Friends for 46 years!

LIFE SUCCESS IS POWERED BY FRIENDSHIP!

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.” Unknown

 The following quotes are from Sonya Lyubomirsky, PhD, who is the  recipient of many awards for her research at U.C. Riverside. From her book, The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want:

** “One of the strongest findings in the literature on happiness is that happy people have better relationships than do their less happy peers.”

** “One of the most important functions of a social bond is the provision of social support in times of stress, distress, and trauma.”

 **Indeed, people with strong social support are healthier and live longer.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Having friends affects our mood and our health. How? Maybe you’ve heard about Oxytocin, the feel good hormone. It’s the anti-stress hormone that lowers blood pressure, reduces cortisol damage and accelerates the healing of wounds! Also known as the feel-good hormone, it lifts the spirit and engenders a more happy mood.

What’s that have to do with friendship? When women are in contact, communicate, spend time together, it boosts the oxytocin and we feel more joy!

As women we are blessed to have this natural remedy to stress, depression and anxiety. So remember to “make time for joy today” by connecting with a dear friend. If your friend is not available try this alternative:

SAVOR A MEMORY OF A CHERISHED FRIEND:

• Remember a joyful time spent with one such friend.
• Close your eyes and recreate the experience…
• What do you see, hear, smell,touch, feel?
• Amplify the good feelings as they arise.
• Savoring pleasant memories of  friends is proven to increase wellbeing and joy.

More friendship quotes:

“Friendship multiplies our joy and divides grief.” Swedish proverb

“A friend stands beside you and under you and lifts you up.” Maya Angelou

“A friend is another self.” Aristotle

“Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness.” Richard Bach