Our body produces six different happiness hormones: serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, endorphins, phenethylamine and oxytocin.
- Serotonin
Serotonin takes part in processes in the central nervous system and affects our pain perception, sleep and sexual behavior and our emotional state. Especially when the days get longer and lighter again, the happiness hormone serotonin takes over and provides more vigor.
By the way, in winter we are more under the influence of the hormone melatonin, which is only produced at night and promotes sleep.
- Dopamine
Dopamine is the decisive messenger substance for our feelings of happiness. Its job is passing on feelings and sensations to control the blood flow to the internal organs and to pass on impulses to the muscles. In combination with fresh air and exercise, it leads to a lively mix of wellbeing with serotonin and adrenaline.
- Norepinephrine
Norepinephrine is made from dopamine in conjunction with an enzyme. It’s located in the central nervous system and adrenal glands. Norepinephrine is released in mentally or physically stressful situations. It controls our level of alertness and attention, increases motivation and promotes mental performance.
- Endorphins
Endorphins work as the body’s own pain reliever and are released in the event of severe injuries, for example. They then relieve the pain and put the body in a kind of intoxicated state. They also regulate the feeling of hunger, our mood and the production of sex hormones.
Also intense physical activity releases endorphins. Symptoms of exhaustion are reduced and as an athlete you get “second breath”.
- Phenethylamine
The hormone phenethylamine is responsible for our sensations of pleasure and happiness responsible. The release can have physical and psychological causes. Through long endurance training, for example, phenethylamine is released and leaves the athlete with an intoxicating feeling of happiness.
But phenethylamine is also at work in the emotional roller coaster of “being in love”. It promotes typical symptoms such as tingling in the stomach, palpitations and difficulty concentrating.
- Oxytocin
Oxytocin is primarily known for its effects on the mother-child relationship. It promotes the induction of labor in childbirth and the delivery of milk during breastfeeding. Further effects that are noticeable in both women and men are the reduction of fear and stress, the promotion of general well-being and the increase of cognitive empathy and social competence, respectively.
This is a quick way to activate some happiness hormones
First, make yourself aware of what you enjoy. Joy is the natural consequence of good health and a good diet. The second step is to know how to actively release happiness hormones.
For example, the hormone serotonin, which is also known as the good mood hormone, needs light. In the cold season it is therefore important that you expose yourself to sufficient daylight, for example in the form of walks. If that is not possible, there are artificial options, such as a light alarm clock.
Sport undoubtedly represents a form of happiness for a human who is enthusiastic about sports, but not at first for a human who is less enthusiastic about exercise. What is certain, however, is that endorphins can be released through sporting activities.
In some situations a walk in the fresh air is enough, on other days you first feel the physical strain and then the pain-relieving and stimulating effect of the endorphins.
Mindfulness
Joy is love in action!
“Oh, but this sounds absolutely marvelous”, many will now say. Where is the mistake in this sentence? Yes, I am deliberately saying mistake. Mistake originates from missing. An explanation is missing that will make us understand the bigger picture. We should be cautious and not just parrot something like gramophones. Joy is love in action – without any further explanation – can even be dangerous and can lead us astray. We should not just adopt this sentence without understanding the bigger picture. Because most people do not differentiate between joy and fun. Fun is created by the intellect and is only understood by the intellect. Joy is generated by the heart and is only felt by the heart. The attitude to pure fun is completely different from that of genuine joy of the heart. It’s like the difference between sex and eroticism. A completely different feeling.
Love is the most powerful form of energy in the entire universe. And since energy is always in action, love must also be in action. Love is also a feeling. And love without action would not exist and we could not feel that love.
It is less the knowledge than the feeling that makes the difference. That is why I say: What you SENSE – FEEL – becomes your reality. It goes way beyond the intellect. If I were to say phonographically: That goes far above the intellect, you don’t really understand. If I say: That goes way beyond the intellect, you will immediately understand correctly. I feel like this: Giving heart joy is love in action!
