By Jennifer Elizabeth Masters
2. Pets are accepting and help us to be less fearful. Pets help us stave off social rejection. Even thinking of your pet can help you overcome a feeling of social rejection. Pets are always loving, and happy to see us when we arrive at home. Pets also help us interact more positively with other humans as we come out of our shell and open up to love.
3. Pets get us exercising. Pet owners are healthier because they exercise more often. Owning a dog especially will get you up off the couch and outside, even when you might not want to where you will feel better by doing something for yourself and your dog.
Social support is critical for well-being. Believe it or not, but a pet provides amazing benefits psychologically supporting us and improving health and overall well-being. If you don't have a pet, you might want to consider getting one to increase your happiness.
1. Pets provide us humans with a sense of belonging. A study in the Journal of Personal and Social Psychology found that having a pet is beneficial on many levels, improving our lives by providing support. Pet owners reported receiving as much support from their pet as they did from family members. The emotional support and a sense of community received from our pets also build self-esteem.
 |
| David and Ray |
3. Pets get us exercising. Pet owners are healthier because they exercise more often. Owning a dog especially will get you up off the couch and outside, even when you might not want to where you will feel better by doing something for yourself and your dog.
4. Pets make us more responsible. Becoming responsible is part of becoming an adult. We have to be disciplined to walk, feed, change litter on a regular basis, even if we might not want to. Being responsible is one of the first steps to having greater self-esteem and accountability. A pet makes us more conscientious giving us a feeding and walking schedule and being home to take care of them.
5. Pet owners are less lonely. In three different studies conducted pet owners were significantly less lonely than those without pets. Opening the door to an excited tail wagging, or a cat who purrs and jumps off the couch to greet you can be a great relief for those who
live alone. You even have company at night when reading or sleeping. A pet on your bed at night provides a warm sense of feeling loved consistently.
6. Pet owners are less depressed. A pet can improve your mood and make you laugh. Pets know intuitively what their owners are feeling and often comfort their owners when sad, crying or depressed. The act of stroking your cat or dog reduces stress and provides comfort. A pet is a tremendous source of loving support providing us a friendly, loyal companion and love.
7. Pet owners are healthier overall. Pets help us reduce stress, help us heal from illnesses or surgery. A study of New York stockbrokers found that owning a pet was better at controlling blood pressure than drugs. Medication worked well to keep things stable normally, but pets were found to be better at reducing blood pressure when things got tense.
Adding a pet to your household has a positive effect on your overall well-being giving you love, support and a sense of belonging. Pet owners get more exercise and feel happier than those who don't have pets. There have been very few years when I didn't have both cats or at least one dog.
My pets are members of my family offering me loyal companionship and company on my travels. Karma has been with
me now for sixteen years. She is a constant source of joy and love for me. She monitors my cats and keeps everyone in line, loving our trips to the beach and road trips across the country.
 |
| Karma and Isabelle |
 |
| Yoda and Ariel at LAX |
Jennifer is a healer, sex, love, and happiness coach that clears limiting beliefs, blocks, and self-sabotage from the past so that you can have the life, love, and happiness you desire. A healed healer herself, she helps others overcome anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, guilt, shame, insecurities that block you from having healthy relationships and happiness.
Connect with Jennifer to schedule your free discovery
session to see if her work is a good fit for your happiness.
Find Jennifer's books on Amazon.com
Jennifer is currently working on her third book:
Happy Here, Happy Anywhere:
The Step-By-Step Guide to Overcoming Anxiety, Depression, and Unhappiness Without A Prescription!
© Jennifer Elizabeth Masters All Rights Reserved.
No part may be copied or reproduced in any form without the author's written consent.
