8 Psychological Techniques to Feel Happy Quickly
There are times and moments when life can
get the best of us. But, with these tips and psychological techniques,
you will feel happy and will learn to rejoice in each new day. The
findings below, studied by neuroscientists, indicate when and why your
brain can give you the feeling of total satisfaction.
1. Learn to say Thank You.
1. Learn to say Thank You.
When we thank a person, or even fate, for
something, we focus on the positive aspects of life. Pleasant memories
trigger serotonin production in the anterior cingulate cortex (the part
of the brain that is able to control and manage uncomfortable emotions).
This technique has also been found to treat depression. 
2. Solve problems one at a time
Our brain never stops searching for
solutions, for problems that worry us. This requires a lot of energy,
causing the brain to feel tired. Consequently, the problem remains
unresolved, leaving us feeling anxious or irritated. On the other hand,
for every successful decision, our brain rewards itself with a dose of
neurotransmitters that help calm the limbic system, helping us to see
the world in a better light. So, to prevent yourself from feeling
exhausted, tackle problems one at a time.
3. Don’t keep things pent up: talk about what bothers you
The process of going through something
while keeping everything bottled up, or talking about your predicament
involves using different parts of the brain. In the latter case,
negative-emotions that arise while talking about your problem have a
lesser impact on your well-being. For this reason, it is advisable not
to keep your problems pent up. Talking about your issues will enable the
brain to trigger the production of serotonin, possibly managing to find
some positive sides to the situation.
4. Touch and embrace
Social interaction is very important to us
humans. Studies show that physical support particularly touches and
embraces, can speed up a person's recovery after an illness. Removing
tactile interaction from your life is interpreted by the brain as
physical pain: the same brain zones become activated in both instances.
This triggers the processes that affect your mood, contributing to the
development of depression.
5. Learn, learn, and, once again, learn!
Acquiring new knowledge means permanent
adaptation to a changing environment. Through this process, our brains
develop, rewarding its own attempts to absorb and process fresh
information with dopamine - the hormone of joy. So, if you want to be
happy, don't be afraid to try something new, change your surroundings,
and learn new things.
6. Play sports
While physical activity causes stress for
the body, as soon as the stress ends, the body gets a reward: a dose of
endorphins, released by the pituitary gland. This effect is similar to
that of morphine which reduces pain and elevates the mood. Thankfully,
you don't need to run marathons to do that, walking is enough.
7. Always try to get a good night's sleep
7. Always try to get a good night's sleep
Sleeping in the dark allows your body to
secrete the hormone, melatonin. This hormone slows down all processes in
the body, helping it to recover and increase the level of serotonin in
the hypothalamus. However, if the brain detects a change in lighting, it
triggers the release of the stress hormone, quickly awakening the body.
It is therefore important to sleep 6 to 8 hours a day and only in
darkened rooms.
8. Engage in pleasant expectations
Waiting for something, such as food, is
similar to the learned salivation response. Our brain is able to
experience pleasure by simply anticipating a pleasant event. It is why
we are so fond of counting the hours and minutes to a special moment,
such as a birthday, or even the end to a long working day.