When you think about your health, JOY might not be the first word that comes to mind. You may think about habits, or discipline, or deprivation, but here’s a challenge: embrace joy in your life. There is joy in accomplishment, in service, and living out your purpose, and good health is the foundation for that to happen.

It can be easy to confuse pleasure with joy, but there are separate hormones at work in your brain, and learning about these hormones can help you make decisions that will support long-term joy rather than short-term pleasure. These hormones are dopamine and serotonin. 

Dopamine is released in your brain in response to a pleasurable stimulus. Think about eating a piece of candy. That sweetness tastes good for a moment, but immediately you want more. You want to repeat that experience, so you reach for another piece of candy. It is very easy to be addicted to things that cause a dopamine response because it feels really good in that moment, and that moment is all your brain will focus on. A dopamine response is an excellent distraction from anxiety, worry, or any other uncomfortable emotion because it is so all-encompassing. Screens and sugar both activate a dopamine response. 

The problem with a dopamine response is that it just doesn’t last. Even worse, as those receptors respond to stimuli, they can be desensitized, causing you to need more and more of the stimulus to provoke that response.  

Serotonin, on the other hand, is the hormone associated with a long-term feeling of joy and satisfaction. It plays a role in regulating mood and sleep cycles. Since the gut produces serotonin for the body, a healthy diet and healthy gut environment support healthy serotonin levels. 

Here are some ways to increase the joy in your life. 

1. Connect.

The people we love are a source of joy in our lives. If you can partner with someone on your health journey, you will reap the benefit of their encouragement, be able to encourage them as well, and enjoy one another’s company. 

2. Serve.

Finding a way to serve someone else is one of the quickest paths to overcoming a low point. It shifts your mindset from what isn’t going your way to how you can help someone else.

3. Plan.

Create a clearing to experience joy. By planning your day, you can anticipate your needs and move forward with your goals. If you aren’t constantly feeling stressed by the demands of the day, you are better able to experience moments of joy.

4. Appreciate.

Gratitude can set the tone for your day. Appreciating the good and the beautiful, and expressing that appreciation brings joy. Remember that just as you can experience joy in serving, others are blessed by being able to help you. Accept help and appreciate it!

5. Surprise.

Be on the lookout for the unexpected!

6. Accomplish.

There is deep satisfaction in being able to set a goal, work toward it, and accomplish it. You don’t start to BE great; you start to take steps toward greatness.  Don’t be afraid to reach for your dreams. 

If you are looking to add some joy to your life right now, here are three things to get you going. 

Go outside and get into the sunshine! You can move, you can soak it up and breathe deeply, and you can enjoy it. 

Remember a joyful time and recreate that if you can. Can’t get to the movie theatre with your kids? Print tickets, make popcorn, and close the shades. 

Make a healthy version of a meal you really love. Nourishment, comfort, and creativity can all come together to bring some joy to your day. 

Open yourself up to joy today as part of your health journey. As always, if you are looking for support to get to the next level, TruBalance offices are equipped for virtual appointments and there are many resources available at Dr.TraciKiernan.com, including the online course, the TRIBE membership, the ebook, and soon, the cookbook!