What is the neuroscience of happiness? Researchers at Harvard Medical School, for 75 years, followed the daily lives of 724 men whose results were revealed in November 2015.
Four study directors have succeeded each other since 1938 to carry out the research. At regular intervals, scientists meticulously interviewed patients about their work, family, and health. They performed blood tests, brain scans, and even autopsied the deceased participants. Little by little, they accumulated an unprecedented body of resources, with one goal in mind: to find the secret of happiness.
To maximize the chances of discovering the happiness factor, the participants were chosen according to socio-demographic criteria. Firs part was selected at Harvard University. The other part of the panel was chosen in the slums of Boston.
Two Conclusions of The Neuroscience of Happiness
The first observation: human relations are excellent for well-being while loneliness kills. Experience shows that individuals who are most connected to their family, friends, and social circle are not only happier but also healthier. In contrast, isolated people are less happy and their health status declines in mid-life as their cognitive abilities. Single people would also die younger.
The second conclusion is that to be happy, the quality of relationships prevails over quantity.
Beneficial for the body, relationships are also beneficial to the brain. A person invested in a secure relationship would have clearer ideas longer.
Although the scope of the study is impressive, it remains for the moment exclusively male. Only 60 of the original 724 participants are still alive. The second generation of the study is starting now with their children, girls, and boys this time. It will be possible to determine whether happiness is conditioned by education and parents.
But from this study, we can already apprehend what is the neuroscience of happiness. This is the subject I would like to explore with you: the neuroscience of happiness.
Touching People Helps Us to Be Sociable: The Basic Principle of the Neuroscience of Happiness
We must feel the affection and acceptance of each other and not feeling it can be painful. One of the main ways of releasing oxytocin is tactile.
The circuits of pain and anxiety decrease their activation with oxytocin, the process is facilitated with more hugs and body touch. We feel cuddled and protected can reduce the negative effects, the insular cortex is less active.
Social relationships are paramount to feeling happy. But to go even further, we must touch people in the true sense of the word. Of course, with some people, hugs can be inappropriate, but a handshake or a light pat on the back can also be good options in some situations. But above all, go further physically with those you are close to and take them in your arms. Cuddles are a source of inexhaustible happiness. And if you have no one to take in your arms, The neuroscience of happiness offers a massage session as an alternative. One thing seems to be clear among scientists: touch contact cannot be replaced by any text message.
Did you know? 5 hugs a day for a month, make us happier:
* Serotonin increases by 30% and dopamine by 60%, oxytocin by 75%.
* Endorphins are easier to release. It improves sleep, reduces fatigue, reduces stress, reduces depression, and reduces sadness, cortisol virtually disappears.
You must learn to keep good relationships with others. Aspire to an atmosphere of peace, cheerfulness, courtesy in your relationships with others. So, you will see how life is beautiful. Life is even more beautiful when you are surrounded by people who love you and love you. Life does not make sense when we are not social. Your happiness is also in your social relations. Be kind, sociable, enthusiastic to others. You will make them happy and you will be happy too.
Always Aspire to Well-Being, Always Be Happy: Basic Principle of Neuroscience of Happiness
The more you feel well and the more life will show you its wonders, its flavors, its colors. This bouquet of happiness will promote the permanence of your well-being. It’s a virtuous circle.
It’s a bit the most that call the most. The way we apprehend the world will be responsible for our failures and successes. I do not teach you anything when you are happy and joy; everything seems a little more beautiful and a little more wonderful.
But it’s not just a feeling, our brain is much more alert when we feel good about ourselves. He will learn better, better understand, better adapt. When we are not well, our receptive mode is focused on our brain that manages survival, our so-called ” primary ” brain. This part of our brain is essential to the proper functioning of our body and all that requires a ” reflex “, a quick answer without reflection. When we are happy and in well-being, we function more with our neo-cortex who is attentive to the beauty of things, to grace, to harmony, and aspires to a peaceful life. We are therefore more aware of what surrounds us but it also reinforces our sense of belonging and makes us more fully appreciate the little things that go unnoticed when we are in survival mode. This is how everything becomes more beautiful.
Life in Pink
From a more spiritual point of view, we are more in touch with our heart and therefore with our soul when we are happy and it is well known that an open heart (like a love heart for example) sees life ” in pink “. Our deeper connection with our heart and soul puts us more in touch with our Self, our deeper identity and we are then more inclined to beauty, peace, and appreciation. What seems negative, we find positive, and we are able to feel a real pleasure simply by looking at a flower.
It is the well-being that allows this, and the more the well-being is present in us, the more it strengthens us in the consciousness of the good and the good, and the more this consciousness strengthens our well-being. This is how well-being can become permanent.
There is another reason for that. Our brain is composed, as you know, of neurons and synaptic connections that connect neurons to each other. When we learn something, a new synaptic connection is formed. When we are used to doing this thing, we have gone through this synapse so much that this little path has become like a highway. This then becomes an automatism.
Everything can become an automatism from the moment when one practices it often. This is how we are often in an automatism to suffering. It also means that the more you take the path of well-being, the more it will become an automatism too, to take over the old automatisms. You will then naturally be in the well-being, the world reveals itself to you under its true colors, its true smells, its splendors, and its beauties. Your reality will be bathed in a thousand flavors … And you will feel in well-being, happiness will be your ally.
I would like to conclude this article on the basic principle of happiness according to the neuroscience of happiness by presenting the ten commandments to be happy according to Neuroscience.
Ten Commandments to Be Happy
1. Happiness is not a state, it is an approach to life.
2. We must aim to be happy.
3. Be or remain consistent, aligned with yourself, your values, your environment.
4. Accept things as they come. Be attentive to your perceptions and if necessary, modify them by reframing situations: is your glass half-full or half-empty?
5. Watch problems remotely. Put thoughts before feelings.
6. Wish what we have and enjoy it.
7. Do what we love. Find activities that make us happy and allow us to enjoy our free time.
8. Adopt an optimistic attitude towards life. Maintain positive thoughts.
9. Cultivate a sense of humor, empathy, perseverance.
10. Rely on the family. Take the time to appreciate those around you.
Conclusion on the Basic Principle of Happiness in Neuroscience
Emotions and brain, Biochemistry of the brain, Plasticity of the brain; as many subjects and important recent discoveries in recent years in Neuroscience that demonstrate that the brain is an organ in constant reconfiguration. The brain is, therefore, an excellent tool to use to learn and to be happier. “ Happiness is momentary and short-lived, while Well-being is more sustainable and it is linked to the satisfaction of living ”.
” Ingratitude makes unhappy, gratitude brings well-being, Ingratitude also means not recognizing that man is nothing without a man.” (Thomson Dablemond).
Other Articles on the Science of Well-being
– General Introduction – The Science of Well-being