Believing in luck could lead to unhealthy living

Believing in luck could lead to unhealthy living


Thomas Jefferson said the harder you work, the luckier you are. Ralph Waldo Emerson said shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance, while strong men believe in cause and effect. However you put it, the gist of it is that if you believe you’ve got luck on your side there’s less urgency to make your own, and science seems to agree. At least that’s the theory according to researchers in Australia.

A study from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research found that people who believe in luck or fate tend to lead unhealthier lives overall. On the other hand, those who believed in the power of their own actions took steps to eat healthier food, exercise regularly and avoid smoking and excessive drinking. In fact, the research showed a direct link between personality and lifestyle.

They also found that men and women tend to take different views on health and wellness. Men focused on getting physical results while women enjoyed simply living a healthy lifestyle, inside and out. It goes to show that when it comes to obesity, the root of the problem can be mainly mental.

But the good news is motivation to get moving can come from many places. Whether it’s looking good on the beach, lowering your cholesterol or getting fit enough to keep up with your kids, there are plenty of reasons to get to your healthy happy point. Identify why you want to get healthy, set some short- and long-term goals and build a support system of friends and family to help you get there. Acknowledge that you will have slip-ups, but know that each is just a bump in the road — and that health is a journey, not a destination.

After all, as the great philosopher Virgil said, “The greatest wealth is health,” and sweat, discipline and dedication, not luck, will get you there.

 

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