Hello dear one,
Joy, joy, joy!
When you consider the state of your joy and what creates it, you have to consider both sides of the coin: What types of activities, thoughts and actions would lead to an increase in toxic emotions (taking you away from joy) and naturally, which activities would increase and release the happy hormone – serotonin. All the activities listed here do the latter! I’m pretty sure you are aware of what steals your joy.
What is serotonin?
Serotonin is a hormone that can naturally lift your mood and help you to feel better; it is a chemical found in the brain that helps to control a person’s moods.
There are medications that can synthetically do this of course but in an effort to detox our bodies, natural mood enhancers were obviously our choice.
In addition to the 7 specific boosters listed below incorporate as many of these activities into your daily life and watch your stress level go down as your serotonin and joy levels soar!
These 13 activities are all conclusively supported by research as serotonin boosters.
Laugh daily
Walk, work-out or play 5 times per week
Give & Get a hug daily
Listen to one piece of uplifting music per day
Speak positive affirmations and prayers passionately
Bond with positive people
Read and apply God’s Word
Powerfully and positively engage your imagination
Eliminate toxic foods AND add more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet
Meditate and be still
Forgive
Be grateful, be kind and be optimistic
Engage in these essential activities fully and with a joyful expectation that something great is happening in your brain, which travels to your body and inevitably impacts your heart and spirit.
In addition, the following can be added to your daily/weekly schedule of ‘must-do’ serotonin boosters:
1) SLEEP enough and sleep well. Our body is not designed to operate at maximum without deep and recuperating rest. Try getting one more hour than you do now – if you are getting less than your body needs (very individual determination but it still is somewhere between 6 and 8 hours) and then observe the difference in energy and state of mind.
2) PET your pets. Yes, research shows that people who pet their animals, have the ‘happy hormones’ in their blood stream at significantly higher levels than those who do not. [This is unquestionably true for me. Just looking at my dogs sleep puts a smile on my face, and when I pet them I inevitably laugh!]
3) RECEIVE FLOWERS – tell someone who loves you to send flowers – the research shows that this helps seniors to be happier. [ Just in passing this tidbit on to my husband released some serotonin!]
4) AVOID STIMULANTS – they spike your energy and some even release serotonin BUT it does not last so there is the inevitable ‘let down.’ Stimulants are not just caffeine products – carbs, sugars and candies are stimulants too and they have a similar after-effect; spikes of energy that comes crashing down.
5) EAT GOOD FOODS – Foods high in the amino acid tryptophan such as bananas, oats, cottage cheese, nuts and dark chocolate are said to be excellent for boosting serotonin levels as their elevated tryptophan levels will make it easier for our body to naturally produce serotonin.
Check out these ten foods – stress reducers
Top Ten Foods Containing Tryptophan, Serotonin’s Creator
6) SUNLIGHT – one hour per day is recommended by some and at least 15 minutes by others. But many factors – like intensity (geographic location) of sun, skin complexion, and time of day impact exposure so you’d have to check this out individually. But there is no debate about the need to expose our selves to sunlight on a regular basis to assist in keeping our mood elevated.
7) GARDENING, in or out – interacting with another form of life, keeping it alive and watching its growth due to our input helps our spirits soar. [I experience a distinct change in mindset – from troubled to peaceful within minutes of stepping into my garden and tending to the plants. In the winter, the same is true with my indoor plants.] Here is a wonderful article on the many benefits of gardening.
8) NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS – One of the more popular supplements is Omega 3, which is a natural serotonin booster. St. John’s Wort or Ginkgo have also been touted as effective serotonin boosters. If you are taking any other medication you should speak to your health care provider before starting any of these supplements.
Serotonin flows when we increase our state of well-being – spiritually, mentally and physically. It is decreased when stress is increased. So do all you can do to keep the serotonin flowing. You will be more joy-filled and, joyful people live longer and better. 🙂
Wishing you an abundance of peace, joy and light,
♥~