One with the Blue
It goes without saying that our emotional well-being is paramount to living a good, healthy life. When we feel happy, content and inspired, we have the mindset (and the will) to change the course not only for ourselves but for others.
I’m fascinated in learning how positive emotions are cultivated especially at a time when we’re consumed by countless demands that affect our time and energy. Popular research* suggests that our health is drastically linked with how we choose to think. To put this theory to the test, I thought I would spend time on a recent visit to Sardinia speaking with some locals as I made my way through a few towns. After all, Sardinia is considered the land of optimal health and surely a few learnings were mine for the taking.
I’m not the only one fascinated by the stunning island – Blue Zone researchers have studied the region for many years and Sardinians are known for living longer, high-quality lives. Diet, environment and culture are to thank and the inspiring discussions I had suggest that positivity is at play too.
I suspect I’m not alone when I lie awake at night thinking about what I can do to live each day with more spirit. We know our time is brief and we want to experience life’s greatest pleasures every day. True, we’re working hard to balance it all – but what if we could still balance our priorities and commitments without compromising our emotional well-being? Turns out, the Sardinians I spoke with are onto something. I interviewed 16 people who call Sardinia home and 100% of my interview participants considered themselves to be positive. Additionally, all felt:
Positivity as a mindset is something one can enhance, regardless of where one lives
That a positive and hopeful outlook affects one’s clarity, quality of life and work performance
That it’s never been easier to strengthen our emotional health despite the circumstances we may face
The perspectives I was privileged to hear reminded me that nurturing our emotional well-being doesn’t have to be hard.
While my self-directed research project was small in scale, the insights I collected gives us hope that we can very much influence not just our outlooks, but the impact our attitudes have on our health, lives, work and relationships.
Follow me over the next few weeks as I share how a few Sardinians are making the choice to live their healthiest life now (and why).
You’ll meet 81-year-old Battistina, 22-year-old Andrea, 41-year-old Alessandro, 75-year-old Filomena, 25-year-old Jane, 96-year-old Pietro, 82-year-old Grazia, 29-year-old Rosa and more. Each were randomly sampled and vary in age but as you’ll read, all are closely united in the hope that tomorrow is and always will be brighter.
My aim is to leave you as inspired as I was and still am. After all, what’s better than being moved by someone who has figured it out?
I call this work “One with the Blue” as getting closer to a Sardinian way of being is easier than we think. Not to mention of the utmost importance to our health and well-being.
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* Research: How positive emotions build physical health
