The road to “where” is paved with good intentions? Not what you’re thinking. Not at all. Good intentions, it turns out, deliver you to the corner of happiness and good health, where there’s a load of pleasure, pain relief and good taste. And the You Docs are going to help guide you there — all it takes is optimism and positive thinking.

The University of Maryland Mind Perception and Morality Lab’s mind-probing studies show what you do may be important, but it’s why you do it — your intent — that shapes your life and the life of people around you.

For people on the receiving end of good intentions — even when the intentions go a bit awry — the world is more pleasant. For example, if your foot gets stomped on by someone intentionally, that really hurts. Same stomp, but a big mistake? The pain isn’t as intense.

Or in a test, if you slurp down what you believe is “Grandma’s homemade chicken soup,” it tastes better than “canned” soup — even if “Grandma’s” is from a can and the store-bought soup is actually made with love by your Nana.

How can you use this brain trick to make you healthier and happier? Turns out if you want to enjoy food more and get the most pleasure out of life, act with good intentions and attribute good intentions to others. That’ll reduce your stress, and the harm that comes from tension and pessimism.

The You Docs — Mehmet Oz, host of “The Dr. Oz Show” and Mike Roizen of Cleveland Clinic — are authors of “YOU: Losing Weight.” To submit questions, go to www.RealAge.com. A King Features syndicate.