Thinking you are Happy

 

Think yourself happy!

Is becoming happier as easy as trying to become happier? The latest research by two US academics suggests it might be. 

Writing in The Journal of Positive Psychology, Yuna L. Ferguson and Kennon M. Sheldon present the results of their recent experiments into ‘trying to become happier’.

In the first study, two sets of participants listened to ‘happy’ music. Those who actively tried to feel happier reported the highest level of positive mood afterwards. In the second study, participants listened to a range of ‘positive’ music over a two-week period; those who were instructed to focus on improving their happiness experienced a greater increase in happiness than those who were told just to focus on the music.

What seems to have made one group so much happier than the other in their respective studies was a combination of actively trying to become happier and using the right methods – in this case, listening to happy music.

Ferguson and Sheldon’s important findings challenge earlier studies suggesting that actually trying to become happier was, in fact, counterproductive. “[Our] results suggest that without trying, individuals may not experience higher positive changes in their well-being,” they write. “Thus, practitioners and individuals interested in happiness interventions might consider the motivational mindset as an important facet of improving well-being.”

And that’s definitely something worth thinking about.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17439760.2012.747000#.Ui2hr8ZJOBI

Family Night at Back Experts

Complimentary Chiropractic Check-Up and Wellness Adjustments for children 18 and under. 

January is a critical time to keep the immune system maximized.  Dr. Anderson is offering a unique opportunity to to get the kids healthy and have some fun at the same time.  See consumer reports study on cold and flu symptoms and chiropractic.

Wednesday January 15th starting at 6pm

• Join us for a night of fun with the kids. 
• We will have a Movie Playing with snacks and give-a-ways.
• Free scoliosis screening and evaluation with digital printout for your records.
• Free wellness adjustment for the kids if needed.

Sign-up for this free event for priority scheduling.  Walk-in will be taken on a first-come first served basis.

Simply Sign-Up Below

Need Help with Flu Symptoms – Try Chiropractic First

Consumer Report conducted a study of people with cold and flu symptoms.  47% of people using chiropractic says it helped a lot.  More than over-the-counter medication.  So next time you have the sniffles, try chiropractic first.

Dr. Craig Anderson

Read more at consumer reports.

Week of Giving at Back Experts

This week (12/9-12/12) we are collecting food for a Community Dinner is East St. Louis.  This dinner feeds about 700 people the week before Christmas.  In addition to feeding families, the kids get a chance to pick up toys and the families leave with a box of food to help out for the rest of the month.
My family will help with delivery along with our Church.  Any donations given this week will directly to this work.  Back Experts is helping collect…

• Specific Food Items
  • Stop by the office (or email Carlene) to get the specific items needed.
• Donate $30 to stock one box of food
• Donate any toy item
  • New of gently used
• Donate any Clothing Item
  • Gentle Used

Each item you donate your name will go in a drawing for a free adjustment.  If you donate 15 items you get 15 entries.  Donate $30 and get entered in the free adjustment drawing PLUS a drawing for a free neck pillow.
Thanks for everything,
Dr. Craig Anderson

Donate at 19 Mullanphy Garden Shopping Ctr; Florissant, MO  63031
Call:  314-837-9911
http://www.backexperts.com/the-clinic/map-to-the-office/

Headaches from the Neck

Read More from Dr. Anderson

• Dr. Craig Anderson- Caffeine May Trigger Most Migraines
• Dr. Craig Anderson: Diet Soda, Weight Gain and pH Balance
• Dr. Craig Anderson: Arthritis Patients Choose Chiropractic
• Dr. Craig Anderson: Smoothy Recipe

Willpower -- Not So Powerful.

"This time I'm going to lose the weight." "I have had it! I'm going to start exercising and eating right!"

Living a healthful lifestyle is not rocket science. In fact, you know what you should be doing right now. (Put down the donut). Why is it that we so often fail in making good choices in our health? One possibility it we set ourselves up for failure.

Here's the typical scenario. Billy wants to start exercising. He starts going to the gym 6 days a week for 45 minutes. This lasts 2 weeks then he misses a day. He feels bad about it but tries harder. After a month he is back to his couch potato ways, never to darken the door of a gym again. He failed.
Billy set himself up for failure. He was unrealistic about his abilities and most of all his willpower.

Psychologist and lead researcher Loran Nordgren, PhD, of Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management says "The key is simply to avoid any situation where vices and other weaknesses thrive and, most importantly, for individuals to keep a humble view of their willpower."

Keeping a humble view of willpower is key. Make realistic goals. Maybe plan to exercise twice a week for 12 weeks, then increase. Set yourself up for success then build on it. When it comes to diet, try to focus on one thing first. Maybe you need to cut soda, or eat 1 extra serving of fruit a day. Give yourself a time frame and celebrate when you make your goal. Then set another one.

Keep it real and you will succeed.

Diet Soda, Weight Gain and pH Balance

A constant theme in my office is weight management.  Most people with weight problems often choose to drink Diet soda, bad move.  This video does a fantastic job explaining this seemingly contradictory fact.

More than Low Back Care?

Far too many people still believe that chiropractic care isn't necessary unless they're suffering excruciating low back pain. The millions who do receive regular adjustments know that chiropractic can resolve their back pain, and more and more may also be learning about the potential nonmusculoskeletal benefits.
Take as an example the patients in a recent study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Twenty consecutive patients from each of 87 Swedish chiropractor's offices (1,504 total patients) completed questionnaires within two weeks of previous treatment. The questionnaires documented numerous reported improvements in nonmusculoskeletal symptoms, including:
· easier to breathe (98 patients);
· improved digestive function (92 patients);
· clearer/better/sharper vision (49 patients);
· improved circulation (34 patients);
· less ringing in the ears (10 patients);
· acne/eczema better (8 patients);
· dysmennorhea (painful menstruation)
better (7 patients); and
· asthma/allergies better (6 patients).
The number of spinal areas adjusted was also related to the number of positive reactions. Fifteen percent of patients reported positive reactions after having a single area adjusted; 35% of patients reported positive reactions after having four areas adjusted. Overall, 23% of chiropractic patients reported experiencing positive changes in symptoms that were not musculoskeletal in nature.
Have you experienced nonmusculoskeletal benefits following chiropractic care, and if
so, have you told your doctor of chiropractic? Always report any reactions (good or
bad) you experience during or following an adjustment.
Leboeuf-Yde C, Axen I, Ahlefeldt G, et al. The types and frequencies of improved nonmusculoskeletal symptoms reported after chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 22, No. 9, pp559-64.

Insulin, Diet and Energy

From our workshop Monday, here is an excerpt where I talk about why it's important to consider how you eat as much as what you eat. Learn more about diet HERE.



19 Mullanphy Gardens - Florissant, MO; 63031 - 314-837-9911- http://backexperts.com/