Sometimes called the molecule of wellbeing, serotonin is the chemical that transforms gunner into giver, lazy into learner and victim into victor. For individuals or teams, serotonin chemicals add focus, support innovative or disruptive solutions, increase motivation and can even transform stress into success.
We now know how to boost levels of serotonin for upper grade or adult learners! State one specific thing you genuinely value in that person, for instance. We also see how simple choices can kick start this well-being fuel.
Curiosity is best developed in a learning culture where serotonin rocks for youngsters. Have you seen that possibility driven setting that allows students to romance the joy of learning? It comes with daily choices that may surprise you.
I first discovered serotonin as wind in my sails at 14 when left homeless, alone and in dire need of a miracle, and you too will find it there for you when you need it most.
Choose Serotonin that builds healthy patterns …
- On the golf course for finer hits to the green.
- In relationships for more confidence to see through others eyes.
- When sleeping for better rest.
- Across diverse groups to attract better understanding.
- Beyond daily ruts – for innovative solutions fueled to support others.
- When stressors strike to build calm for confident and healthy choices.
Serotonin as Drug to Step Beyond Stress
Recent research shows serotonin’s wellbeing or cortisol‘s dangers as more of a choice than any knee-jerk response to life’s hurdles. How so?
One person may simply chew sugar-free gum to increase benefits of its stress-free fuel. Others may recapture peace by steering their amygdala to forgive somebody who criticizes, or to let go of regrets as a way to move on.
We each come with mixed serotonin levels in our DNA pool, and we can each gain more through choices made or actions taken. For instance several events over any day can raise wellbeing (as illustrated in this article) or can tank natural serotonin chemicals. While you cannot control what stressor comes after you here – you can control daily choices for serotonin wellbeing in your response.
Lesser known, however, is the fact that serotonin and other natural drugs literally fuel choice. Will you smile or sneer? Calm is far less dependent on daily events that go well, and stress does not remain simply because the chips are down. That’s likely not surprising if you observe life’s abundance in people who laugh, care, give or lead well, in spite of tough times. They learn to access serotonin in good and bad times.
Power Punches from Serotonin:
1. People possess naturally about 5 to 10 mg of the chemical.
2. Serotonin is 90% within your intestines.
3. The hormone’s additional 10% surges through the blood and brain.
4. Its neurotransmitter roles regulates:
Sleep
Memory
Appetite
Learning
Cardiovascular functions
Moods
Muscle contraction
Temperature regulation
5. Increase serotonin through foods such as milk, plums, pineapples, turkey, and bananas, as they add amino acid called tryptophan for manufacturing natural serotonin.
6. Neurons in the brain release serotonin, and the levels of release impact many behaviors.
7. Low serotonin levels can cause anxiety, fear, self-pity, insomnia, stress, and depression.
8. Certain drugs, such as Prozac, and even LSD will mimic serotonin in the brain.Children love to foster serotonin through tales, and serotonin stories are fun to write for them.
Serotonin Sports Enormous Benefits
Brainpower can increase for those who raise their serotonin levels in natural ways, and without drugs – simply by choosing to do so. Can you see why serotonin is deemed the brain’s miracle drug? You’ll enjoy this recent study to show how the brain builds natural chemicals for well being in a powerful placebo effect.
There’s more good news yet. Each time you choose to raise your serotonin levels, you literally rewire your brain’s plasticity to cultivate more brain benefits on a regular basis. Sound like a winning deal? If so, how will you raise your own and other’s serotonin today?
Mita Breakthrough Steps to Personal and Team Rejuvenation
How can serotonin shift you past ruts that block opportunities?
1. Question moods and run with beliefs that move you forward.
Catch winds of the upper air by avoiding self-talk that limits courage or fears failure.
Ask: How can serotonin ignite courageous and life-changing choices?
2. Target improved approaches by engaging new brain parts
For instance, you may learn to snip your amygdala before you snipe back.
Ask: How can serotonin shift from problems into visible solutions?
3. Expect quality outcomes by identifying quality criteria.
For example, list key criteria that describe desired outcome.
Ask: How do staunch serotonin drug users clarify finer choices?
4. Move intelligences into actions that you see daily.
Progress is not automatic but the brain can add umph to action, much like the Irish blessing for, sun on your shoulders and wind in your sails.
Ask: How does serotonin help turn multiple intelligences into power tools for healthy change?
5. Reflect daily to risk necessary changes for ongoing success. It’s much like the colorful wind-catcher Robyn gave me. Colors harmonize with wind.
Ask: How could Churchill’s notion of kites rising higher against -not with wind, transform your next What if … question?
We can also default to the opposite of serotonin, (cortisol) unless we’re alert!
Cortisol – is the danger chemical that slips in whenever serotonin levels drop. Check out how to spot it, and lower it before it takes you down. Looking for tasks to build your stress-free learning zone?
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How in the world can you change where your seritonin levels go to by deciding to change them? I have too much in my intestines and not enough in my brain.
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This is very useful, thanks 😉
Brain Foods for kids– such as licorice root, red dates, angelica root, ginseng, lemon verbena and ginger – are known to promote circulation, increase concentration and reduce oxidation, thereby improving a child’s natural ability to learn and gather information.
Super Foods naturally contain the best nutrients that fruits and vegetables have to offer, including:
Antioxidants to support, strengthen and develop young immune systems, Phytonutrients vital for optimal physical development, Probiotics to support digestion and absorption, allowing for better vitamin intake without stomach upset and Phospholipids, which are found naturally in the brain, to promote brain development.
Your post is very valuable, thanks
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Ellen,
Doesn’t exercise also trigger serotonin production? By becoming more active, both physically and mentally, we can begin to create the balance that leads to real well-being.
As a writer, I find it so easy to neglect physical activity in favor of my many intellectual endeavors. So, I always need to remind myself that, while exercising our mental muscles during writing and researching is great for keeping them strong and supple, that added physical workout can also work wonders for our attitude, which in turn will boost our brain power even more than mental activity alone.
Exercise can also help us drain the stress that often builds while we engage in mental work that requires extended periods of concentration, giving our brains a much-needed rest and helping to rejuvenate, replenish, and refocus them for the next round of mental activity.
I just love your concept of rewiring the brain’s plasticity! What an adventure–and what a valid goal!
Aside from adding more Tryptophan to my diet, I plan to work on creating greater balance between mental and physical activity today, to maintain a positive attitude, to seek new sources of knowledge and use them to learn and absorb exciting new things, and to forge new connections with people. Those activities should give me that shot of serotonin that I need for optimal mental function. I also plan to help boost other people’s serotonin levels by engaging them in positive, friendly, encouraging, and affirming ways.
Thanks for an inspiring post!
Jeanne
P.S. I may be a little late reading and responding to this post, but it’s never too late to begin improving our serotonin levels! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by GL — and thanks to Robyn for all her tech and other smarts in getting this site to rock! At the end of the day any site is only as good as the value of community that comes by — and thanks for making this site one to look forward to GL!
Good point! That’s exactly why the gut gets a stressor first, Robyn:-) Cortisol also surges there. The key is to top up seritonin and reduce cortisol:-) It’s great to know more about how it works so we can do just that!
Hi Ellen…I love your new look and format. well done.
Ellen, I saw a fact here that’s intriging – serotonin is 90% in the intestines. Do you have the sense that when something traumatic takes place it might be why we feel a Mac truck hit us in the stomach?
Robyn McMasters last blog post..What I Learned from Friends