A couple of months ago, my friend Sharon said to me that I�d been looking really good, lately. I have no idea what she meant by �lately� or �good� but it was still a delightful thing to hear.

We chatted a little bit about what the difference could be. She thought it had something to do with health or exercise.

I agreed with her, knowing that my exercise routine had not changed, and even if it had, it had gone down hill.

Later, I thought about the various beauty products I�ve been using briefly but dismissed them almost immediately.

I know the answer. I was looking better because I was generally a lot happier and feeling a lot less stress.

What may have not been obvious to me in the past (because I was usually stressed out and unhappy) is so obvious to me now. When I�m feeling anxious and stressed there is some kind of indiscernible tension, even if I make the effort to relax my facial muscles or smile. As soon as I�m relaxed and happy, I suddenly look several years younger, brighter-skinned and clearer eyed, and I think even more attractively proportioned, if that�s possible.

Things like happiness, contentment, serenity, calmness; those are probably the most effective beauty products one could use.

I�m not necessarily writing this to argue the benefits of happiness. That�s unnecessary, but it�s more to point out how poisonous stress and unhappiness is.

So often in our lives, we don�t take care of ourselves because our culture teaches us that to sacrifice our well-being to accomplish some goal is noble, it�s the way to be. It�s expected of us to sacrifice our happiness to do something more �worthwhile.�

Self-sacrifice is a noble goal, but I think that many people don�t realize that they can accomplish the same goals without being miserable while working at them.

You just have to think about it awhile, understand what makes you happy and enjoy it.

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