Happiness begins with each and every one of us. It’s not about comparing yourself with others – that would be the best path to disaster. The goal should not be “perfect happiness”, but a path in a positive direction – because happiness is a fluid state.
\nFrom a neurobiological point of view, happiness, reward and motivation are closely linked.
\nSo whether we are happy or unhappy depends on these messenger substances. The neurotransmitter dopamine in particular plays a central role in joy and happiness. Dopamine is formed in the brain in an area of the midbrain. When this region is particularly stimulated, the nerve cells there release the messenger substance.
\nWhen dopamine arrives in this region of the brain, the neurons there produce opium-like substances and we feel happy. However, dopamine in the frontal lobe also causes our brain to function better. In this way, we become more attentive and learn what is good for us. So perhaps our feeling of happiness is “only” a by-product of our ability to learn.
\nTouch is particularly effective for the happiness center.
\nIf they last longer than 20 seconds, the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin is also released.
\nScientists have long been searching for this most wonderful of all feelings.
\nBiochemists are looking for the molecules in nerve cells that make us happy,
\nNeurobiologists try to track down happiness using sophisticated technology
\nand molecular biologists scour the chromosomes to find that gene,
\nthat makes us happy. But despite all their efforts, they still don’t really get to grips with
\nnone of them have been lucky enough so far.
\nBut what exactly happens in the brain during this process? What influence do we have on this?
\nAnd how can we use these findings for ourselves?
\nCertain messenger substances, the opioids, play a major role in this. React to the opioids
\nbut many regions of the brain. Put simply, happiness originates in the brain. An endogenous
\nReward system, which releases happiness messengers such as dopamine, serotonin and endogenous opioids.
\nand opiates, provides the desired pleasant sensation.
\nHowever, some experiments contradict the image of dopamine as a source of happiness.
\nThey show it more as the origin of desire. Dopamine could therefore be a craving
\n“generate” and thus signal a need to the body.
\nAbout half of our ability to be happy is innate, i.e. genetically determined.
\nAround ten percent depends on external circumstances and the remaining 40 percent
\nare within our capabilities. We can therefore actively influence our sense of happiness.
\ninfluence. And we do this by creating favorable conditions for our brain
\nand actively promote the release of happiness messengers.
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So how do we create these conditions for our brain?
\nOne of the best ways to achieve this is to connect with other people.
\nIn moments of strong solidarity, with a strong sense of community, we experience
\nan activation of our happiness system. We can also experience such feelings of happiness on our own, namely when the connection relates to something big or non-personal. This can be a great idea or a particularly attractive goal. Curiosity or anticipation of such experiences also play an important role. Because it is precisely at these moments that additional dopamine is released.
\nEven less exciting moments can put us in such a state.
\nWe all know those moments when we block out everything, forget everything around us – when we are totally focused and with ourselves. For example, gardening, playing music or reading a stimulating book. This state was first studied by the Hungarian-born American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who calls it “flow”.
\nSo luck rarely comes alone. It occurs in moments of strong connection with other people or during activities that we experience with full dedication.
\nPeter Schipek worked as a social pedagogue and was a lecturer at the FH Campus Wien. He has been involved in brain research for over 25 years.
\nHe is the founder of the “Lernwelt” initiative, co-founder of the “Schule im Aufbruch” initiative and coordinator of the “Akademie f\u00fcr Potentialentfaltung” in Austria.
\n2<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Happiness begins with each and every one of us. It’s not about comparing yourself with others – that would be the best path to disaster. The goal should not be “perfect happiness”, but a path in a positive direction – because happiness is a fluid state. From a neurobiological point of view, happiness, reward and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8549,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[278,283],"tags":[284,285,286],"class_list":["post-8807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-work-life-balance-en","category-burnout-en","tag-luck","tag-schipek-en","tag-neurobiology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n