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Jul 28, 2020 · It is something one can practice, cultivate, or make a habit. Consequently, I suggest that joy is most fully understood as a virtue that involves our thoughts, feelings, and actions in response to ...
Jul 22, 2020 · Joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. It’s the emotion evoked by well-being, success, good fortune, or the prospect of possessing what one desires. It’s a state of happiness or felicity. (Source: Google & Merriam Webster) But I don’t think the dictionary definition really captures the magic of joy.
- Overview
- 1. Your brain
- 2. Your circulatory system
- 3. Your autonomic nervous system
- So, what comes first — the emotion or the bodily response?
- Wondering if you can actually trick your body into feeling happy?
Feeling like bouncing off the walls? Here’s what’s going on inside your body.
Oh, joy! That happy, buoyant emotion is a great feeling, whether it’s brought on by a big life event (like a wedding or birth) or something as simple as finding the perfect fruit at the farmer’s market.
On an emotional level, we may feel joy in a variety of ways — tearfully, euphoric, with a deep sense of contentment, and more.
On a scientific level, we feel joy in our neurotransmitters, which are tiny chemical “messenger” cells that transmit signals between neurons (nerves) and other bodily cells.
Those neurotransmitters are responsible for processes and feelings in almost every aspect of the body, from blood flow to digestion.
•promotes a healthier lifestyle
Every emotion you feel is affected by your brain and vice versa.
According to Diana Samuel, MD, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center, “The brain does not have a single emotional center, but different emotions involve different structures.”
For example, she explains, your frontal lobe (commonly known as the “control panel” of the brain) monitors your emotional state, while the thalamus (an information center that regulates consciousness) participates in how your emotional responses are executed.
We feel joy in our bodies because of the release of dopamine and serotonin, two types of neurotransmitters in the brain. Both of these chemicals are heavily associated with happiness (in fact, people with clinical depression often have lower levels of serotonin).
If you’re feeling down, simple
activities like going for a walk in nature, petting a dog or cat, kissing a
Ever noticed that when you feel especially happy, your face flushes or your heart races?
This is because of the effect on your circulatory system, explains Dr. Samuel: “Butterflies in your stomach, your facial expressions, even changes in your finger temperature… all of these can depend on your emotions. The effects on the circulatory system can present in different ways physically.”
Your autonomic nervous system is the bodily system responsible for all the things your body does without conscious effort from you — like breathing, digestion, and dilation of the pupil.
And yes, it’s also affected by feelings of joy and elation.
For example, your breathing can pick up when you’re doing something particularly fun (like riding a roller coaster) or slow down when you’re participating in a more relaxing pleasurable activity (like walking in the forest).
“Smiling can trick your brain by
elevating your mood, lowering your heart rate, and reducing your stress. The
smile doesn’t have to be based on
It’s hard to say which comes first because your feelings and your physiology are inextricably linked. Dr. Samuel says, “When something joyous happens, the emotional and physical response occurs right away because all of these things are happening simultaneously in the body.”
And don’t worry — it’s normal to experience varying physical sensations in reaction to your happy emotions and to have different bodily responses than those around you.
You may literally get the urge to jump for joy, while your friend or sibling is more of the happy-crying type.
“Exercise
can also take your mind off worries and negative thoughts that may feed
depression and anxiety.” — Dr. Samuel
In a way, you can, says Dr. Samuel.
Even just the simple act of smiling can help. She explains, “Smiling can trick your brain by elevating your mood, lowering your heart rate, and reducing your stress. The smiledoesn’t have to be based on real emotion because faking it works as well.”
Another way to use your physiology to enhance your emotional state? Exercise (yes, even when you don’t feel like doing it).
Samuel says that exercise “can help ease depression and anxiety by releasing feel good endorphins and other natural brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that enhance your sense of well-being. Exercise can also take your mind off worries and negative thoughts that may feed depression and anxiety.”
If you’re feeling down, simple activities like going for a walk in nature, petting a dog or cat, kissing a loved one, and yes, even forcing yourself to smile, can help those neurotransmitters do their job and lift your mood.
Now that you know how your body and your emotions can work in tandem, it may be a little easier to “hack” your mood so that you feel more joyful on a daily basis.
- Carrie Murphy
May 10, 2021 · Use deep belly breathingto keep the joy flowing. (Holding the breath is a common way we stop emotions from flowing, and that can cause anxiety.) If you experience tension or anxiety, try imagining ...
- Hilary Jacobs Hendel LCSW
Jul 7, 2020 · There's still hope, and these simple tactics will help you find it again. Close your eyes and picture it for a moment: pure joy. It could be sitting in the sun on a warm day, basking in the ...
- nicol.natale@hearst.com
- Associate Editor
Mar 23, 2023 · "This shared purpose, and joy, builds a connection between everyone on the team. When you link joy together, it becomes even stronger." Tips for discovering joy. Joy looks different to each person and can be found in everyday situations. Some people find joy in caring for others, spiritual connections, spending time in nature or continually ...
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Oct 17, 2022 · Perform regular aerobic physical activity. Think of physical activity as releasing a bubble bath of neurotransmitters — and their effects linger long after the exercise is over. Dedicate yourself to others. Activities such as volunteering produce greater joy than focusing on oneself. Connect with your spiritual side.
