How joy affects health
Joy oh joy! That momentary euphoric feeling can be found in the simple things like running, music or eating an orange. We express it through a whole range of emotions like laughter, clapping or smiling. Sometimes you just radiate joy without noticing it. Joy runs through our bodies and has more of an impact on our health and wellbeing than we ever imagined.
On a scientific level, neurological chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin help us feel joy. They are made in the brain and distributed throughout our entire body, affecting the central nervous system, kidney function and heart rate (to name a few). When you perceive something as positive, your brain is signalled to release these “happy” chemicals, causing a knock-on reaction throughout the body.
These neurotransmitters vary from person to person. When you’re stressed, it can inhibit the production of these chemicals that make us happy and release the main stress hormone cortisol which can trigger a “fight-or-flight” response. Therefore it’s helpful to take a step back and view your health from a holistic perspective. After all, joy and happiness depend on many things: your career, finances, health, mind-body connection etc. As you start to bring equilibrium into these areas, you can feel more joy in your daily life. Here could be a good time to revisit your definition of health.
There’s no doubt that joy promotes a healthier lifestyle. We feel good during moments of joy. Your body feels lighter and freer and smiling comes naturally. It’s a wonderful experience when we laugh or smile, emotionally and mentally. It makes sense that we want to create more of that in our lives. Research is also showing that experiencing joy has more benefits than simply feeling good. It’s being linked to boosting our immune system, providing more resilience in fighting stress and pain, all the while supporting longevity. Yes, that’s right, it can ultimately help you live a longer life! It also connects you to people and community, allowing you to bond and build relationships.
You’ve most likely heard us speak about the “Ora Circle” which consists of 12 pillars that we believe should be balanced in order to live a healthy life. Joy is one of those and so is health. Both impact each other in a mutual symbiotic relationship. If eating an orange makes you feel good then your body rewards you for nourishing these pillars.
Let's look at three examples of how you can spark joy from our pillars.
1. Home cooking
Make a wholesome meal from scratch or some healthy snacks. It can be a one of your favourites or a new recipe that you haven’t tried before to stimulate your creativity.
2. Home environment
Shift the energy in your home with essential oils. You can choose refreshing, uplifting and rejuvenating blends or unwind with aromas that are calming and relaxing. Oils can help improve your sleep, boost your mood and tap into a spiritual mindset
3. Relationships
Why not reach out to someone that you haven’t spoken to or seen in a while. Maybe it’s a friend, family member or past colleague. You could send them a letter, write a text or reconnect with a meme!
Can you think of examples where you find joy in any of the other pillars, and how in turn that impacts another pillar?