Infographic: Dopamine motivates you to take action toward your goals, desires, and needs, and gives you a surge of reinforcing pleasure when achieving them. Procrastination, self-doubt, and lack of enthusiasm are linked with low levels of dopamine. Break big goals down into little pieces so you can create a series of little finish-lines which releases dopamine. Create new goals before achieving your current one. That ensures a consistent pattern for experiencing dopamine. Serotonin: Serotonin flows when you feel significant or important. Loneliness and depression are present when serotonin is absent. Gratitude practices can help you remind that you’re valued and significant. Although too much ultraviolet light isn’t good, some daily sun exposure is healthy for boosting your serotonin levels. Oxytocin: The release of oxytocin creates intimacy, trust, and strengthens relationships. It’s released by men and women during orgasm, and by mothers during childbirth and breastfeeding. Often referred to as “the cuddle hormone,” a simple way to keep oxytocin flowing is to give someone a hug. Endorphins: Endorphins are released in response to acute pain and stress, to help alleviate anxiety and depression. The surging “second wind” and euphoric “runners high” when running are a result of endorphins. Along with exercise, laughter is one of the easiest ways to induce endorphin release.

1. ’ ’
’