Post on 17-Dec-2015
Purpose of learning about health
• It’s NOT enough to live a long life• A person needs to ENJOY life
– Happiness is connected to the mind and body
Three Types of Happiness
• Require different things• Often at odds with each other
– Rarely will one action support all three
– A person CANNOT focus only on one kind or they often end up unhappy and dissatisfied with their life
Good Day – filled with many mild pleasures, repeatable and forgettable, some rewarding efforts
Euphoria – intense, lasts powerfully in memory, often involves some risk or vulnerability
Happy Life – requires a lot of difficult work (studying, striving, nurturing, maintaining, negotiating, etc.),
sometimes seriously cutting into time for a good day or euphoria
About Happiness
• Status Quo of Happiness– Big events have no lasting affect on
happiness
• Decision making– Greater satisfaction if you can’t
change your mind– We often feel better about a decision
once it is made
People who report being happy with their lives do
NOT always get to…• Do whatever they want
– Unsatisfying (can’t connect with others)
• Physical pleasure (food, sex, etc.)– Doesn’t last long enough
• Have lots of money and possessions– We are more richer and have more stuff
than ever before but our depression rate is increasing
Hormones
• Serotonin = feel good about life (good mood)• Epinephrine = mild stress (↑heart rate & focus)• Dopamine = pleasure/reward (and memory)
– Small dose can make you have a good day– Large dose is “bliss” or “euphoria”
• Endorphin = exhilaration, thrill, reduces pain• Cortisol = stress, reduces blood flow to areas
Natural Sources• Exercise
– Releases endorphins, serotonin & epinephrine– Reduces cortisol
• Laughter (and smiling)– Releases endorphin and dopamine– Reduces cortisol and epinephrine
• Meaningful connections with people (or other beings)– Touch releases serotonin and some dopamine– Reduces cortisol
• Sunlight– Increases serotonin
Laugher & Smiling• Fake it ‘till you make it
– Fake smiles and laughter also releases hormones!
– Laugh every time you get the chance
• Sympathetic response: The same neurons fire in your brain when you watch someone as when you perform that action yourself
If your dog was barking at the back door and your wife was knocking on the front door, who would you
let in first?
The dog, because at least he would shut up once he was in.
Why is psychoanalysis quicker for men than for women?
When it's time to go back to childhood, he's already there.
Jeff Dunham
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I226Sfgs0s&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9tb-li5xzQ&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgNKI2CRQFo&feature=fvst
Meaningful Connections
• Part of a community– Hanging out is important, but it’s not
enough
• To be important to other people takes work, compromise, effort and sacrifice– Can’t be entirely selfish (or giving)– Constantly changing– Giving to others brings satisfaction
Play
Work
Aikido
Family
Eric OmarAminaAlicia
Mom & Dad
Gayle
Kurt
NicoleKate
VictoriaMargare
tRob
Robert
Mike TrishPaul ArmenMelin Amy
ErinLorien
MelDav
eLisa