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BITESIZE | The Secret to a Long and Happy Life | Dr Julian Abel #317

Dec 2, 2022 10m 5s 9 insights
Compassion doesn’t just make us feel good, it can have powerful effects on our health. Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart.  Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 138 of the podcast with Dr. Julian Abel - a retired consultant in palliative care. In this clip, he explains why compassion and social connection matter so much for our health, our happiness, and our longevity. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/138 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Prioritize Social Relationships

Actively cultivate good social relationships, as they are more powerful than many other health interventions (e.g., giving up smoking, diet, exercise) for promoting longevity, health, and happiness.

2. Elevate Compassion Universally

Elevate compassion as a high-value priority in all aspects of your life—personal, home, work, politics, and media—because it forms the basis of relationships and profoundly impacts everything you do and touch, contributing to a happy, healthy, long life.

3. Cultivate Love & Security

Actively seek and foster moments where you feel loved and secure, as these feelings reduce anxiety and pain, and stimulate the natural production of beneficial biochemicals like oxytocin and endorphins.

4. Develop Personal Kindness

Actively work on developing qualities like kindness and compassion in yourself, even in small ways, because you already appreciate these qualities in others, and they are fundamental to meaningful relationships.

5. Value Character Over Acquisition

Re-evaluate the societal belief that material acquisition leads to happiness; instead, focus on the quality of character in yourself and others, as this is what truly matters and is appreciated by people at the end of their lives.

6. Appreciate Inherent Self Now

Recognize and appreciate your inherent qualities like love and kindness in the present moment, without waiting for challenging circumstances, as these qualities remain regardless of external abilities and are a source of self-worth.

7. Regularly Re-evaluate Priorities

Regularly remind yourself that connection and relationships are what truly matter most, to avoid getting caught up in trivial things and to focus on what brings the most value and satisfaction in life.

8. Support Gut Health Daily

Pay attention to how nutrition can impact your mental and physical well-being by supporting digestion and enriching the gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria and plant-based compounds.

9. Try AG1 Subscription Offer

Consider subscribing to AG1 to receive a free flavor sampler, AGZ sampler, vitamin D3 and K2, and a welcome kit with your first order, as part of a limited-time offer for first-time subscribers.