Purpose of learning about health

• It’s NOT enough to live a long life• A person needs to ENJOY life

– Happiness is connected to the mind and body

HappinessWhat it is.

Where to get it.How to keep it.

Three Types of Happiness

• Require different things• Often at odds with each other

– Rarely will one action support all three

– A person CANNOT focus only on one kind or they often end up unhappy and dissatisfied with their life

Good Day – filled with many mild pleasures, repeatable and forgettable, some rewarding efforts

Euphoria – intense, lasts powerfully in memory, often involves some risk or vulnerability

Happy Life – requires a lot of difficult work (studying, striving, nurturing, maintaining, negotiating, etc.),

sometimes seriously cutting into time for a good day or euphoria

About Happiness

• Status Quo of Happiness– Big events have no lasting affect on

happiness

• Decision making– Greater satisfaction if you can’t

change your mind– We often feel better about a decision

once it is made

People who report being happy with their lives do

NOT always get to…• Do whatever they want

– Unsatisfying (can’t connect with others)

• Physical pleasure (food, sex, etc.)– Doesn’t last long enough

• Have lots of money and possessions– We are more richer and have more stuff

than ever before but our depression rate is increasing

Hormones

• Serotonin = feel good about life (good mood)• Epinephrine = mild stress (↑heart rate & focus)• Dopamine = pleasure/reward (and memory)

– Small dose can make you have a good day– Large dose is “bliss” or “euphoria”

• Endorphin = exhilaration, thrill, reduces pain• Cortisol = stress, reduces blood flow to areas

Natural Sources• Exercise

– Releases endorphins, serotonin & epinephrine– Reduces cortisol

• Laughter (and smiling)– Releases endorphin and dopamine– Reduces cortisol and epinephrine

• Meaningful connections with people (or other beings)– Touch releases serotonin and some dopamine– Reduces cortisol

• Sunlight– Increases serotonin

Laugher & Smiling• Fake it ‘till you make it

– Fake smiles and laughter also releases hormones!

– Laugh every time you get the chance

• Sympathetic response: The same neurons fire in your brain when you watch someone as when you perform that action yourself

What's the difference between chopped beef and pea soup?

Most people can’t pee soup.

Why don't aliens eat clowns?

Because they taste funny.

What does a blonde ask after her doctor tells her that she's pregnant?

Is it mine?

Why was the blonde sad?

Because she looked at her drivers license and saw that

she got an F in sex.

What is the difference between a pregnant woman and a light bulb?

You can unscrew a light bulb.

If your dog was barking at the back door and your wife was knocking on the front door, who would you

let in first?

The dog, because at least he would shut up once he was in.

Why is psychoanalysis quicker for men than for women?

When it's time to go back to childhood, he's already there.

What do you call two Mexicans playing basketball?

Juan on Juan.

Where do you find a one legged dog?

Where you left it.

What do you call a dog with no legs?

Doesn't matter... he won't come when you call anyway!

Two peanuts walk into a bar.

One was a salted.

What do you call a fish with no eyes?

A fsh.

What do you get when you cross an elephant and a rhino?

el-if-i-no

Why don't oysters give to charity?

Because they're shellfish.

What do you call a sheep with no legs?

A cloud

What does a fish say when it runs into a wall?

DAM!

What do you call a deer with no eyes ?

I have no I-Deer

Why did the elephant bring toilet paper to a party?

Because he was a party pooper.

What do you find in an empty nose?

Fingerprints

What kind of bees make milk?

Boobies

Why did the boy throw the butter out the window?

To see a butterfly.

Jeff Dunham

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I226Sfgs0s&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9tb-li5xzQ&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgNKI2CRQFo&feature=fvst

Meaningful Connections

• Part of a community– Hanging out is important, but it’s not

enough

• To be important to other people takes work, compromise, effort and sacrifice– Can’t be entirely selfish (or giving)– Constantly changing– Giving to others brings satisfaction

Play

Work

Aikido

Family

Eric OmarAminaAlicia

Mom & Dad

Gayle

Kurt

NicoleKate

VictoriaMargare

tRob

Robert

Mike TrishPaul ArmenMelin Amy

ErinLorien

MelDav

eLisa

Make one of your own…

• Three or more groups or communities

• Ten or more people– People you are important to or are

important to you– NOT casual aquaintances