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Everybody wants to be happy. But happiness can mean different things to different people. The ancient Greeks, for example, devoted much thought to the meaning of happiness and how it can best be achieved. However, as with many other issues, they looked at this question mainly from a philosophical point of view. Today, we know that our moods, happiness, sadness joy, anger are primarily a question of the balance of hormones in our heads. Thus, feelings of great joy produce certain brain chemicals called endorphins. These are the body's natural painkillers, which influence the transfer of signals between the nerves. For example, the production of endorphins dampens the body's sensitivity to pain.
Endorphins not only make people happy, they also dampen pain and delay feelings of exhaustion. They are produced after serious accidents, for example, making injured people feel their pain less acutely. The injury and shock are very real, but the production of endorphins provides the body with the ability to withstand an acute crisis. For long-distance runners, the enormous effort of completing a marathon triggers the production of endorphins which results in an overwhelming feeling of happiness.
During a long and difficult surgical procedure, heart surgeons often find themselves in a state of deep satisfaction. They are completely absorbed in what they are doing and so their work becomes a form of meditation. Psychologist use the term "flow" to describe the condition in which the performance of difficult tasks leads to happiness and contentment and is not perceived as stress.
Opium, cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine and numerous other substances work in a similar way to the body's own stimulants. Just like endorphins, they produce feelings of bliss and high spirits. However a steady intake of these substances changes the nerve cells, which then cease to function normally without drugs. Thus, the body becomes dependent on these substances. In other words, you become addicted.
Exercise helps to give the body a general sense of well-being and helps to alleviate depression. The increase blood flow to the body and the brain helps rejuvenate the mind and body. So if you generally feel that you cannot concentrate while doing mental task at work or at school, taking a walk or going for a jog can help. Consistent exercise has been known to help boost memory and concentration by as much as 20%.
How can a circus acrobat perform a triple somersault at a dizzying height on the high wire? What gives an extreme climber the ability to master the sheerest rock overhang without ropes or harnesses, or a figure skater the ability to execute the tight turns and graceful spins? Such people distinguish themselves particularly in one area they have complete confidence in their own ability to perform. Through constant training sessions they have developed a certain confidence as to how much strength lies in one hand, how a simple jump can put the body in the correct position in space.
Just like a skillful acrobat or athlete, with the correct memory training techniques, anyone can master his own mind and memory. Like a skillful athlete, the secret lies in practice and awareness of your own thinking patterns. Simple mind exercise takes just minutes a day and can be performed anywhere. Not only do you achieve greater awareness, clarity of thinking and generally improve your memory, a stronger mind through mental exercise can also stave off age-related memory loss. Proper memory training techniques can also help students improve their study skills. With a purposeful techniques to study, the mind achieves the flow state needed for better concentration. A purposefully controlled mind and body can lead to a more confident, happier individual without the use of drugs.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
