We all want to be happy. Some would say happiness is the purpose of life. Such a simple concept but so hard for so many to achieve. The level of happiness in society is at an all-time low and it’s not by accident.
There is a very direct link between the way we live and our happiness. In this article, I explore what it means to be happy, why some people are happier than others, and what you can do about your happiness level.
Happiness is a really complex and interesting state of the mind and body. Many factors—both physiological and psychological—combine to create your level of happiness. These include:
The last of which is often ignored as an important factor, however, plays a much bigger role than we think. To feel happy, you need a rush of what are known as happy hormones.
Feeling happy does not happen by accident. The feeling of happiness you experience is because of certain physical neurotransmitters or hormones. When you laugh or think of a nice thought, these physical substances literally make you feel happy.
Dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin—these are otherwise known as happy hormones. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), on the other hand, is responsible for bringing about a state of calm. When you feel happy and relaxed, it is the result of a surge of one or more of these neurotransmitters or hormones.
All the positive life situations in the world do not matter if your physical body does not respond to the emotional and mental cues. And hence lies the problem in our modern world—we have everything yet so many people are still unhappy. We often hear it being described as feeling numb or indifferent.
Happiness can only occur when a physiological state is achieved—i.e. when your body responds to external and internal stimuli by producing physical compounds known as happy hormones.
Happy hormones are hormones or neurotransmitters that your body produces to regulate your mood and emotions. They can make you feel good, happy, and relaxed. There are four main types of happy hormones: dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin.
This is a neurotransmitter that is involved in your brain's reward system. It makes you feel pleasure, motivation, and satisfaction when you achieve a goal, learn something new, or enjoy an activity.
This is a hormone and neurotransmitter that helps balance your mood, sleep, appetite, and digestion. It also affects your memory and learning ability. Low levels of serotonin are linked to depression and anxiety
These are hormones that act as natural painkillers and stress relievers. They are released when you exercise, laugh, have sex, or eat spicy food. They can also create a sense of euphoria and well-being
This is a hormone that is also known as the "love hormone" or the "cuddle hormone". It is released when you hug, kiss, or bond with someone. It can also enhance trust, empathy, and social connection.
Unfortunately, happiness is not as simple as the body producing these hormones or neurotransmitters in response to a thought or situation. There is a complex cascade of regulation that ultimately is dependent on your level of health for the body to be able to respond appropriately.
It is important at this point to explain the fundamentals of how the body maintains health.
Often our mental health is isolated and seen as a mental health issue. Our body however is a whole being, not disconnected from the physical and mental. Both physical and mental elements have a very direct and important influence on the other.
When you are stressed mentally, there are negative physical effects. In the same manner, there are very real mental health consequences when your body is physically imbalanced. The best example is when we do not sleep well whenever we are stressed. When we do not sleep well, our hormonal balance is disrupted. Consequently, our emotional well-being suffers when hormonal balance is disturbed.
The diagram above illustrates the fundamentals of health: sleep, diet, hydration, exercise, and a positive mental outlook in life. When we take care of these fundamentals, we are rewarded with holistic well-being. When we ignore them, our health suffers and ultimately, our level of happiness.
To boost your body’s ability to produce happy hormones, you need to take care of the fundamentals of health. You can boost your levels of happy hormones by engaging in activities that stimulate their production.
Achieving hormonal balance is key to overall health and well-being, but modern life throws a lot of obstacles in the way. To support healthy hormone levels, it’s important to avoid behaviors and environmental factors that dysregulate the complex systems regulating metabolism, growth, and development.
Below is a list of things you should avoid to achieve better hormonal health.
Lack of happiness, anxiety, depression, and indifference can be significantly improved by focusing on the fundamentals of health. Understand that the physical production of hormones and neurotransmitters has a significant impact on our emotional well-being and happiness.
Refocusing your actions towards health and away from destructive activities will bring greater levels of happiness. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen if you are patient and work with your body, rather than against it.
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