Hоw tо fіnd joy іn уоur lіfе
It surprises me how often people feel they have little or no reason for happiness and joy, both now and from their past. Perhaps it’s the constant hustle, with life feeling like one long to-do list, and the joyful moments just fall off the end. This has likely been the case for a long time.
As a coach, I often help people reconnect with themselves, and part of this process is learning how to rediscover happiness. Many tell me they don’t even know what makes them happy anymore. For others, work has taken over and they struggle to be present in other areas of their life let alone find happiness and joy there. Sometimes we lose touch with what once brought us joy because we’ve become so absorbed in life’s pace that we forget what made us happy in the first place.
I’ve spoken to many people who feel like they’ve achieved everything they wanted in life— a partner, a family, a good job, financial security— but still feel empty inside. The expected feelings of satisfaction and joy never came.
If this resonates with you, know you are not alone.
So, how do you find joy again when it seems to have vanished?
Let’s take a look at what might be happening in your body and brain.
You may have heard of ‘happy hormones.’ These are neurotransmitters that play a huge role in regulating mood. Did you know that your brain chemistry can get out of balance for various reasons—life events, illness, poor diet, or lack of exercise? The good news is that you can enhance your body and brain chemistry to boost your happy hormones!
So what are these happy hormones?
Serotonin: Probably the most well-known of the happy hormones. It’s responsible for regulating mood, happiness, and anxiety.
Dopamine: Known as the motivation hormone. It provides feelings of pleasure when you achieve your goals.
Oxytocin: The relationship builder, responsible for feelings of trust and intimacy.
Endorphins: These help alleviate pain, anxiety, and depression.
The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human can alter his life by altering his attitude.
– William James
The Connection Between Happy Hormones and Finding Joy
Your emotions are rooted in chemical reactions in your brain. If you feel like joy has disappeared from your life, taking action to activate your neurotransmitters can help you rediscover it.
Exercise is one of the best ways to stimulate most of the happy hormones. Choose something you enjoy— even if it’s just walking. Or try something more exciting like rollerblading or skateboarding! If you enjoy the activity, you’re more likely to stick with it and experience the positive effects.
While exercise is an excellent way to release endorphins and stimulate other happy hormones, there’s a simpler way… laughing. Laughing releases a flood of feel-good endorphins.
What if you don’t feel like laughing? That’s understandable—when you feel joyless, laughter might seem out of reach. But making a conscious effort to seek out amusing situations can help. Watch some old comedy reruns. Send a funny email to a friend. Explore Facebook pages dedicated to funny videos of kids or animals. Something will make you laugh, and suddenly, your happy hormones will wake up!
Tap Into Your Inner Child. Write a list of things you loved doing as a child. Children naturally feel happiness and joy through play. See if you can rediscover something from your childhood and experience that joy again—maybe even in a new form.
People or Solitude: Whether you’re social or prefer solitude, you need to be in environments that support your joy. If you’re living in a way that doesn’t honour your preferences, you’ll struggle to feel joy. Spending time with people you love can increase oxytocin levels—whether that’s through a hug or a thoughtful gift.
Get Out and About! Is there a place you used to love but have neglected? Take a trip or visit somewhere you have fond memories of. You’ll be surprised at how much joy it can bring you simply by reconnecting with a place you love.
Celebrate Your Wins. Dopamine is tied to rewards and motivation. Break down larger goals into smaller steps so you can experience a sense of achievement along the way. Each little win will give you a rush of dopamine, and you’ll celebrate twice—once for achieving the goal, and again for the joy of celebrating!
Even though happiness looks different for each of us, there are common strategies that can help us all enhance our well-being. Use these tips to boost your happy hormones and find new ways to rediscover joy. You never know— you might stumble upon something you love all over again!