In my new book, “Resilient,” I provide practical tips for developing 12 essential inner strengths to maintain well-being in an ever-changing world. In the excerpt below, we’ll delve into one of these strengths: Enjoying Life.
Imagine if a drug company could patent enjoyment – we’d see commercials for it every night on TV. Simple pleasures like petting a cat, quenching your thirst, or smiling at a friend can lower stress hormones, boost the immune system, and help calm you when you’re upset or anxious.
When you enjoy something, your brain ramps up the production of key neurochemicals like dopamine, norepinephrine, and natural opioids. Deep in your brain, the basal ganglia circuits use increased dopamine to prioritize and go after activities that feel rewarding. For instance, if you want to be more motivated to exercise, eat healthily, or tackle a challenging work project, focusing on what you enjoy about these tasks will naturally encourage you to do them. Norepinephrine keeps you alert and engaged, so even in a dull meeting, finding something enjoyable can keep you awake and more effective. Natural opioids, including endorphins, help reduce both physical and emotional pain, calming your body if you’re stressed.
Dopamine and norepinephrine together highlight positive experiences, embedding them in your brain as lasting resources.
Suppose you want to be more patient at home or work. To build this inner strength, seek out moments where you can practice patience and focus on any enjoyable aspects of staying calm and relaxed. Experiencing patience or any other positive trait, and savoring it, helps transform it into a lasting part of your personality.
Enjoying life is a meaningful form of self-care. Think about what brings you joy. For me, it’s the smell of coffee, chatting with my kids, or seeing grass grow through a crack in the sidewalk. What’s on your list? Not necessarily the big, extravagant moments, but the small, everyday joys like feeling friendly towards someone, relaxing as you exhale, or drifting off to sleep after a long day. Despite external circumstances, you can always find something to enjoy within your mind – maybe a private joke, an imagined scenario, or a warm feeling.
These small joys teach an important lesson. It’s often the little things that accumulate over time to make the biggest difference. There’s a saying from Tibet: If you take care of the minutes, the years will take care of themselves.
The most important minute in life? I believe it’s the next one. We can’t change the past and have limited control over the future, but the next minute is always full of potential.
Look for chances to be kind to yourself, to bring care to your pain, accept who you are, and enjoy what you can. Consider what you could heal or learn. Minute by minute, step by step, inner strength by inner strength, you can continue to grow the good within you – for your own benefit and for others.
Have a lovely day!