Before diving into the matter, I want to ask that what is happiness? Is there any definition of happiness? Or, is there any guide to happiness? However, the answer to all the questions is the same. That is, happiness depends upon ourselves. Therefore, your guide to happiness is You!
Happiness is a relative matter that depends on your mind. Some people are unhappy even they live in a huge palace. Again, some people live in small huts but consider themselves the happiest people in the world. Happiness depends on self-satisfaction.
Now, the harsh truth is there is no exact guide to happiness. What may work for your friend may not work for you. Another name for happiness is complacency. Sadness and happiness in human life are the opposite of the same coins- one complements the other.
“Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.”
Curl Jung
What makes a happy life?
The most straightforward guide to happiness is to nourishing your internal happiness. For that, you have to maintain a proper routine of your daily work. Apart from daily work, engage yourself in activities that give you pleasure. If you love trees and flowers, you can do gardening at your leisure. If you love sports, find a little bit of spare time to play sports. Do a little bit of physical exercise regularly. You can go for a morning walk daily. It is a healthy as well as mind-refreshing habit.
Also, don’t stress yourself for anything. People have complexities- because that’s how life is. Despite overthinking, focus on one problem at a time. But, don’t hold them for tomorrow.
Don’t pent up emotions within yourselves- talk to your loved ones if it bothers you. Eat good food and get good sleep.
Another way to keep yourself happy is to produce happy hormones in your body. Sounds impossible, right? So, let’s learn more about this.
Know the Hormones
The human child undergoes various physical changes from birth to death. The chemical that contributes to such changes in the human body is hormones. We born as children- grow- step into different stages of our lives- and so on. Hormones are the key factor behind the metaphors. Different types of hormones produced in the human body control our movements, changes, even emotions!
Several human body chemicals can make you happy. They can generate happiness inside your body and mind. So, you can call them happy chemicals as well!
Certainly, you can accelerate the generation of these happy chemicals in your body by doing certain activities. Maybe you are doing these activities ever since you grew. But unknowingly!
Dopamine- The Pleasure Hormone
The hormone dopamine has a profound effect on the physical and mental activity of the human body. It is responsible for movement, motivation, and memory. Another name for dopamine is “Pleasure Neurotransmitter”. Suppose you are feeling please today because your body is releasing enough dopamine. Who doesn’t like to enjoy such a happy moment? Also, if you are expecting something to happen, your body’s dopamine level will increase automatically. Getting gifts from loved ones or good news can make you happier- that’s because of the increased dopamine level in your body.
Hence, do you want to increase the dopamine level in your body? Here’s the guide to happiness- how to increase dopamine!
- Eat healthy food– high proteins and low saturated fat.
- Get proper sleep every day.
- Celebrate your achievements- no matter whatever little it may be.
- Do self-care activities- enjoy your leisure.
- Complete your day-to-day work- maintain a schedule.
- Listen to good music.
- Go for morning walks or yoga daily.
Serotonin- The Mood Stabilizer Hormone
Everyone has a fridge at home. Have you ever noticed that stabilizers are used to control the temperature of the refrigerator? Similarly, the hormone responsible for stabilizing the mental state in the human body is- serotonin. It helps to communicate with other people as well as the outer world properly. And responsible for a healthy digestive system. It is found not only in the brain but also in the stomach and intestine. It can also heal wounds. On the contrary, low serotonin is responsible for depression.
Hence, are you tired of trying to handle your mood swings? Well, this hormone can balance it nicely. So, here is your guide to happiness- how to increase serotonin in your body.
- Eat food that contains tryptophans- eventually, it converts to serotonin in the brain.
- Do meditation- to handle your mood swings.
- Get yourself into sun exposure.
- Decorate your home with bright lighting.
- Get closer to nature.
- Walking in nature or cycling beside the sea beach can be a better option.
- Do exercises- running, swimming or yoga.
Oxytocin- The Love Hormone
Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter generated in the pituitary gland. It shows activity in response to love and affection. ‘Happiness’ and ‘Love’- both of the words complement each other. It regulates social relationships and emotions. It also reduces stress and anxiety.
In 2012, researchers found that people in the primary stages of romantic relationships had a higher level of oxytocin in their bodies than others. Therefore, another common name for oxytocin is- Love Hormones.
Here’s the guide to happiness and love for you- how to increase oxytocin in your body.
- Share your emotions with people- talk to them.
- Tell your special ones how much they matter to you.
- Spend time with family and friends.
- Cook recipes for your loved ones.
- Be selfless- contribute to others’ benefits.
- Play with pets if you have or get a pet of your choice.
- Enjoy your leisure playing with toddlers.
- Hold hands and walk in nature.
- Hug your family.
- Give compliments to your loved ones.
- Do something special for your family and friends. It will make you even happier.
Endorphins- The Pain-Gone Hormone
Endorphins act as a pain killer. It reduces stress and initially helps to deal with the feeling of misery. Also, endorphins accelerate dopamine production, which is associated with contentment.
Are you unable to fight with your pressure alone? No worries! Endorphins are here for you. All you need to do is to follow guidelines on how to stimulate endorphins production in your body. So, here’s the guide to your happiness- to get relief from stress.
- Laughter exercise- it can vanish all your stress just within a while.
- Increase your sugar intake- honey, sugar, etc.
- Watch comedy movies– alone or together to laugh as much as you can.
- Eat dark chocolates- it will lessen your worries for some time. If you don’t like chocolates go for ice-creams.
- Go for yoga and exercise daily.
Life is nothing but a desert without happiness. And, happiness lies in contentment. Learn to be happy with what you have and grow.
A Unique Fact: A country on the world map measures Gross National Happiness (GNH) as their progress meter. In contrast, the other countries of the world measure Gross National Product (GNP) to find their progress yearly.
Surprising, right? The name of the country is Bhutan. They measure GNH because they care about sustainability and the environment. They put happiness before the economy.
Well, that’s impressive.