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Summary

The article discusses the interplay between chemistry and happiness, emphasizing how understanding brain chemistry can help individuals cultivate happiness and improve overall health and well-being.

Abstract

The article, titled "Does Happiness have Chemistry?" delves into the bidirectional relationship between happiness and brain chemistry. It references a Ted Talk by Dr. Dale Anderson, who advocates for the power of happiness to alter brain chemistry, suggesting a cyclical relationship where happiness can lead to more happiness. The article highlights key neurochemicals associated with happiness, including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, endocannabinoids, oxytocin, GABA, endorphins, serotonin, and adrenaline. It also provides practical advice on activities that can promote the production of these chemicals, such as acts of kindness, gratitude, laughter, and music. The author, who refers to themselves as Your Idealistic HolisticNerd, expresses a deep belief in the power of positivity, the importance of personal choice in shaping one's life experience, and the potential for individual happiness to have a broader impact on the world. The article concludes with a call to action for readers to engage with the author's other works and to embrace a holistic approach to health and happiness.

Opinions

  • The author believes that understanding the chemistry of happiness can lead to positive life changes and benefit society as a whole.
  • Dr. Dale Anderson is cited as an enthusiastic proponent of the idea that happiness can change brain chemistry and consequently improve health.
  • The author is a strong advocate for the power of positivity, suggesting that individuals have the choice to cultivate happiness and improve their lives.
  • The article suggests that happiness can be self-perpetuating and that simple acts, like laughter, can have an immediate impact on one's chemistry.
  • The author emphasizes their multidisciplinary background and training in fields such as health coaching, herbalism, and massage therapy to establish credibility.
  • The author expresses a personal mission to inspire and assist others through their writing and shares their aspiration to become a successful writer.
  • There is a clear endorsement of a holistic approach to well-being, encompassing mind, body, and spirit/soul.
  • The author encourages readers to take responsibility for their own happiness and health, suggesting that everything needed for well-being is already within us.

Does Happiness have Chemistry?

Is our Chemistry linked to our level of happiness, our ability to have more or less happiness in our lives? Or, is it that happiness changes our chemistry? Perhaps it’s both?

Chemistry Discussion Post: Current Topic — Chemistry & Happiness

Ted Talk “The Chemistry of Happiness” with Dr Dale Anderson

I chose this topic because I feel that it is important to know how to create our own happiness. Also, because I believe that by better understanding how Chemistry works in our bodies and brains, it can help us make positive changes for the betterment of ourselves and the world we live in. I believe it to be of the utmost importance, because happiness, or lack thereof, changes people. It changes their lives, their actions, intentions. It changes their interactions with themselves as well as with others. Changing our happiness changes our vibration — it changes our energy, and I beleive it can alter how we live and function. I believe the world is greatly affected by the happiness within each of our own individual lives. Perhaps more importantly, or at least more expansively, I beleive it changes the world as a whole.

In this Ted Talk, Dr Dale Anderson expresses his passion for changing lives through Happiness. How the act of being happy changes our brain chemistry and creates more happiness — it is cyclical, like most things. I thoroughly enjoyed his energy and excitement in telling his story, speaking to his audience, and demonstrating how a simple fake laugh can actually boost your mood and change your chemistry instantaneously! Watch it to the end and laugh along with him to feel the full benefit of what he is teaching. He touches in on how changing our Chemistry and becoming Happy has the Incredibly Amazing Power to Change our Health — Happy people = Healthier people… and think about it, doesn’t that just makes sense? Don’t ‘happy hormones (chemistry)’ have a different affect than ‘unhappy or stress hormones (chemical)’ on our bodies? Can’t you feel the difference in your own body, experiences, and life?

Along with Dr Dale’s video, I read a few related articles which are attached (as always ;p) simply click the links. These articles help to explain more of the science happening within our bodies and specifically our brains — the actually chemistry of happy emotions, brilliantly provided by High Schooler (at the time) Molly Buchanan in her article and video The Chemistry of Life: Serotonin- C10H12N2O, Dopamine- C6H3(OH)2-CH2-CH2-NH2, Norepinephrine- C8H11NO3. Also, the Endocannabinoids (“The Bliss Molecules”) that our bodies can create from within, along with Oxytocin, Dopamine, GABA (from my last current topic — Yoga and Chemistry: How to Stretch Your Mind), Endorphins, Serotonin, and Adrenaline — all listed by Christopher Bergland in Psychology Today “The Neurochemistry of Happiness: Seven Brain Molecules that Make you Feel Great.” Lastly, The Daily Brunch:Conversations that inspire gave great examples on how one could encourage these Chemistry molecules to be produced: acts, of kindness, Gratitude, Laughter, Music, etc.

Something I have often said is, if I can make one person smile/laugh today, I know I have made a difference. I have always believed in the power of positivity, of love, of joy and laughter, and in being kind. I believe in the Power of Chemistry and Happiness, and their ability to Change Lives. I hope you enjoyed this story that is a slightly tweaked/updated forum post from my General Chemistry course. As always, I wish you all the Joy and Happiness this world has to offer! Just remember, that everything you need is within you all the time ❤

“Is the Chemistry you’re playing with right now, is it real? We took you from one chemistry to another chemistry just with that simple little trick, and it’s real. Is it catching?…” ~Dr Dale Anderson (ACTHAPPY.com) Happy-Demic~

TEDx Talks (2015), The Chemistry of Happiness, with De. Dale Anderson

I believe in the power of emotion and the power of intension. So much of our experience here in this plane of existence is in how we CHOOSE to live, how we CHOOSE to view the world in which we live, and in how we CHOOSE to interact within it. We choose how we respond to the lives we are given. Some people rise above and overcome the most horrendous of obstacles — those people inspire me to do better and be better everyday.

I believe in you. I believe in me. I believe in us — as individuals, as a group, as a species. I believe we can all do better for ourselves, one another, and the planet.

Your Idealistic HolisticNerd

(Note: Any links/books/etc. mentioned in the article are NOT affiliate links, and I do NOT earn any commission.)

For more stories from me, if you enjoyed, please follow and help spread the love. I would love to gain 200+ followers and fulfill a lifelong dream of being a successful writer. I hope to inspire and help people however I can. Your shares, claps, and followings are all helpful and appreciated! By no means do you have to sign-up for a membership on Medium, although I love mine. You can still follow, clap, and read up to 3 stories a month for free! Thank you and Blessings 🙏🏼

Note: This article is a compilation of my own life experiences, research, testament, opinion(s), etc.. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical, legal, or clinical services. Although I, the author, have personal and professional experience in the health and wellness field, including health coaching, am not a certified/licensed nutritionist or mental health professional. I, the author, am neither a medical nor mental health advisor — as with any and all recommendations, please do your own due diligence.

With love light blessings, and a prayer for a brighter happier healthier tomorrow…

Your Idealistic HolisticNerd ~ Mind. Body. Spirit/Soul. ~

Disclaimer: Although I have personal and professional experience in the health and wellness field, including nutrition, I am not a certified/licensed nutritionist. I am a Certified Integrative Health Coach, Herbalist, LMT, Enthusiat, etc.. The information contained in this, or any, article is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only. The contents of this article are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disorder.

Your Idealistic HolisticNerd ~ ❤ Mind ❤ Body ❤ Spirit/Soul ❤ ~

Additional Side Note: I am a Certified & Licensed Massage Therapist (with various additional trainings & certifications), Certified 200 hour Yoga Teacher, Herbalist (not just self-proclaimed, I went through an apprenticeship), Reiki Master, IIN Health Coach, Rock Tape Certified Specialist, Touch For Health Practitioner, Previous Entrepreneur and Small Business Owner, Certified Aromatherapist in training, Yoga Therapist in training, lover of life, natural and social sciences, Jesus, and so much more. I have 3 Associate’s degrees and a great deal of life experience.

I share these things not to brag — believe me, I am still working on being able to be nice to myself. I share these things so that whoever reads this knows that I do have a wide background of interests, education, and experiences. I love to learn and read and grow. If I had the time and money, I would chase so many dreams and degrees and change the world as best I could for the betterment of all … I feel the way I can best serve, now, is to write — I just hope it helps someone.

Thank you. Thank you more than words can say for reading, following, clapping, commenting, and trusting me however much you do. It is not without gratitude and appreciation to all those who support and who I hope to help along the way.

With Love, Light, and Blessings ❤

Science
Happiness
Health
Laughter
Medicine
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