You may have heard of the chemicals in the brain that impact how we feel. There are several, but the ones that may help you hack happiness are dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. Each of them impacts how you feel in different ways.
Oxytocin triggers feelings of love and protection, such as when parents and children look into one another’s eyes or when they embrace. Other relationship-enhancing effects include empathy and trust.
Dopamine is responsible for allowing you to feel pleasure, satisfaction and motivation. When you feel good that you have achieved something, it’s because you have a surge of dopamine in the brain.
Serotonin helps regulate your mood naturally. When your serotonin levels are at a normal level, you should feel more focused, emotionally stable, happier, and calmer.
Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body. For example, the feeling that follows a run or workout is often described as “euphoric,” overpowering the pain of the workout. That feeling, known as a “runner’s high,” can be accompanied by a positive and energizing outlook on life.
Think of these hacks as shortcuts to happiness. Enjoy feeling good!
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