Everyone experiences variations of happiness. For some it is an overall sense of contentment with life and for many of us it can be a moment or memory of pleasantness or excitement. Some synonyms of happy include fortunate, well adapted, enjoying, glad, pleased, enthusiastic, and joyful. Each emotion we experience has physiological effects on our bodies. Happiness cues the brain to suppress worrisome or negative feelings and increases the body’s energy level. There are several neurochemicals in the brain associated with happiness. The most famous and known as the “happy” chemical is Serotonin. Different experiences release different chemicals in our brains and everyone has a unique sense of what leads to their happiness. By finding the things that increase the chemicals associated with happiness in the brain, we can increase our overall enjoyment of each day/week/month/year. Expressing happiness can occur in different ways. The universal signs used across the world are smiling and laughing. People can also use touch, by hugging or high fives as well as using metaphors to tell others their level of enthusiasm, such as “being on cloud 9”. Triggers to happiness can occur with any of the five senses.
- Touch – Many are comforted by the sensation of touch whether it is holding hands with a significant other, hugging a loved one, or cuddling with a pet.
- Smell – The holidays are often associated with pleasant smells like apple cider or vanilla cookies. I burn vanilla candles any time of year to experience the enjoyment the smell elicits.
- Sight – Seeing an old friend or missed family member can light a spark inside that fills us with a warm fuzzy feeling. I see my family in Texas once every couple of years and each time we pick up without missing a beat.
- Hearing – My favorite example of hearing leading to happiness is listening to music. There are just those songs that each of us hear the pumps us up with energy and puts a smile on our face.
- Taste – In a previous post I talked about comfort food, this is similar but you do not have to be seeking comfort to taste something that brings happiness. It can be a new food, an old favorite, or even a staple in your daily life. My favorite taste is coffee. Even though I drink it daily, the effects of the taste continue to be a part of having a good morning.
In the coming posts, we will continue to explore more emotions. Comment below with some of the things that make you happy. Stay tuned for more explorations of emotions!
