitamins. It isn’t easy finding them in the fruit and vegetables created for human consumption. Food, such as, fruit and vegetables are the primary foods mankind was designed to eat. However, the soil today is so deficient in many elements that it is necessary to supplement one’s diet. It is most important to use a source that really works; as not all vitamins marketed are effective and safe. Many vitamins contain substances such as lead; and many substances being used as fillers in capsules are toxic.

Many years ago, I took Dr. Russell Blaylock’s Newsletter and he warned his readers about vitamin manufacturers…and he recommended using Solar B-Complex. The entire B-Complex enhances one’s brain-power and thinking; producing energy for the brain and the body. I have used this B-Complex for over 20 years. However, it is also necessary to eat natural foods, which contain these B-Complex vitamins. The best B-Complex foods, which I have listed with necessary amounts to order to obtain sufficient B-Vitamin are Salmon (3.5 oz), Eggs (4 oz), Goat Cheese (3 oz), Lentils (4,55 oz), Garbanzo Beans (4.55 oz), Poultry (3.5 0z). There are B-Vitamins in Raw Fruits and Vegetables, but in smaller amounts, unless you consume more food.

Happiness is created by making sure you obtain Natural Enzymes in Organic Raw Food, which contains one of the best sources of nutrient-rich water in the world. Heating food destroys enzymes, which help the body assimilate nutrients in food. All those thousands of chemical- added products sitting on super market shelves have been heat-processed and contain no enzymes. They primarily contain calories, which fill the stomach, but leave the consumer hungry, because they have no nutritional value. This is one of the reasons that America has become one of the unhealthiest countries; and is known as having the most obese people in the world. I am sure this has negatively impacted the Happiness Factor of many Americans.

What means Happiness to you? Did you ever think about what makes you happy? You need to take the time to sit down and list the thing that would make you happy. Until you know what you really want, they will never occur. You need some sort of a roadmap in life; and something to aim for. Many want someone special; a home; children; travel. People need to write down things they would like, but they should add Emotional Happiness to the list?

Happiness can physically change your Appearance. Men and women who are in love radiate a noticeable glow. Observe people who show love for children and pets. It is interesting, but their whole physical being changes. when they are with children and pets; and one can see and feel the change in their appearance and attitude. Happiness stems from a myriad of little daily occurrences. Having people in your life that emotionally support you is very important; and eliminating those who don’t. This is critical to your happiness. Friends that make you happy are a ‘win-win’ situation. If people try to lower you in any way, immediately detach. Develop your own self-esteem. Know you are valuable, which contributes to the Happiness Factor in your life.

In 1970, I bought Norvell’s Dynamic Mental laws of Successful Living, when I went to hear Anthony Norvell speak aboutThe Golden Circle at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. I listened intently to his lecture on the Golden Circle on how to bring the things you have wanted into your life. After the lecture, I went to sign up for his course and spoke to Anthony Norvell for at least ten minutes. After we spoke, he said to me that I didn’t need to take his course… and just follow what he said in his lecture.

What did I want more than anything else? I had dreamed of having a beautiful home, since I was sixteen and a rude young boy made a nasty crack about my home I thought to myself, “One day I am going to have a really lovely home.” Well, after Norvell’s lecture, I drove home and sketched the place I wanted. He said to put in all the details as to what I wanted …and it would manifest by putting everything down on paper. Afterwards, I went to a realtor; showed her the sketch and told her that this is exactly what I wanted. In two years of looking at houses with this realtor; she never once showed me anything resembling it. In the meantime, a good friend became a realtor… and I showed her the sketch. She took me to two homes that were very interesting. Then one day she called and said, “I am standing in your home.” I met her there and it was exactly the entire place I had sketched.

Well, I had my husband meet us at the home and he called it “An Old barn!” He did not like it. So, I gave up looking and prayed fervently that no one would buy it. Three months later, my husband gave in and thankfully it was still on the market. Within a month it was ours and there was a great deal of work to do. It needed quite a bit of renovating, before we moved in. I worked along with some workmen to get it fixed up. I also had a three month deadline, as my husband had offered the use of our home to a group that we belonged for a New Year’s Eve party.

The last picture was being hung on the wall as the first guests arrived. It was my dream home! It had everything that I’d drawn in the sketch set on an acre of land. There was a corral in back for horses for our daughters. It had an enclosed free form swimming pool, where I also had total privacy for sunbathing. It had glass from floor to ceiling surrounding the pool and beautiful slate floors in the entry and a wrought iron banister along the slate hallway. The master bedroom looked like something out of the Arabian Nights…and what was most important, our three children, each had a room of their own. In addition, because it had been run down, we got it for a most affordable price. It was a dream come true, after 22 years.

Anthony Norvell said that I should put in all the details, when I wanted to manifest the things I desired to occur. Well, I left out something ultra important… Money!! It would cost a lot more to maintain than our previous home. I did not factor in money for lawn care, pool service, window cleaner, floor cleaner, and maintenance. My husband had to take care of the lawn; and do the maintenance; our son was in charge of the pool service, and I was the glass window and floor cleaner; along with all of the other things I had to do; grocery shopping; laundry; cooking and daily cleaning. I could no longer go to the Tennis and Swim Club to play tennis. In addition, I had very limited time to sit by the pool and sunbathe. My Dream Home turned out to be nothing, but work! work! work.

What I had yearned for so many years taught me a very great lesson. It’s not the big things that really count in life. It is the little things that are most important! Five years later, I walked out and told my husband to keep the house, as I didn’t want it anymore after 21 years of marriage. I simply wanted to be free as a gypsy with no ties to a home or an unhappy marriage. It was best for all concerned and I have no regrets. The entire direction of my life changed and I was totally in charge of my own future. I accomplished many things that I never dreamed that I could do. It turned out to be Happiness for both me and my husband! He found and married the love of his life! I found myself in a far more interesting life.

Happiness in my teens was going horseback riding, going out on dates, and having good friends. I wanted what other girls wanted in the future a home and a family. I also wanted to go away to college and all my dreams came true. I felt very blessed and life was good. However at 20, I learned what it felt like to lose someone very dear and it took years to get over the loss of a grandparent. He was the first family member, I ever lost and it was difficult. We learn life offers both sunshine and rain.

What is on your list of things, which would make you happy? What do you want or need? You may be as surprised as I was to find out what really makes one happy? To me, it was the sense of accomplishment in writing many songs words and music, writing poetry (published), writing manuscripts, opening a holistic center, lecturing, doing 30 years of nutritional consultations, seeing a manuscript turned into a book; writing blogs on the Internet for 12 years; and doing my newsletter Journey to Wellness for the last three years. Happiness is being able to contribute, something of value to the world.

Don’t hesitate! Write down what you really want in your life. It is never too late! Everyone must think ahead and set future goals that will bring them Happiness! It is important to have something to aim for…and see things materialize that will be of benefit to you, your family and the world. I continually aim to improve myself mentally and physically. Its all about focusing on the future. I believe we are all placed here on earth to contribute to the Happiness Factor of others and to please the One who created our beautiful world.

Holistically Yours,

Barbara Charis