How to Form a Habit Part Four

​Previously I have used the metaphor of the brain to be the hardware and the software is what we have uploaded by what we have seen, heard, read and any experience along the way. Thus, we are the sum of every moment of our experiences. However, we must admit, during life, this programming came with some software viruses that need to be purged. 

How can we figuratively do that?

By incorporating new brain patterns called behaviors or habits we can detect, and prevent personal harmful deportment, yes, by installing brain antivirus security. 

You begin by providing the human brain the foundation to function as it was meant to be, by strengthening our neurotransmitters. This is done by four basic brain chemicals, dopamine, serotonin oxytocin and endorphins.

Forgive me, but more must be said about dopamine, and let me describe it in this way. Have you ever heard a good joke that you cannot wait to tell someone else? That sense of feeling is demonstrable of dopamine. When you experience laughter, it encourages this feel-good hormone, dopamine, for laughter is universal. 

A former FBI Special Agent who is a professional body language interpreter stated that if a person with a stretched smile that goes up to his eyes, he is pretending. So, if you are going to smile make it the real Mccoy by smiling from ear to ear.

Have you ever hugged yourself and padded your shoulders?

    Try it! I dare you! You cannot help but smile or laugh, may be because it is silly, nonetheless, the result is what we want, the inducement of dopamine, the happy hormone.

Serotonin has been mentioned before as well, and it can be boosted without medication.

You cannot get serotonin straight from foods, However, the amino acid, tryptophan, can be converted to serotonin in your brain. You want to include poultry such as turkey, salmon, and other high protein foods in our diet. 

Science suggests that ingesting carbohydrates accompanied with a diet of elevated levels of tryptophan will help your brain absorb tryptophan more readily, thus, serotonin is induced. 

The following is a personal preference, but I am sure you can produce a better combination:

whole-grain bread with gobble, gobble, or cheese.

oatmeal with an assortment of nuts, sprinkled with raisins.

salmon on white or brown rice, I am starting to salivate!

How about pineapple with your desired crackers

Half peanut butter sandwich and with a hint of jam? 

Another element to induce serotonin is sun light, vitamin (D). Sunshine is related to your circadian rhythm, your biological clock that effects sleep, digestion, learning and memory ability. Therefore, take a 10-15-minute stroll in the sun and this serves also as exercise which is also an inducer of serotonin. And do not forget your sun block.

Now that I have gotten that off my chest, we will discuss the other two brain chemicals that help to form good habits, Oxytocin, and endorphins.