Joy starts in the brain in the frontal lobe or the control panel of the brain that monitors the emotional state of the body. When we feel joy our body releases 2 neurotransmitters: dopamine and serotonin. These are chemicals that are heavily associated with happiness. People that suffer from clinical depression often have low serotonin levels.
Physical changes happen in the body involving the circulatory system. When your heart races or your face flushes. The butterflies in the stomach, facial expressions, and finger temperature can be related to emotions.
Your body’s auto response system also reacts to emotions, causing an increase in breathing with excitement or slowing with relaxation. All of this happens subconsciously throughout the body.
“Genuine happiness comes from within, and often it comes in spontaneous feelings of joy.”
-Andrew Weil
Secret: You can trick your body into feeling better by simply smiling. It’s faking it till you make it. Smiling causes the brain to release the good chemicals and increase your mood.