“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…” In our lives we have all felt these opposing emotions Charles Dickens so aptly expresses in his opening sentence of A Tale of Two Cities. Some of us deal with these vicissitudes (ups and downs) of life more than others. It is safe to say that all of humankind would love to figure out a way to stay on the up side of the vicissitudes.
Although there are many factors that affect the overall wellbeing of a human I want to highlight the role of the neurotransmitter. In short, a neurotransmitter is a chemical substance that transmits brain impulses from one nerve to another nerve. The neurotransmitters are essential because there are tiny gaps between nerves that can only be bridged by the chemicals. Although there are numerous types of neurotransmitters the two main players associated with wellbeing and mood are serotonin and dopamine. These two chemicals have been coined, “The Happiness” neurotransmitters.
Decreased levels of serotonin and dopamine levels can cause melancholy, hopelessness, depression, fatigue and a host of other conditions. Many of us know this fact but we don’t know ways to increase our “Happiness Neurotransmitters”. There are natural, safe, effective and simple ways to boost our serotonin and dopamine levels.
Simple steps we can take are to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Avoid excessive amounts of sugar, caffeine and alcohol. Another step would be to start an exercise plan. An exercise plan could be as simple as stretching, utilizing light weights or performing breathing exercises. A big neurotransmitter increasing step would be to set a goal for your life and surround yourself with positive people who can help you achieve your goals. These are just a few of many steps you can take to boost your neurotransmitters and help you live to your full potential and gain a greater sense of well-being. Wouldn’t it be great to look back on our lives and be able to say, “It was the best of times, it was the spring of hope.”