Why do some people have so much happiness in their lives, while others seem to never feel this incredible state of being?
The first thing that comes to my mind is biochemistry.
I certainly had times throughout my life where I was unhappy.
Sometimes all I needed was a certain amino acid supplement to get rid of the blues. Other times I just needed to get away from everything and go spend some time in nature by myself to feel happiness return to me.
Life is a roller coaster of ups, downs, flips, and spins. If we’re not careful, we can get caught up in the turbulence and stress of it all.
And stress is one of the top cold sore triggers, so we need to focus on doing things that increase happiness and fulfillment, while decreasing stress.
One thing I’ve learned (over and over again), is that happiness is a choice. No matter what is going on in our lives, we can choose to be happy in the moment.
Of course this is much easier said than done!
I know I’ve certainly struggled with this, as I’m sure you probably have as well at times.
So what is the answer? How do we nurture happiness?
Here are seven things you can do right away to feel more happiness in your life…
1. Focus more on the gifts in your life and less on what is lacking
While there are plenty of things that you can do to be in a state of happiness, nothing is more effective than the power of focus.
How often do you focus on all of the negative things that are going on in your life? On everything that you want but don’t have?
It’s difficult to experience joy while these feelings of lack and incompleteness are present.
Luckily, the solution is the antithesis.
Simply focus on all of the wonderful gifts you’ve been blessed with in your life.
Do this on a daily basis to nurture happiness.
If you still aren’t feeling the amount of joy you desire, it could be that you are biochemically imbalanced.
2. Enhance your brain chemistry
Our food supply is not nourishing us as well as it did several decades ago. Due to ignorance, convenience, or not wanting to spend a lot of money, people are eating diets that are high in calories and low in nutrients.
This has an enormous effect on the body, and can lead to:
- Poor Immune Function
- Obesity
- Digestive Issues
- Depression
- Lethargy
- And much more
The natural way to enhance your brain chemistry is to improve your diet and take amino acid supplements.
Try consuming a diet that is composed mostly of organic whole foods, while eliminating processed foods and sugar.
Make sure to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and proteins.
Some people who’ve had a difficult time feeling joy have taken the following mood enhancers to improve their mood naturally:
- 5-HTP
- DLPA
- L-Tyrosine
- SAM-e
- St. John’s Wort
Studies have shown these supplements to combat depression and improve feelings of well-being.
3. Spend time in nature
Many studies have concluded that being in contact with nature can lead to positive emotions such as happiness and tranquility.
Too often we forget about the importance of nourishing our bodies and minds in the cleansing atmosphere that nature provides for us.
Going for walks in parks, forests, deserts, mountains, and beaches can have immediate effects on increasing levels of happiness.
4. Laugh out loud
Nothing bolsters mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain faster than a hearty, full body laugh.
There have been numerous studies concluding that laughter is indeed the best medicine.
Laughter has been shown to:
- Reduce Stress
- Improve Memory
- Enhance Immune System
A good laugh can also leave you flooded with this endorphins, a natural feel good chemical which automatically increases your happiness and level of satisfaction with life.
5. Fall in love
It only takes a fifth of a second for the euphoria-inducing chemicals to start acting on the brain when you are looking at that special someone.
When you’re thinking about or looking at a loved one, the brain releases a cocktail of neurotransmitters, including dopamine, adrenaline, vasopressin and oxytocin.
Have you ever noticed how happy couples that are in love appear?
Being in a loving relationship can skyrocket your bliss levels to another dimension!
Remember to hold hands, kiss passionately, make love, give cuddle hugs (huggles), and tell each other encouraging and loving words on a regular basis.
6. Do what you love for a living
It’s important to do something we are passionate about for a living, because our work lives will then provide meaning and purpose, which are associated with psychological health and well-being.
Have you ever had a job that you were miserable at?
Are you currently working at one?
How much happier could you be if you were making a living doing something you were passionate about?
It’s never too late to follow your dreams.
All it takes is that little first step…
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
Deb Pearl says
I have been getting cold sores more often lately, and I would love to know how to prevent them from happening. I didn’t know that feeling more happy could help prevent cold sores from forming. That is great that a good laugh could help my brain produce chemicals faster and help reduce the stress I’ve been feeling. Thanks for the tips!
Matt says
Hi Deb, I’m sorry to hear you’ve been getting cold sore more frequently as of late. To learn how to prevent cold sores, I encourage you to check out my Ultimate Guide To Preventing Cold Sores, which is free and has everything you need to know.
And a happy mindset and laughter can really help, so I’m glad you now have this information, and I thank you sincerely for the feedback and for taking the time to leave a comment.
Take care Deb! ????
Loni says
Hi Matt,
Every time I get a runny nose or sinus infection, I get a cold sore under my nose that crusts over and get really big, red and looks gross. I have tried everything. What can I do to prevent this vicious cycle?
Matt says
Hi Loni,
I’m going to post a link to some info that can help you break this cycle like it did for me:
Ultimate Guide To Preventing Cold Sores>>