Simple Brain Hacks to Master the Four Happiness Hormones

Surprisingly, they don’t require a million dollars in your bank account

Our search for happiness starts with our first breath. Yet, some are successful in finding it, and some are not. It is, however, accessible to all of us despite our richness, social status, and physical conditions.

Happiness is an inward condition. A few hormones are responsible for all of our happiness. Knowing how to trigger them will keep you in a constant state of joy even at adverse times.

“Have more” is the biggest myth that ruins millennials, like me and the generations that follow. We falsely believe that accumulating more things will bring more happiness.

Understanding the way our brain perceives happiness is the key to enter an enduring state of fulfillment. Here are the four hormones that predominantly govern our emotions and how to trigger them with your consciousness.

Dopamine — the reward hormone

It is the chemical that acts as messengers in the brain. A dopamine surge makes you feel pleasurable and rewarding. It motivates you to repeat the same actions to stay or keep entering the pleasant condition.

Dopamine is also an addictive hormone. Every time you receive a notification on your mobile phone, a small quantity of this chemical is released. That’s precisely why we are addicted to mobile phones. Alcohol and other drugs artificially create a dopamine surge and fool the brain to feel more rewarded. It intrigues the victim to consume the substance more and more and makes them addictive.

Mobile apps are designed in a way to induce dopamine with mini rewards so that you’ll come back again and again, just to feel good.

But this little chemical isn’t all evil. To elaborate more, it’s critical for our existence as a species. Brain studies have found that during orgasms, we get a spike of dopamine in the brain. It drives our sexual desires and reproduction. Further, dopamine keeps you motivated and awaken. A lack of dopamine could even make you forget about eating.

How to trigger dopamine

One of the simplest methods to induce dopamine is to eat. But make sure your diet is protein-rich and low saturated fat.

A less known method is to break whatever your task down into smaller chunks. Create more opportunities for smaller wins and celebrations. This reward mechanism will keep pumping more dopamine and create a loop of rewards and returns.

Oxytocin — the love hormone

When couples kissing, mothers breastfeeding, friends are hugging, or even when you listen to Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream,” what gives you the feeling of love is oxytocin.

Oxytocin connects us to other people; oxytocin makes us feel what other people feel. And it’s easy to cause people’s brains to release oxytocin. Let me show you. Come here. Give me a hug. — Paul J. Zak, neuroeconomist.

You might have guessed how bad life would be like without this little chemical. Perhaps we need more of it to prevent wars and other social distractions. Or we may have to inject it externally to political leaders to act with more compassion.

Like dopamine, oxytocin also plays a critical role in human reproduction. Especially during childbirth, a surge of oxytocin allows females to bear the pain.

How to trigger Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a social hormone. Meaning you need to increase healthy contact with others to induce it. Socializing yourself with more like-minded people is a great way.

Surprisingly, it doesn’t have to be another human character. If you have a pet, spending time with it could give you the same effect. I spend most of my time watching animal videos on Instagram. Magically, it makes me happy and helps relieve all my stress.

Another technique for an oxytocin boost is to help others. By helping others, you are doing a favor to yourself. It could be as simple as opening a door for another person.

Serotonin — the mood maker hormone

Serotonin is responsible for all your moods. Soaring levels of this chemical in your brain mean you are in a joyful moment. On the other hand, we can link a lack of serotonin to anxiety and depression.

Two other direct consequences of serotonin levels are sleep and digestion. This hormone determines whether you are sleeping or awaken at the moment. It regulates your sleep cycle. The mood chemical is found mainly in the stomach area. Hence a balance of serotonin is a must for good digestion. If you have heard of the brain-stomach link, serotonin is the mechanism behind the screen.

A healthy level of serotonin is a must for a more focused, emotionally stable, happier, and calmer lifestyle.

How to trigger serotonin

A fascinating fact about serotonin is, you only need some sunlight to get it. Yes, it is as simple as that. Serotonin induction is the mysterious healing power of the sun.

Meditation is an excellent way to have a healthy dose of serotonin and enter into a pleasant mood.

A couple of my favorite alternatives for a serotonin pump are meditation and massage. If you ever felt relaxed during these activities, now you know the secret.

Endorphin — the pain killer hormone

Endorphin is usually not part of the happiness hormones. However, this pain reliever chemical is crucial for accomplishing tasks with hard work. If you ever want to tolerate discomfort and pain, it wouldn’t be possible without endorphin. You wouldn’t be bothered to take the risk of injuring yourself to win a game.

If endorphin weren’t a thing in our hormonal systems, our ancestors wouldn't have gone hunting, and our entire human race may not have survived for this long.

How to trigger endorphin

Most physical activities are good endorphin inducers. And activities we discussed for other hormones often produce endorphin as well.

Thrilling activities such as a cold shower also level up your endorphin. I believe people like Wim Hof must have an abnormal level of endorphin to sit on ice all naked.

My favorite endorphins stimulators are hiking and long runs.

In Summary

Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphin are the predominant hormones responsible for our happiness and mental health. That said, satisfaction is more of an inward condition that we can trigger in many different ways.

These hormones are crucial for our existence and thriving on this planet. It had been, and it’ll continue to be. Hence, we should have a clear idea of what they do and how to trigger them.

• Dopamine, the reward hormone — eating food, self-care, finishing tasks
• Oxytocin, the love hormone — helping others, petting animals, talking to friends
• Serotonin, the mood hormone — meditation, sun exposure, and exploring nature
• Endorphin, the pain killer hormone — exercising, laughing

Having more things around you is a misconception about being happy. I don’t know if money could buy happiness or not. But you don’t need money to be satisfied, do you?