It’s time to take your life into your hands and make things happen for real!
Enough of going through the motions in life and waiting for external things to make you happy.
…Why are you still searching for things, people or life’s events to
bring you happiness when the resources to create
happiness are actually embedded on your inside?
Yes they are! and that makes you responsible for your own happiness! The moment you realize this priceless truth and let it get deep into your consciousness, then you’ll begin to enjoy a more rewarding and enjoyable quality of life because everything will literally change for the better! You’ll begin to appreciate life more, become more open, more able to accommodate others and love them more. You’ll also begin to treat yourself and others better.
You may have heard about certain hormones in your Biology class back in school, but do you know that there are some specific hormones known as “happiness hormones”? This is not referring to some pharmaceutically manufactured happiness pill, rather the happiness hormones are chemicals secreted by the brain, released into other parts of the body channeled towards specific functions and expressed as feelings that influence our overall wellbeing.
The happiness hormones are Dopamine, Endorphins, Serotonin and Oxytocin. We discussed about Oxytocin hormone in the preceding article.
Dopamine: is also called the “pleasure hormone” or the “motivation hormone”. It is produced when we strive towards a goal and keeps us motivated. It also keeps us mentally alert. Individuals with low dopamine levels are found to be less motivated and will settle for less at every opportunity. On the brighter side, individuals with more dopamine levels are always motivated towards their goal and also strive for greater things, no surprise they eventually get the best out of life!
Take this moment to check your dopamine level by analyzing your level of motivation, do you constantly require a push to get you motivated in all aspects? If yes, then your dopamine level may be on a low level.
Here’s how to spike up your dopamine level and keep being motivated:
- Always set daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. You also have to ensure that they are attainable. Another tip is to break down the goals into small bits and remember to celebrate your accomplishments at the attainment of each goal however little. This will indeed spike up your dopamine levels.
- Exercise with an aim
- Reward yourself each time you accomplish a task and plan your next reward for the attainment of your next goal.
- Eat foods rich in protein
Endorphins: are the body’s natural “pain killers” because they reduce our sensitivity to pain. They can best be described as stress and pain fighters! Asides reducing your sensitivity to pain, they also make you feel good by eliminating anxiety and depression.
Here’s how to spike up your Endorphin levels:
- Participate in rigorous exercises
- Add humor to your daily activities (stop being too serious ALL THE TIME!),
- Eat dark chocolate
- Eat spicy foods
Serotonin: is a sure “mood booster” also called the “feel good hormone”, when released, it makes you feel happy and more sociable. It regulates moods thereby preventing mood swings and irritability. It plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of depression as it promotes feelings of significance, importance and worthiness.
Here’s how to spike up your serotonin levels:
- Dwell on positive memories and thoughts
- Express gratitude
- Get involved in light exercises
- Eat carbohydrate rich foods
- Get some sun light on your skin
Now you see that experiencing happiness is truly possible. Notice also that YOU are involved in all of these.
It’s your life, take it and make the very best of it!
Stop pursuing happiness and start creating it!
Kindly follow me on twitter @ Drmorayojimoh for more exciting updates on #Happyhormones
