| Did you know that JOY is essential for high Cognitive Performance? As we head into Fall’s busy season, we can become overburdened with new and unexpected responsibilities and tasks, increasing our stress levels and diminishing our feelings of joy. This subsequent lack of joyful feelings affects our satisfaction and interactions with others, dampens mental clarity, and affects our decision-making processes. When we cultivate more joyful feelings, we suffer less, feel more alive, and strengthen our ability to take on whatever comes our way |
 Why are the feelings of joy important to our brain health? Without anticipation of joy, our “happy” hormone levels can decrease. This can naturally result in an absence of pleasure and, thus, increase the possibility of unpleasant feelings such as pain, anxiety, disgust, shame, and fear. |
Brain Chemistry Plays a Part
| Serotonin is an important hormone that helps us increase pleasant feelings. It has been shown to stimulate brain areas that trigger increased sensations of joy. Serotonin also plays a vital role in sleep. Good sleep is essential for lowering stress levels and better health. The neuroscience of joy teaches us that we can develop more positive perceptions of the world around us through positive cognition behavior methods. Including joyful cognitive performance techniques to boost the serotonin levels in your brain is essential, especially when you are in stress state. |
| Daytime Pleasure Booster Stand up straight right now, take three breaths, and stretch. Then, calmly walk to an area where you can place yourself in the sunlight. Embrace any pleasurable feelings triggered by the warmth and light of the sun’s rays. Smile and savor how good you feel in this moment and breathe. When you are ready, take the joy of this moment with you as you move forward throughout the day. Nighttime Pleasure Booster Take three deep breaths and gently stretch. Notice any good feelings that arise as you do so. If you are in bed, note the pleasure of our blanket. Or, if you are sitting in a comfortable chair, take a moment to notice how secure you feel sitting in this familiar place. Embrace how calm you may feel and take a few moments to allow yourself to feel joyful. It is important to remember that bringing joy into your life is not frivolous; it does not negate hard work or accomplishments. Even the most revolutionary, hardworking people recognize that play is essential to life. |
As a Cognitive Performance coach, I can teach you simple, yet vital brain-based strategies. You don’t have to make major changes to experience more joy at work and in your personal life. These strategies will give you greater clarity, allowing you to dramatically improve your life and work environment. |
