Happiness is one of the most universal desires desired by humans. However, What is happiness and how can it be achieved? Is there any magic formula or secret to being happy? Science has tried to answer these questions and has discovered that happiness depends on many factors, both internal and external, that affect our mood and well-being.
One of those internal factors is our brain chemistry, which produces substances called hormones of happiness, such as serotonin, dopamine or endorphins. These hormones are released when we experience positive emotions such as love, happiness, satisfaction or purpose. But how can we stimulate the production of these hormones and what habits can we follow to be happy?
arthur brooksA social scientist at Harvard University, who is dedicated to studying how we can live happier lives based on scientific evidence, tells us that happiness It is not a place to reach, but a direction to go., This is great news, because it means we might be a little happier if we follow that path.
To do this, we need three essential components in our lives that we must balance and develop: Joy, satisfaction and purpose. these are The “Macronutrients” of Happiness., and there are ways to incorporate them into our daily lives. Purpose is what they say in Japan’ikigai‘, which means to have a reason for being. keep an ikigai It not only keeps us happy but also leads to longevity.,
What habits can we adopt to activate the hormone of happiness?
“Happiness hormones” are neurotransmitters that affect our mood and well-being. Researchers have found that there are Some habits and emotions that cause chemical changes Which increase or decrease those neurotransmitters.
what can we do Promote the release of these hormones What makes us feel happier? Selected by National Geographic magazine five actions Which has increasing scientific support:
Recognize emotions and name them
Arthur Brooks explains in an interview with communicator Rich Roll that we should not deny suffering, but Live all the emotions present and manage them in a healthy way,
It is important to manage emotions in a healthy way Know how to identify them, One way to do this is to name them. This is something that is often recommended to improve our mental health, and is repeated very often in validation of emotions as well as in child psychology. Naming emotions helps us understand what happens to us, accept it and then, if necessary, act. As a result. But it is also one of the keys to controlling our emotions.
A study from the University of California was published psychology science supports this advice by showing that Naming emotions reduces the emotional intensity of what happens to usBecause it reduces the activity of the amygdala and other areas of the limbic system when faced with negative stimuli.
take care of social relationships
Psychotherapist Marion Rojas tells us in her book ‘How to Make Good Things Happen to You’ (ed. Planeta) One of the keys to happiness is feeling loved and accompanied.
This is because we are social animals and we need to belong Forming healthy bonds with other humans. relationships give us joy, satisfaction and purposeArthur Brooks has mentioned three essential components of happiness.
The Harvard University Study of Adult Development, the largest happiness study ever conducted, showed that quality One’s relationships are an important factor in being happy. According to the study, people who have More connected to their friends and family makes them live longer and have better health And achieve more goals in your life.
practice physical exercise
Exercise is not only beneficial for our body, producing endorphins that make us feel more euphoric, but it is also beneficial for our For our brain, which protects itself and stays in shape,
There are many studies that link this Regular physical activity with better mental health, confirming the famous Latin phrase ‘mens sana in corpore sana’. A large study published in ‘the Lancet’, found that people who played a game said they did so More satisfaction in the past month than sedentary people,
team sports Were they associated with better mental health after Aerobic Exercise and Gym Exercise,
hug and hug
Hugging makes us feel good, but its benefits are also reflected in our body’s biochemistry, which produces Feelings of satisfaction. This happens because, when hugging or receiving, contact with another causes us to produce oxytocin, a hormone associated with happiness. This has also been investigated in a study by London University. Where is it best to place your arms when huggingAppropriate duration of embrace and ideal pressure.
Talk to yourself positively and in the second person
Our self-talk affects not only how we feel, but also how we behave in our lives. If we talk to ourselves with too much demand, criticism, or defensiveness, we increase mental noise. Which prevents us from living in the present and we create an image of ourselves which weakens our self-confidence.
There are many ways to change our internal dialogue and make it more positive, but The key is not only in what we say, but also in how we say it, According to a study by the University of Michigan.
The study’s researchers claim that using the second person when we talk to ourselves makes us we say less negative phrases Since we use the first person, it allows us to distance ourselves more from emotions and have a more rational and optimistic perspective (“You can overcome this”, “This mistake does not define you”, “I trust you”…).