Trying Harms Your Health
By Nathan Dennison
Why did I start writing this article? I haven’t actually finished yet and a recent study has left me wondering whether I should attempt to finish it at all. If I were to finish the article I would feel a distinct sense of achievement, but striving to achieve our goals is not all its cracked up to be according to two scientists.
Whilst following adolescents who had the option of achieving or abandoning a key goal, psychologists Gregory Miller and Carsten Wrosch found that it may be better to forsake the goal in order to maintain mental and physical well being. They found that study participants who didn’t abandon their goal had increased levels of the protein CRP. CRP acts as an indicator of bodily inflammation and increased inflammation has been linked with both cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
By setting aside an unobtainable goal, Miller and Wrosch say that more time can be allocated to more achievable targets. However, the problem for most people is at what time goals should be abandoned, or at least postponed? Is it worth the extra stresses and more importantly the potential of health complications?
So by finishing this article I may well feel very proud and would hope others enjoy reading it, but in the long run, will my satisfaction be detrimental? Only time will tell. If this was good for you, then try our other health benefits:
- Tech - Mobile phone fights flab
- Recycling - My heart will go on
- Would you? I wouldn't - Jab away that flab
- Would you? Probably - Cure for ADHD discovered
Image: Steve Woods
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