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A cheerful heart is good medicine... –Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, to be cheerful means to be “happy and positive in feeling or attitude”. A cheerful heart depicts someone who generally has a happy disposition and is in good spirits. [1] Having a cheerful heart does not necessarily mean that you walk around with a big smile on your face; rather it refers to your inner positive state of mind and character. Charlotte Bronte stated: “Cheerfulness, it would appear, is a matter which depends fully as much on the state of things within, as on the state of things without and around us.” Your disposition has a way of rubbing off on everything and the people around you. Are you disposed to remaining in good spirits and staying positive when faced with a difficult situation or grim prognosis? If yes, the bible refers to this as “good medicine”.

Emerging studies are now revealing the health benefits of staying cheerful, such as lesser risk of heart disease and stroke, lower blood pressure, a healthy and responsive immune system, better sleep, improved diet and longevity. [2][3] Cheerfulness is closely tied to being happy with your job, your closest relationships and taking care of yourself physically and emotionally. [3] That’s what makes it medicine, its ability to touch and heal every aspect of your life including your physical body. Jeremiah 8:22 –Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people? (NIV)

Wounds can take up any form. It can be physical, emotional, financial or social. Whichever form, there’s healing as far as we remain in good spirits. One study which looked at people with chronic pain such as arthritis found that happier people are better able to alleviate pain when experiencing chronic illness. [4] Similarly, a study which looked at people recovering from stroke found that the happiest individuals had 13% lower pain ratings after three months of leaving the hospital. [5] Researchers have suggested that this could be as a result of their positive emotions building effective coping strategies that reduce their perception of pain. [6]

So how do we stay cheerful? The key is to guard our hearts. We must first accept God’s peace and let it rule our hearts –Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV). Next refuse to be troubled by what you see or feel –John 14:1 & 16:33. Don’t let that medical report or diagnosis weigh you down. Choose to stay positive. A study which looked at the link between happiness and heart health in individuals who had or were suspected of having coronary heart disease, found that those who rated the highest for happiness on the day that they were being examined, had the healthiest heart patterns, suggesting that happiness can still have health benefits, even when illness or disease is already present. [2][7] Therefore, it is important to speak and declare the word no matter what. As you continue to do so, your spirit is strengthened and your body is renewed –The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Romans 8:11 (NLT)

Also, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts –Col 3:15. (NIV) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7 (NIV). Finally, “remain cheerful for nothing destructive can pierce through the solid wall of cheerfulness.”[8] Stay Blessed!

REFERENCES

[1] English Collins Dictionary

[2] Elaine Mead, BSc. 6 Benefits of Happiness According to Research

[3] Northwestern Medicine. How Happiness Impacts Health

[4] Zautra, A. J., Johnson, L. M., & Davis, M. C. (2005). Positive Affect as a Source of Resilience for Women in Chronic Pain.

[5] I.M Berges, G. Seale, G.V Ostir. Positive Affect and Pain Ratings in Persons with Stroke.

[6] B.L Fredrickson. The Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions.

[7] Bhattacharyya, M. R., Whitehead, D. L., Rakhit, R., & Steptoe, A. (2008). Depressed mood, positive affect, and heart rate variability in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

[8] Sri Chinmoy. The Wings of Joy: Finding Your Path to Inner Peace states