How often is happiness a motivation? We have obligations to ensure survival and happiness is not a requirement to live. When I was young, I rarely heard it mentioned.
The new generations put a priority on it. People often think happiness comes with achievements or acquisitions. Why is that? My concept of happiness had always been that when I achieved, I was then entitled to be happy. I was not entitled to be happy just because I was alive.
There are more declarations now that we should start with happiness. Kali Kavara on Instagram has thousands of followers and her main point is that self-love is the primary happiness and from that life happens. There are books “In the Pursuit of Happiness’ and “The Happiness of Pursuit” that try to define what makes us happy.
What is happiness in the brain? Happiness biologically is a set of neurotransmitters and hormones. The point of happiness in the brain is to induce certain behaviors. If Nature can get man to engage in certain behaviors because he gets happiness rewards, he will repeat them.
The main behaviors that stimulate these brain happiness chemicals are learning, caring, protecting, contributing, and physical exercise. Learning, building community, taking care of others, helping others survive, protecting the clan, and running down game were all critical to sustain life.
Happiness rewards have not changed. The same behaviors stimulate the same reactions in the brain. We have substituted material acquisition as the big pay off, but accumulating is not necessary for happiness. The main sustaining behavior is self-improvement. With self-improvement, the brain thinks we are engaged in survival and that makes it happy.
Lifestyle Posts:
Lifestyle Determines Our Health
How Lifestyle Leads to Happiness
Lifestyle Changes for Productivity
Making Gratitude a Primary Goal
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