It's the classic James Lange Theory of Emotion. His 19th C
psychological research suggested our emotions are triggered by the way
we respond to events, not the other way around. Recently psychologist
Sarah Pressman of the University of Kansas tested his theory by
measuring volunteers' heart beats while they performed stressful
tasks.The subjects who generated a full smile during these tasks
reported feeling better than those who did not. Suggesting to her, "The
act of smiling -- even divorced from feeling of joy -- can indeed help
us relax better."
I tested Lange's theory while throwing
out today's lawns cuttings and assorted garbage. I'm here to tell you I
didn't feel at all better! However, I did feel considerably better when I
scanned another scientific report this summer from Hunter College.
Anthropologist
Herman Pontzer writes in BBC.co.uk that exercise isn't all it's cracked
up to be. He studied the West's sedentary lifestyle along with the
svelte Hadza Tribe in Tanzania who forages over many miles each day.
"The big reason Westerners are getting fat is not lack of exercise, but
simply because we eat too much processed sugars and fats."
Truth
be told, I'm one of the sedentary Westerners who dislikes vigorous
exercise. Sorry, I know what you think of me! However, I'm willing to
waddle with this extra waistline feeling a sense of calm rather than
wriggle through hours of weights being told "no pain no gain." And may I
say this with a great grinning smile...
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