Health and Wellness 25 Health Perks of Being Happy From boosting heart health to living longer, a positive outlook affects a lot more than your mood By Rachael Schultz Rachael Schultz Rachael Schultz is a health and fitness journalist and the former online news editor for Shape. She currently serves as a freelance writer and gear editor at Insider. Shape's editorial guidelines Published on February 22, 2015 Share Tweet Pin Email Corbis Images. Happiness is about more than just a positive outlook-it also means a healthier body and mind. Happy people are less likely to get sick, more likely to reach their goals, and make more money on average than people who aren't excited or optimistic. Those with a sunny outlook even live seven and a half years longer on average than negative Nancys (that's as similar a boost to your life span as not smoking!). These are just a few of the perks shared by Happify, the website and app that uses science-backed activities and games to improve your emotional well-being. How else can being happy help your life? Check out a full analysis on why happiness is good for your health in the infographic below. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit