Happiness, as its dictionary meaning, is the state of joy felt in fully and continuously reaching all longings and desires. It is defined as the joy felt when a desire or longing is fulfilled. When we think about happiness, we realize what makes us happy and what does not. When we ask people how do you feel? Generally, the answer we get is okay. This answer can be taken in many directions. People's definitions and perceptions of happiness may vary depending on the person. Can having everything you want in life, a lot of money, a perfect job, and a good relationship be enough for people's happiness? Can they have all these and still be unhappy? We also encounter people with this problem. Can people who enjoy the moment and take steps towards their future goals have more life energy and are more likely to be happy? The brain is a complex structure and has an important role in this emotion. Brain hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, endorphin, etc. secreted from the brain play an important role in the emotions felt. People's lifestyles can also affect the level of these hormones.
Serotonin, known as the happiness hormone, makes us feel cheerful, lively and fit. When it is lacking, we feel depressed, pessimistic and angry. Exercise, healthy nutrition and regular sleep are important to increase serotonin.
Dopamine makes us feel joyful, connected to life, and self-confident. Without dopamine, we feel lazy, forgetful, and distressed. Pursuing hobbies that make us happy, listening to music, consuming foods such as vitamin C, bananas and cucumbers, etc. help increase dopamine.
In the presence of oxytocin, it makes you feel loving, compassionate, generous and sharing, and when it is lacking, it makes you feel lonely, unloving and restless. Getting a massage, dreaming, feeding a pet and hugging your loved ones helps to increase endorphins, making you feel joyful, It makes you feel comfortable, positive, stressful, tense and reluctant when it is missing. Eating hot peppers, falling in love, taking regular walks, watching things that make you laugh can be effective to raise your spirits. The meaning of all these, as Ayn Rand said, is to learn to value yourself, which means struggling for happiness. Effort and change are necessary for happiness in life.
Read: 0
