How to be Happier

UP NEXT ON "CYCLE OF HEALTH."

>> TONIGHT'S TOPIC, HOW TO BE HAPPIER.

IN THIS FAST-PACED WORLD WHERE WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES JUGGLING MULTIPLE DO, THIS DO THIS, DO THAT AND CONSTANTLY STRIVING FOR MORE, MORE, MORE, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THE SIMPLE YET PROFOUND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

TONIGHT, WE ARE JOINED BY FOUR PANELISTS WHO WILL SHARE SOME VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND TIPS THAT CAN HELP US LIVE HAPPIER AND MORE FULFILLING LIVES.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE SEASON FINALE OF CYCLE OF HEALTH; I'M DR. RICH O'NEILL.

TONIGHT'S TOPIC: HOW TO BE HAPPIER.

IN THIS FAST-PACED WORLD, WHERE WE OFTEN FIND OURSELVES JUGGLING MULTIPLE DO THIS, DO THAT, DO THIS, DO THAT'S AND CONSTANTLY STRIVING FOR MORE MORE MORE, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THE SIMPLE YET PROFOUND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

TONIGHT, WE'RE JOINED BY FOUR PANELISTS WHO WILL SHARE SOME VALUABLE INSIGHTS AND TIPS THAT CAN HELP US LIVE HAPPIER AND MORE FULFILLING LIVES.

LET'S MEET OUR GUESTS- DR. JEEWON OH, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY MS. MICHELLE COURTNEY BERRY, WELLNESS CEO AND HEALTH RESEARCHER MS. JILL MURPHY, CO- OWNER OF MISSION FITNESS AND DR. KOSHAL NANAVATI, INTEGRATIVE FAMILY PHYSICIAN, ASSISTANT DEAN OF WELLNESS AT UPSTATE, AND AUTHOR OF THE "CORE 4 OF WELLNESS" THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

LET'S START OFF WITH WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH SAY ABOUT HAPPINESS?

YOU ARE A RESEARCHER, LET US IN ON THE FACTS.

>> SURE.

I MEAN IT'S DECADES OF RESEARCH THAT I'M TRYING TO SUMMARIZE HERE, SO... >> YOU GOT 30 SECONDS.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, I THINK WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT HAPPINESS, SOMETIMES WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT QUESTION OF, I WANT TO BE HAPPY, HOW DO I BE HAPPY WHEN WE ARE FEELING A LITTLE STRESSED OR TIRED OR SAD OR ANGRY.

SO WE WANT TO GET OUT OF THAT STATE.

BUT NOT FEELING THOSE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE ACTUALLY FEELING THE POSITIVE EMOTIONS, WHICH IS A BIG COMPONENT OF BEING HAPPY AND BEING WELL OFF.

>> SO WE WANT TO GET RID OF THE NEGATIVE STUFF BUT GET THE POSITIVE IN THERE.

SO HOW DO WE DO THAT?

>> ADDITION TO FEELING THE POSITIVE EMOTIONS WE WANT LIKE HAPPINESS, EXCITEMENT AND CALMNESS, YOU MIGHT THINK OF OTHER COMPONENTS OF WELL-BEING LIKE FEELING A SENSE OF LIFE SATISFACTION.

A SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF YOUR LIFE AS A WHOLE.

BUT THAT SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT MAY COME FROM DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO ACROSS DIFFERENT DOMAINS OF LIFE.

ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH YOUR HEALTH, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR JOB?

AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE COMPONENTS OF WELL-BEING THAT PEOPLE USE TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS OR THEIR ASSESSMENTS OF WHETHER THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THEIR LIVES AS A WHOLE, IF THEY WOULD GO BACK, WOULD THEY LIVE LIFE THE SAME WAY THEY DID?

DO THEY THINK THEIR LIFE IS IDEAL?

THIS IS ONE COMPONENT OF WELL-BEING AND FLOURISHING.

ON THE THING WE CAN THINK ABOUT BEYOND POSITIVE EMOTIONS AND BEYOND THE SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF LIFE AS A WHOLE ARE THINGS LIKE A SENSE OF MEANING, A SENSE OF PURPOSE THAT WE MIGHT FEEL.

SO IF PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING A SENSE OF PURPOSE BY BEING ENGAGED WITH SOMETHING BROADER THAN THEMSELVES, OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE ARE FEELING A SENSE OF PURPOSE THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT THEY DO.

AND ALL OF THESE THINGS I JUST TALKED ABOUT ARE RELATED TO ONE ANOTHER AND SO IF I'M FEELING A SENSE OF PURPOSE ON WHAT I'M TEACHING, I WILL PROBABLY BE HAPPY AND FEEL POSITIVE EMOTIONS.

BUT OTHER TIMES I MIGHT ACTUALLY FEEL SAD IF MY BEST FRIEND COMES TO TELL ME SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO THEM; HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH I'M FEELING A NEGATIVE EMOTION, I MIGHT ACTUALLY FEEL A SENSE OF PURPOSE BECAUSE I'M, YOU KNOW, GIVING SPACE SO THAT WE CAN SHARE LIVES TOGETHER.

AND I MIGHT FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT MAYBE I CAN BE THERE FOR MY FRIEND.

SO THAT KIND OF... >> IT'S A SAD MOMENT BUT IT FITS IN WITH OUR OVERALL SENSE OF PURPOSE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THAT MAKES ME FEEL OF LOVE, RIGHT?

AND THE FACT THAT THE HARVARD STUDY LOOKING AT MEN FOR THE LAST 85 YEARS OF WHAT BRINGS THEM HAPPINESS AND SATISFACTION AND THE LEAD AUTHOR WAS A BRITISH GENTLEMAN WHO SAID I CAN SUMMARIZE 85 YEARS OF DATA IN FOUR WORDS.

HAPPINESS IS LOVE THE IDEA OF VALUE AND MEANING AND THE FACT THAT ULTIMATELY IF YOU THINK OF ONE FACTOR IS MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, RIGHT.

THE THING PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT IS THAT MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THE ONE YOU HAVE WITH YOURSELF.

WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.

THE REALITY IS HOW ARE YOU TAKING CARE AND TREATING YOURSELF, RIGHT?

AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, THE IDEA OF TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF, RIGHT, PERSONAL WELL-BEING IS PHYSICALLY, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT IMPACTS A BODY IN SO MANY WAYS AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE, YOU KNOW, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS FASCINATING WHAT YOU WERE SHARING WITH US EARLIER.

>> I THINK THAT WHEN IT COMES TO A CORRELATION BETWEEN HEALTH AND HAPPINESS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS ENDORPHINS.

SO HE WOULD WORK OUT, WE EXERCISE, AND WE ARE MOVING, OUR BODY, OUR BRAIN IS GOING TO CREATE ENDORPHINS THAT'S GOING TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD.

>> I FIND THAT HAPPENS LITERALLY WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES AS SOON AS I START TO MOVE MORE, I FEEL BETTER.

>> BECAUSE YOUR BRAIN IS REWARDING YOU FOR MOVING.

>> GOOD BOY, RICH, GOOD BOY, KEEP DOING IT.

>> ONE THING I DO FIND INTERESTING IS ALTHOUGH EXERCISE DOES CREATE ENDORPHINS, SO DOES SUGAR.

WHEN WE EAT IT, OUR BRAIN PRODUCES SEROTONIN AND DOPAMINE THAT MAKES US FEEL GOOD SO OVERALL WHEN IT COMES TO THE CORRELATION OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS, IT'S NOT WHAT GIVES US INSTANT GRATIFICATION, THAT MAKES US HAPPY IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S MORE OF WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE US HAPPY IN THE LONG RUN.

>> IN AIR WAY, THAT'S YOUR MISSION.

YOUR MISSION IS LIKE THE BIG PICTURE, THE LONG RUN.

>> NOT JUST GIVING INTO THE IMMEDIATE.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT, FOR ME, IT HELPS ME ACTUALLY EXERCISE.

IT'S NOT THE FACT THAT I'M TIRED I REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE IT.

I WOULD RATHER SLEEP FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES.

>> I HAVE NEVER THOUGHT THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> PLEASE.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST UNDERSTANDING, BUT WHAT GETS ME UP AND MOVING HOW AM I GOING TO FEEL AFTER.

THAT'S THE VERY THOUGHT THAT HELPS ME EVERY SINGLE TIME IF I'M FEELING UNMOTIVATED.

>> EYE ON THE CRIEZ.

>> YOU WANT TO KEEP... >> EXACTLY.

>> ISN'T IT THE STATE THAT ONCE WE ARE DOING IT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED AND WE THINK, WHY DIDN'T I DO THAT BEFORE?

SO ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE ARE ALL TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE THAT WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE THOSE SAME FEELINGS THAT WE ARE FEELING IS TO KIND OF ANCHOR A BEHAVIOR TO SOMETHING THAT WE FIND LESS DESIRABLE.

FOR SOME PEOPLE THEY FIND IT LESS DESIRABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND WORK OUT.

THEY'RE NOT AS MOTIVATED.

SO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO A TASK THAT YOU FINDY ENJOYABLE THAT GETS YOU TO THE EXERCISE.

WE ARE FINDING IN THE RESEARCH THAT IT'S NOT JUST GETTING PEOPLE THERE RIGHT?

IT'S GETTING THEM TO TAKE PERMISSION TO DO THAT SELF CARE.

BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL THAT SELF CARE IS A LUXURY OR SIGHTS SELFISH OR THEY DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT.

AND SO DEMIST FIEZING WHAT SELF CARE LOOKS LIKE.

AND AS YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING AND WE ARE ALL SAYING IS THAT GETTING TO THOSE PLACES CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT IF YOU DON'T HAVE KIND OF THAT MOTIVATION.

SO I THINK PROVIDING THE PERMISSION TO JUST TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

SOME PEOPLE NEED THE PERMISSION.

>> IT MIGHT FIT WITH LIKE YOUR PURPOSE OR YOUR MISSION, WOULD YOU SAY, THAT LIKE IF YOU HAVE, IN YOUR HEAD, THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR ME OVERALL AND FOR MY FAMILY.

>> SURE.

ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, SO MAYBE THE REASON YOU ARE DOING THESE THINGS IS NOT JUST FOR YOURSELF, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT MIGHT BETTER OTHER PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT KIND OF THE FIT.

FOR INSTANCE, IF WE ARE THINKING ABOUT WE NEED TO EXERCISE.

BUT I LOVE BEING ROUND PEOPLE.

HOW DO WE MAKE THOSE TWO THINGS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME.

>> IT'S WHY I RUN A HIKING CLUB BECAUSE I'M BETTER AT SHOWING UP FOR OTHER PEOPLE THAN MYSELF.

IF I KNOW YOU ARE WAITING FOR ME, I'M GOING TO SHOW UP.

I'M GOING TO BE THERE.

AND ALSO IN TERMS OF THESE TIMES OF REBUILDING COMMUNITY, I'M FINDING THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HUNGRY TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MOST PANDEMIC.

SO FINDING A WAY TO BUILD MORE RITUAL, BUILD COMMUNITY AND STILL GET YOUR WORKOUT IN AND STILL ELEVATE HAPPINESS THROUGH ELEVATING ENDORPHINS.

>> I WILL SAY IT'S A GOOD ONE.

ONE THING, THERE IS A NICE RESEARCH/PIECE OF WORK THAT WAS DONE AT THAT TIME TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT HAPPINESS, WHEN IT IS HINGED ON SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES, IF YOUR HAPPINESS IS HINGED ON ACHIEVING THE GOAL, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU ARE GOING TO YO-YO THROUGH LIFE.

IF YOU GET THE GOAL, YOU ARE HAPPY.

IF YOU DON'T, YOU ARE NOT.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THE SENSE OF DURABLE PLENTY TUD.

DURABLE PLENITUDE.

WE CANNOT ALWAYS CONTROL OUTCOMES.

BUT IF I TRUST I PUT MY BEST INPUT IN, THAT'S WHERE MY HAPPINESS LIES.

IT'S IN THE EFFORT, WORKING TOWARDS THE GOAL.

SO THE IDEA OF THE JOYS AND THE JOURNEY, IF THE JOURNEY IS YOUR DESTINATION, THEN THE ENTIRE THING IS AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.

OUTCOMES ARE GOING TO BE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE.

THE OTHER THING ABOUT HAPPINESS, GENETICS.

30 TO 40% IS TIED TO YOUR GENETICS IN TERMS OF YOUR PROPENS PROPENSITY TO EVEN BE HAPPY AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT MEANS THE OTHER 60% IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES, WHAT YOU CREATE, WHO YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH, RIGHT?

THE MIND SET, RIGHT, SO KIND OF CHECK YOUR MIND SET BEFORE YOU GET YOUR MIND SET.

>> I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID.

>> SO IN A WAY, YOU BUILT A WHOLE BUSINESS IN ORDER TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.

RIGHT?

ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING IN AND WANT TO...

I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

>> PIGGY BACKING ON WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, THE MIND SET IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE JOURNEY BECAUSE I HAVE CLIENTS THAT, IN THEIR WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY, THEY CAN BE MISERABLE BUT STILL ACHIEVE THE GOAL BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

EVERY WEEK IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE-- BECAUSE KEEP IN MIND, THEY WANT TO GET THERE YESTERDAY.

ANY TIME WE SET A GOAL OR WANT TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING, WE WANT IT YESTERDAY, RIGHT?

THAT'S THE HARD PART, GETTING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT LIKE ENJOY THE JOURNEY BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, YOU ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL BUT YOU HAVE WASTED ALL THAT TIME AND ENERGY.

>> AND THE MINDSET MATTERS HAPPINESS HORMONES.

DOPAMINE, ENDORPHINS AND YOUR MINDSET IMPACTS THE BIO CHEMISTRY WHICH IMPACTS YOUR MOOD AND EMOTIONS AND HAPPINESS BEING ONE OF THEM.

FOR OXYTOES OXYTOCIN, TOUCH IS IMPORTANT.

EXY EXERCISE HELPS SEROTONIN AND DOPAMINE AND THE ENDORPHINS.

DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE COMMUNE, RIGHT, GIVING.

THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND HAS ALL THE WHO ARE HONES-- ALL THE HORMONES.

IT'S NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL.

IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

MICHELLE MADE A GREAT POINT.

IT AIN'T EASY, RIGHT?

SO THE IDEA OF ACCEPTANCE AND FORGIVENESS LEADING TO CONTENTMENT AND PEACE, SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE GOALS THEY NEVER ACHIEVE, THEY HAVEN'T REALLY ACCEPTED THEMSELVES.

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE STRIVING.

>> BEATING THEMSELVES UP.

TO BUILD ON THE OXYTOCIN, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SPENDING TIME WITH ANIMALS CAN REDUCE STRESS, BLOOD PRESSURE AND LONELINESS, BOOST OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM AND PROMOTE A SENSE OF WELL-BEING.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY'S BARNES CENTER AT THE ARCH IS PROVIDING A PROGRAM THAT BRINGS SMILES, JOY AND WAG WAG TAILS TO CAMPUS MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> MY NAME IS JOHN.

I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR PAWS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THE MISSION IS TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HAPPINESS TO PEOPLE WE MEET AND HAPPINESS IS BROUGHT THROUGH CONTACT WITH OUR DOGS AND PETS.

THE STAR OF THE SHOW IS BAILEY WHO IS ALMOST FIVE YEARS OLD.

SHE IS A GOLDEN RETRIEVER.

SHE HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE SHE HAS BEEN A YEAR AND A HALF OLD.

WE HAD A BREAK FOR THE PANDEMIC, BUT SHE HAS BEEN A WORK HORSE FOR A WHILE NOW.

BESIDE COMING HERE TO SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, WE GO TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS AND WE USED TO GO TO NURSING HOMES, BUT THAT IS COMING BACK SLOWLY.

SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF THAT.

>> MY NAME IS JASON HORN.

JUNIOR STUDYING SPORT ANALYTICS HERE AT SYRACUSE AND I'M A STUDENT ASSISTANT HERE SO I HELP OUT WITH THE PEP THERAPY PROGRAM AT THE BARNES CENTER.

SO THE PET THERAPY DOGS, THEY COME FIVE TIMES A WEEK.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT SESSIONS AND WE ROTATE DOGS IN AND OUT EVERY OTHER WEEK STUDENTS CAN STOP BY AND SWIPE THEIR STUDENT I.D.

IN THE STUDENT TRACKING SYSTEM.

OVER THE SEMESTER, WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN A THOUSAND STUDENTS COME IN AND OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

WE SEE A LOT OF THAT THE DOGS BRING TO THE STUDENTS.

IT'S GREAT TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE THE SMILE ON STUDENTS FACES AS THEY WALK IN AND SEE THE DOGS AND JUST THE JOY IT BRINGS THEM IN BETWEEN CLASSES, HELPS THEM IF THEY'RE HAVING A TOUGH DAY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> I NOTICED WITH THE STUDENTS, EVEN THE PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITALS, THEY COME IN AND A SMILE AND THEY START TALKING ABOUT THEIR DOGS AT HOME OR WHATEVER.

BIG THING IS A LOT OF THE STUDENTS MISS THEIR PETS AND THEY SEE SOME DOGS HERE AND THEY REALLY GET A JOY OUT OF, SOMETIMES PLAYING WITH THEM, SOMETIMES JUST SITTING THERE AND PETTING THEM.

>> MY ADVICE TO STUDENTS WOULD BE FIVE-MINUTE PET CAN BRING JOY TO YOUR DAY AND MAKE YOUR DAY A WHOLE LOT BETTER.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.

>> WELL, I MISS MY DOG, SO I TOTALLY KNOW THAT.

AND YOU WERE SAYING TO ME, YOU WANTED TO BUILD ON THIS.

GO FOR IT.

>> SURE, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE AND THE STUDENTS IN THE VIDEO, THEY WEREN'T CHECKING THEIR CLOCKS.

THEY WERE IMMERSED IN THAT EXPERIENCE ABOUT THE DOGS AND THEY WERE HAPPY.

THEY WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT THE OUTCOME.

THEY WERE JUST ENJOYING THAT JOURNEY AND THAT PROCESS.

AND I THINK IT TIES NICELY WITH THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING ABOUT HOW THE JOURNEY REALLY MATTERS.

BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE HOBBIES.

THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER AREAS IN LIFE WE MIGHT EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF FLOW WHERE WE ARE LOSING TRACK OF TIME AND ENJOYING THAT PROCESS AND EXPERIENCE SO MUCH THAT CAN DEFINITELY BE SHOWN IN OUR WORKPLACES, TOO.

>> WE ARE FINDING WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE AT WORK FEEL LIKE THEY CAN IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN SOMETHING ENJOYABLE AND STILL GET WORK DONE SO THAT WORK LIFE HAS BEEN INTEGRATED SO THE MORE WE GET PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE IT'S FINDING THE BALANCE AND WHEN YOU CAN IMMERSE YOURSELVES IN ENJOYABLE ACTIVITY AND CONNECT WITH A CO-WORKER AND NOT THINK IT'S TAKING ME AWAY FROM A PROJECT AND HAVE LEADERS THAT ROLE MODEL THE SELF CARE AND RELAXATION THAT THEY'RE ASKING FROM THEIR TEAM OR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

WE FIND IT STARTS AT THE TOP.

A MORE RELAXED LEADERSHIP STYLE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE HAPPIER EMPLOYEES ARE, THE HAPPIER THEY WILL BE.

IF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED WE LET EMPLOYEES BE HAPPY, THEY WON'T BE PRODUCTIVE, THEY WILL BE MORE LOYAL AND LESS LIKELY TO LEAVE BECAUSE LEAVING JOBS IS A BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW FOR EMPLOYERS THINKING HOW ARE WE GOING TO RETAIN PEOPLE.

THE NUMBER ONE THING IS TO TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY.

THEY'LL STAY IN A LOWER PAYING JOB IF THEY FEEL RESPECTED.

SO JUST THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT FIX IT.

>> IT REMIND ME IN MU FIELD OF WORK, QUALITY OF LIFE, SO AT THE WORKPLACE, IF YOU ARE WORKING, WORKING, AND OVERWORKED, YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE IS NOT AS BEST AS IT CAN BE AND THE WORK I DO, IS NOT JUST FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

A LOT OF MY CLIENTS TRAIN WITH ME FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

ONE CLIENT WEIGHED 675 POUNDS.

HIS QUALITY OF LIFE WAS HORRIBLE.

HE WAS HOUSE BOUND.

HE WAS BOUND TO HIS HOUSE.

HE COULDN'T WALK MORE THAN 15 SECONDS, HE COULDN'T TIE HIS OWN SHOES.

SO HE HAD TO LOSE 475 POUNDS TO GET TO A PLACE OF HEALTH, WHICH HE DID IN 21 MONTHS THROUGH DIET AND EXERCISE ALONE.

NO SURGERY, NOTHING, JUST DIET AND EXERCISE.

MY HUSBAND AND I TRAINED HIM FOR 21 MONTHS.

BUT HIS QUALITY OF LIFE IS OBVIOUSLY NOW COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

HE HAS A FULL TIME JOB.

HE MARRIED MY OTHER CLIENT WHO HAD ALSO LOST 125 POUNDS, THEY HAVE A SON NOW.

SO THE QUALITY OF LIFE WHERE HE WAS AT AT ONE POINT IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHERE HE IS NOW.

ONE CLIENT CAME IN WITH A CANE AT 69 YEARS OLD.

LOST 61 POUNDS, SHE IS NOT ON A CANE ANYMORE AND MOWS HER OWN LAWN NOW.

IT CAN BE STUFF YOU WANT TO DO TO ENJOY LIFE AND THAT, I DEFINITELY BELIEVES INCREASES YOUR HAPPINESS TO DO THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO OUT OF LIFE.

>> I THINK THE POINT WAS MADE IN THE CONVERSATION PREVIOUSLY ABOUT THE FACT IT'S A DYNAMIC.

IT'S NOT STATIC.

YOU DON'T FIND HAPPINESS ONE TIME AND THAT'S IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

OUR LIFE IS A DYNAMIC PROCESS AND THESE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS, SO YOU ARE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING AND ADAPTING.

I TELL PEOPLE I LIVE BY A FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

START-UPS TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO BREAK EVEN.

YOU PUT IN SO MUCH EFFORT, YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW IT GOES.

YEAR FOUR YOU DECIDE DO I WANT TO DO THE SAME THING OR IS MY HAPPINESS, DO I NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

IT ALLOWS US TO GROW AND STAY YOUNG AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S A DYNAMIC.

IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

PEOPLE THINK LIKE I GOT TO FIND IT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIND IT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO LIVE IT, RIGHT?

BE IN THE MOMENT AND THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> SO YOU ARE SAYING GET LIKE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU UNHAPPY OUT OF THE WAY LIKE IF YOU ARE UNHEALTHY, TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH BUT ADJUST ALONG THE WAY.

>> I HAD ONE LADY WHO SAID-- I LIKE TO VISIT THE VALLEY, FROM THE VALLEY EVERYTHING IS UP.

ANY DIRECTION IS UP.

I JUST HAD A GENTLEMAN WHO CAME IN WHO SAID THAT HE HAD STAGE 4 CANCER AND HE SAID I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND IT'S LIKE GROUND HRG DAY THE MOVIE, I WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND HAVE THE SAME THOUGHT.

THE WORST POSSIBLE DAY.

MY EYES LIT UP AND I SAID THAT'S AWESOME.

HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID WHAT.

YOU JUST BLEW MY MIND WITH THE GREATEST WISDOM.

IF YOU WAKE UP AND IT'S THE WORST POSSIBLE PART OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE THE REST OF THE DAY TO MAKE IT BETTER.

ONE SMILE CHANGES THE SCOPE.

HE LOOKS AT ME AND SAID YOU JUST SHIFTED MY WHOLE MIND SET.

I HAVE TO LIVE IN JOY VERSUS WORRYING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO COME.

I'M GOING TO EMBRACE WHAT I HAVE, RIGHT?

SO IT IS A MINDSET SHIFT.

>> AND BEING AWARE OF YOUR MIND OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR MIND.

VERY OFTEN WE ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT WE ARE THINKING.

UNTIL WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BECOME WEAR.

>> WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS PSYCHOLOGISTS DO, WE WORK WITH PEOPLE TO HELP PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THIS IS WHAT I'M THINKING AND THAT IS THE IMPACT OF WHAT I'M THINKING ON MY LIFE.

>> SO MINDFUL ON THIS, TRY MINDFUL IN THIS, RIGHT?

THERE IS DATA ON THAT.

>> MINDFUL OF MESS IS MINDFULNESS.

>> I WANT TO KNOW FROM YOU GUYS, WHAT DO YOU DO TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE YOUR LIFE MORE WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE?

TO GET INTO THE FLOW?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> I PRACTICE MINDFULNESS, BUT IN TERMS OF PAYING ATTENTION TO MY THOUGHTS, HAVE I TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M NOT JUDGING MYSELF, RIGHT OR BEING FATALIST OR ALL OR NOTHING MENTALITY, RIGHT?

I'M LIKE OH HOW DO I MOVE MYSELF FROM HERE TO THERE.

SO BY KNOWING HOW I SHIFT AND THE PATIENTS I'VE GIVEN MYSELF AND THE SELF CARE PRACTICES I DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT AND 3WR50E67 PREACH BUT LIVE, THAT'S HOW I TRY TO INSPIRE MY CLIENTS.

IT'S TALKING ABOUT, I HAVE A BOOK CALLED KEEPING COMMON CHAOS.

HOW DID I MANAGE TO KEEP BOATS AFLOAT WHEN EVERYTHING FELT LIKE IT WAS IS SINKING BECAUSE I HAD A DIVINE PURPOSE OR I HAD A GOAL, BUT I NEVER TOOK MY EYES OFF OF IT EVEN WHEN I STUMBLED AND FELL.

BUT I THINK HIDING THE MISTAKES IS WHAT I LEARNED TO STOP DOING.

WHEN I STARTED TELLING MY CLIENTS ABOUT FAILURES AND MISTAKES, A TRACTED MORE BUSINESS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH PERFECTION.

THEY WANT TO WORK WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAD THE SAME CHALLENGES THEY HAD BUT FIGURED A PATHWAY TO OVERCOME THEM.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT BECAUSE I CALL MYSELF PERFECTLY IMPERFECT.

>> I AGREE.

YOU ARE PERFECTLY IMPERFECT.

>> THAT'S MY FRIEND, RIGHT?

SO I LIVE BY THE 90-10 RULE.

IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING 90% OF THE TIME, THE OTHER 10%, THE BODY CAN HANDLE.

YOU GOT TO BE LIGHT HEARTED ABOUT LIFE AND THERE IS A LOT OF STRESS IN THE WORLD AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL.

BUT PART OF THE JOY IS IN RECOGNIZING THE RELATIONSHIP, THE CONNECTION YOU HAVE WHEREVER YOU ARE AND IN THAT MOMENT THE BIO CHEMISTRY DOES THE WORK.

>> RELATIONSHIP IS THE KEY.

YOU WERE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS.

THAT A KEY TO YOUR HAPPINESS.

>> THAT IS DEFINITELY THE KEY TO MY HAPPINESS.

AS A RELATIONSHIP RESEARCHER, I RESEARCH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS ON OUR HEALTH.

IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I DO IN MY DAILY LIFE.

MAYBE LIKE I HAD A BAD DAY OR MAYBE I HAD A GREAT DAY.

I THINK REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE AROUND ME, WHETHER THAT'S FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A WHILE BUT JUST KIND OF GIVING A TEXT AND SAY HEY, THIS HAPPENED AND THEN PEOPLE MIGHT JOIN IN AND THAT MIGHT HELP ME AMPLIFY THE JOY I'M FEELING AND DAMPEN THE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS I MIGHT HAVE AS WELL.

THAT'S A SECRET TO MY HAPPINESS.

>> JILL I'M IMAGINING YOU WORKING OUT.

>> DEFINITELY WORKING OUT FOR SURE I THINK TWO THINGS COME TO MY MIND AND LIVING A DISCIPLINED LIFE.

YOU KNOW, DISCIPLINED WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH, WORKING OUT, DIET, EXERCISE, DISCIPLINE IN MY EMOTIONS, YOU KNOW, DISCIPLINE WITH MY MINDSET.

>> THAT IMPLIES YOU HAVE LIKE A GOAL THAT YOU ARE DISCIPLINING YOURSELF TOWARDS, WHICH WOULD SFIT WITH THE IDEA OF FLOW.

BUT YOU ARE GOING TO TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE.

>> THE OTHER THING, TOO, THAT MAKES ME KIND OF LIVE A HAPPY LIFE IS UNDERSTANDING IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN IT IS TO RECEIVE IN THE SENSE THAT LOOKING TO BLESS OTHERS.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOMEONE THAT IS IN NEED, THAT BRINGS PROBABLY THE MOST FULFILLMENT TO MY LIFE IS JUST LOOKING, HOW CAN I SERVE OTHERS AND BLESS OTHERS?

>> THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT, WELL, FOLKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS DR. JEEWON OH, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY MS. MICHELLE COURTNEY BERRY, WELLNESS CEO AND HEALTH RESEARCHER MS. JILL MURPHY, CO- OWNER OF MISSION FITNESS AND DR. KOSHAL NANAVATI, INTEGRATIVE FAMILY PHYSICIAN, ASSISTANT DEAN OF WELLNESS AT UPSTATE, AND AUTHOR OF THE "CORE 4 OF WELLNESS" IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF OUR PROGRAM AND EXTRAS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WCNY.ORG/CYCLEOFHEALTH.

TO HEAR OUR NEW COMPANION COMMUNITY FM RADIO SHOW, CHECK UP FROM THE NECK UP, VISIT WCNY.ORG/COMMUNITYFM.

FOR CYCLE OF HEALTH, I'M PSYCHOLOGIST DR. RICH O'NEILL.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT SEASON!