Five Things Medical Students Need to Know About Happiness

When we think of medical students, many adjectives come to mind. Stressed. Dedicated. Busy. Smart. Driven. Overwhelmed. One that may not make the initial list? Happy. And yet acknowledging the importance of happiness just may be a critical part of being a good doctor -- both regarding doctors’ own wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of their patients.

We can think of no better time to take a closer look at happiness and medicine than today’s International Day of Happiness. Read on for a roundup of five things medical students should know.

1. Happiness is not easy to define.

On a superficial level, happiness seems like a relatively straightforward complex. Dig deeper, however, and it’s more complex. Says assistant professor of psychiatry Nancy Etcoff, “Happiness is a big umbrella term that can mean different things to different people. We can view happiness in at least three ways -- as a hedonistic state, as a cognitive state, or as a general life philosophy. Happiness, then, can refer to a way of thinking, such as being optimistic; a way of feeling joy, pleasure, relief, or gratitude, or simply a way of being.”

2. Happiness IS contagious.

While we may not be able to define happiness, most of us know it when we feel it. Not only that, but it’s catching. Says professor of medical sociology and medicine Nicholas Christakis, “Just as some diseases are contagious, we’ve found that many emotions can pulse through social networks.” In other words, if you surround yourself with happy people, you may be happier, too.

The best part? It also works in reverse: Being happy is good for the people around you. Continues Christakis, “Rather than asking how we can get happier, we should be asking how we can increase happiness all around us. When you make positive changes in your own life, those effects ripple out from you and you can find yourself surrounded by the very thing you fostered.”

In other words, while it’s certainly true that “misery loves company” the same can be said of happiness. And wouldn't you rather be spreading the latter than the former?

3. Happiness equals healthiness.

We’ve all heard the expression, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Happiness is also a promising prescription. Writes Cynthia M. Thaik, M.D. for Psychology Today, “When you live a joyful life your entire body benefits, especially your heart and mind. Research shows that joyful people have less chance of having a heart attack and are more likely to have healthier blood pressure, lower cholesterol, weight management, and decreased stress levels. Humor and laughter also strengthen your immune system, boost your energy levels, and help diminish pain.”

To what can this link be attributed? Proposes professor of epidemiology and public health Michael Marmot, “Psychosocial factors are vital to health. In people who have their basic needs met -- clean water, sufficient food and shelter -- a crucial determinant of health is how circumstances affect the mind. That is, psychosocial factors.”

4. Doctors should care about happiness.

The research strongly indicates that doctors should care about their own happiness: They are better caregivers when they do. But it’s also important for doctors to look beyond their own happiness to address the happiness of their patients.

Contends Dr. Danielle Ofri, “If a patient has poor health and is also feeling miserable, it’s not enough just to address the medical problem. How a person is feeling emotionally needs to be acknowledged and explored…But the opposite may offer an even more powerful payoff. When doctors notice unhappiness in their patients, they should be probing more carefully for hidden illness. Beyond uncovering disorders such as depression, for which unhappiness is a direct symptom, there may be other illnesses lurking.”

5. Happiness is within your power.

It’s all too easy to adopt a passive attitude toward happiness: You have it or you don’t. But this isn’t actually the case. As it turns out, it’s possible to cultivate happiness by adopting a few basics of positive psychology and incorporating them into your life. According to Dr. Robert and Julie Graham of FRESH Medicine as reported by the nonprofit public health initiative DeStress Monday, a focus on optimism, resilience and growth, creativity and the imagination, and grit can all help you be more happy and well -- and to share that happiness and wellness with others.

So why not take a few minutes this International Day of Happiness to check in with your own happiness meter? Even better? Take immediate action to enhance your happiness courtesy of Entrepreneur's 16 Tips for Living a Happy Life Starting Right Now.