It's Official: celebrating is good for you

We live in weird times. I don’t think there’s any getting away from that.

 But, nonetheless, it’s official.  Celebrating is good for us.

Studies conducted by Dr. Robert A. Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California and the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Positive Psychology, have shown that people who celebrate and feel grateful gain all kinds of benefits...

Yes, apparently there are loads of benefits. Basically it’s like some kind of super gym-membership you can sign up to, only it’s free. You come out the other end (if you can continue the good work past January) like some well-oiled, pumping superhero glowing with a positivity that rubs off on all the people around you.

Doesn’t matter what you feel gratitude for. It could just be something as simple as the sunshine bouncing off an oil-slicked puddle creating a momentary rainbow. It could be that there are just enough cornflakes left in the packet for a full bowl.

 The point is that if you are able to count your daily blessings in whatever shape or form you find them, you will tend to suffer less from depression and stress; you will tend to have a stronger immune system; you will tend to exercise more consistently and you will tend to be more creative and motivated. In short, you will become the kind of person who is more likely to achieve your personal goals. 

Goals like changing the world, maybe?

It seems to make sense, doesn’t it, in a slightly bizarre kind of way.

 Being a revolutionary and working for change isn’t just about being fuelled by anger and a sense of burning injustice; there also needs to be an unbreakable sense of optimism about your fellow humans and a conviction that your actions will have a positive outcome, if you just persevere.

One of the findings of the study showed that people who celebrate more tend to reach out to others more (perhaps to fill up their glass and share the joy).

And that people who celebrate more have stronger social relationships and are able to empathise with other humans more.

And empathy is a healthy thing, surely?

Because isn’t it a good thing to regularly remind ourselves that, besides all the dickheads out there threatening our lives, there are actually far more brilliant humans out there who make our lives better?

So, what are we waiting for?

Let’s celebrate.