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Training my Brain for Happiness: Natalie Hughes

By on October 22, 2013
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by Natalie Hughes, Editor in Chief.

 

Well, I don’t know how to tell you this, but I’m sitting here with a big stupid grin on my face. I’m happy. Nothing particular going on here, but I can feel the contentment… the optimism. And at the risk of sounding like a corndog I think it has something to do with the new loves of my life, PJ and Risse and their 6 Week Shape Up.

Eating great food, running in nature, pushing my muscles to their limit and sleeping hard is starting to affect me in ways I didn’t expect, and that’s a really good surprise.

Also in this past 3 weeks, messages keep on floating into my path, like leaves set free from the trees, about the importance of happiness–indeed, it’s the only thing that’s important.

From the womb, we are wired to need joy. It’s a brain chemical thing, as scientists now know it; we have evolved to pursue happiness for our own survival. WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF JOY. Our incredible brains are going to make good and certain they get the feel-good chemicals they need for balance, whether we hand them over easily or hold on kicking and screaming. So the question is, why wasn’t I feelin’ it? Why aren’t you feelin’ it? My theory is, we are sending our brains artificial joy versus the kind we are made for… the sustaining kind that comes from love, closeness, connection, physical movement and passionate pursuits.

 

Faking it

Let’s talk a little more about these brains of ours. (I’m no neuroscientist, but I do ask, “Why?” a lot. And that makes me look things up–I can’t rest until I have an answer that satisfies me.) I’m sure it’s no news to you that the brain is a pleasure-reward machine. We’re basically Pavlov’s dog, just a little more emotionally volatile and a little less hairy. We are constantly storing information up top about every little thing that has ever felt good. It includes hugs, happy memories, exercise, music… and it includes chocolate, coffee, buttered popcorn and cold beer. Depending on your personal history, it may even be a darker, more addictive set of stimulants that the brain has latched onto. Well, of course it did. That’s it’s job. And if we haven’t fulfilled the needs of it’s receptor sites, it sends signals in the form of thoughts, cravings and even pain to tell us to repeat the pleasure it already knows.

“Hey, lady. You remember that brownie sundae? We need some joy up in here. Bring on the fudge!”

Don’t you wish you had never told it about hot gooey chocolate sauce? Me too. But we did. Plugging into these kinds of things has gotten us this far, but are we thriving on them? Are our bodies strong and healthy? Are our relationships beautiful? Are we feeling full-up? Until a few weeks ago, not so much for me, or at least only sporadically.

 

Now what?

I’m suggesting a pretty simple fix. Teach the old dog a new trick.

And this is better than Dairy Queen. Follow my lead. Find every thing you can physically do (that’s not needlessly eating/drinking or medicating) that makes you damn happy and do it. Play an instrument or buy some new music. Call your friends, get together and laugh. Sign yourself up for hobbies that have a social element. Light candles. Make love. With yourself if necessary. Walk by the water. Run if you can. Create new, healthy food in your kitchen that is a taste adventure. Discover.

Plan your happiness in regular doses throughout your day:

–What can you do that makes you feel joy in the morning?

–How can you change your lunch hour to happy hour? (the sober kind, of course!)

–How about your evening? Don’t go to bed without contentment.

Retrain your brain to crave connection–to your innermost desires and to others.

Make it your priority and maybe, just maybe those old neuropathways will get weedy, overgrown, and too much bother to travel.

I truly believe that’s what’s going on with me. Didn’t someone say it takes 21 days to form a habit? Well, I’m on day 21.

And oh, I’m down 2  1/2 more inches. (woot!)

 

Yours in Spirit, Health and Happiness,

Natalie

 

P.S. Catch my first 3 articles about my 6 week journey if you missed them:

First day

End of week 1

End of week 2

And meet my gurus, the Simply Woman featured Go Fit Gals at www.gofitgals.com

(feature photo by Michael Hurcomb)

 

natalie aug2011headshotNatalie Hughes, editor, writer, performer and songwriter, is a gifted interpreter of the human experience, expressing passion, humor, heartbreak, healing and freedom to a depth that few writers reach. Natalie is also the Musical Director for Crystal Andrus Productions, providing music for short films, international speaking engagements, and powerful meditations. Hear her in music and conversation weekly as the co-host on Empowerment Class and The Crystal Andrus Show. Natalie lives along the picturesque waterways of Peterborough, Canada with her husband – photographer Michael Hurcomb – and her two children. For more, visit nataliehughes.com and find Natalie on iTunes,  Twitter and Facebook.

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