Experiencing Joy and Happiness

EXPERIENCING JOY AND HAPPINESS

Experiencing joy and happiness. It’s common to confuse happiness with joy. However, pleasure is a state of mind that can be found even in times of pain or uncertainty, whereas happiness is properly defined as the pleasant feelings (emotions) that arise from a situation, experience, or things. We can therefore focus on developing joy regardless of our situation.

EXPERIENCING JOY AND HAPPINESS

Joy and feeling good

Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins are some of the neurotransmitters that stand out for encouraging happy emotions, despite the complexity of the neuroscience of joy.

How to increase joy?

In trying times, it’s even more crucial to adjust your schedule and give yourself permission to be happy. The following are some suggestions;

1. Engage in regular aerobic exercise. Consider exercise as the release of a neurotransmitter bubble bath, the effects of which last long after the exercise is over.

2. Commit yourself to helping others. Engaging in charity work or other charitable endeavors brings more happiness than self-care.

3.  Make a spiritual connection. When we join with something larger than ourselves, we develop feelings of gratitude, compassion, and peace. One effective method of changing brain connections to promote happiness is meditation.

4. Learn something fresh. Since we are hardwired to enjoy novelty, novelty makes us happy as humans. We can redirect our energies by taking up a new hobby or activity.

5.  Allow yourself to enjoy a little indulgence from time to time, especially on bad days. For a sampling, check out NPR’s Joy Generator.

6.  Be mindful of the positive. Although it requires discipline, one can cultivate a joyful mindset. The three good things exercise enables you to notice the pleasant things that happen during the day.

Benefits of been joyful

No matter what adjustments you make to your daily schedule or thinking, learning to discover more joy may have a permanent positive impact on your health. Your mental health can boost your immune system. Joy-boosting interventions have the potential to reduce stress hormones, alleviate pain, and lift depression. And last, happiness extends your life.