Love is a cocktail of brain chemicals: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphin. These happy chemicals evolved to promote your genes, not to make you happy all the time. You can manage the roller coaster when you understand the job these chemicals do in the state of nature. More information like this at InnerMammalInstitute.org
32. 1. Accept
• Nothing is wrong with me
• My happy chemicals will
droop sometimes
• It doesn’t necessarily
mean something is wrong
• It means I’m a mammal
among mammals
33. 2. Adapt
I can build
new circuits
My happy
chemicals are
controlled by
circuits I built
long ago
But they don’t
build easily
after puberty
34. 3. Arrange
A new circuit will build
if I repeat a new thought
or behavior daily for 6 weeks
I can arrange my life to feed
new experiences to my brain until
my happy chemicals flow in new ways
42. Is this information helpful?
share it with your favorite groups and professionals;
get the free 5-day Happy Chemical Jumpstart;
watch the free video:
Your Ups and Downs Are Natural …and also learned
buy a book...and another book;
comment on Youtube, Amazon, Goodreads to help others;
participate in the Inner Mammal Institute’s
Facebook discussion group and Twitter;
read my blogs, Your Neurochemical Self and
thePositivePsychologyPeople;
read book excerpts at InnerMammalInstitute.org
43. my books
Habits of a Happy Brain
forthcoming November 2015
Meet Your Happy Chemicals
Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, Endorphin
I, Mammal
Why Your Brain Links Status and Happiness
Beyond Cynical
Transcend Your Mammalian Negativity
49. Dopamine
Dopamine makes you jump for joy
when you reach a goal or get a toy.
Innature,ithelpsfindfoodwhenyouneedit.
“Eureka, I got it!” A memory gets created.
Dopamine causes expectations.
Correct predictions bring good sensations.
Dopamine feels great so you try to get more.
It rewarded our ancestors trudging through gore.
Cocaine triggers dopamine. Caution to all:
Joy without goal-seeking leads to a fall.
Dopamine flows when you feel like “I’ve done it.”
Whenothersdoitforyou,yourdopaminewillshunit.
50. Endorphin
Endorphin helps you mask the pain
Of injuries that you sustain.
Yourancestorsescapedfrompredatorattack
‘Cause endorphinfelt goodwhiletheyranback.
Endorphin feels great when it eases your pains.
But only real pain makes it flow in your veins.
Exercise triggers it, experts alert you.
But first you must do it ‘til body parts hurt you.
Endorphin receptors let opium in.
So you feel like you’re safe without lifting a shin.
Laughing and crying can trigger it too.
But just for a moment– then the job’s through.
51. Oxytocin
Oxytocin makes you trust your mates.
We love the bonds that it creates.
Oxytocin flowswhenyoustickwiththeherd.
“Not me!” youmaysay,“I’mnobovineorbird.”
But without social bonds, your brain feels alarm.
This protected our ancestors from all kinds of harm.
Though theherdwillannoyyou,thepackhurt you so.
When you run with a pack, oxytocin will flow.
“My pack is great and the other is nuts.”
This thinking prevailed since the first mammal struts.
You’re above all this foolishness, obviously.
But it feels good when I trust you and you trust me.
52. Serotonin swells your chest with pride
When you get respect and needn’t hide.
Yourbrainfeelsgoodwhenyouboostyourselfhigher.
But when others do this, it provokes your ire.
“I don’t care about status. It’s other who do.”
But youspurtserotoninwhenthelimelight’s on you.
You are quite modest and don’t like to boast.
But no serotonin flows when you coast.
Status doesn’t depend on money.
You can be clever or helpful or funny.
But when others one-up you, your mind agitates.
‘Cause serotonin droops ‘til you lift your own weights.
Serotonin