Some people show up at work in great spirits and their tone suggests they seem to hold onto hope even when conflict comes. Their brains appear to be wired for zip and others tend to reward them with promotions, or monetary incentives.
Look at a happy-go-lucky – successful person – and you are looking at levels of serotonin that measure higher than the average Joe. How so? Some folks produce higher levels from their unique gene pools – others generate more serotonin by their choices and responses to others on any ordinary day. 
Whether you’re naturally prone to more or you simply go after more – you can up your level of serotonin. That's what scientists tell us about this natural chemical that fuels well-being.
Researchers show increasingly how you can also bank a good reserve of this helpful hormone. Those who deposit it ahead, often take longer to lose patience, blow their stack or face depression. Or they ward off problems that plague people who sulk, take offence easily, gossip, resort to meta messages, or simply retreat rather than face conflict.
Bank serotonin? But how?
Here are a few suggestions that could begin your deposits this week…
1. Participate in a sport you love. For me … that golf … and it brings me serotonin even on a busy or stressful day. Ryan Bombard deposits through rock climbing.
2. Give something away just for the sake of giving it – and with no expectations back … other than the sheer delight of the recipient’s smile. Darren Rowse gave away $1001 dollars recently.
3. Offer an encouraging word or two to popular peers and the biggest grouch at work and watch people’s reaction in spilled serotonin. Liz Strauss does it best.
4. Teach something you do well – to somebody else in a way that inspires interest. Roberta Ferguson did it today in blogging basics.
5. Offer a reasonable proposal to change one failing practice where you work – and show your boss how you’ll oversee it if adopted. Robyn McMaster leads the way. Here at the
You likely have better ideas than mine – and now that I think of it – why not share them with the rest of us. That too is a way to deposit serotonin all around.
Since the brain is shaped and rewired daily by the world around us according to new studies, and since chemicals work in your favor when you act and react well, it’s worth a shot at another deposit today.
Besides - you may need to draw on a bit more well being to keep you going tomorrow. What do you think?
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/07/what_is_cortisol_and_why_shoul.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/07/what_is_serotonin_and_why_shou.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/05/bank_any_serotonin_today.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/05/the_magic_dose_of_serotonin.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/10/seritonin_builders_for_better.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/07/chemicals_to_refuel_when_work.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/08/tone_to_the_finish_line.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/08/stick_a_neuron_in_your_head_an.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/10/i_just_needed_to_vent.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/07/problems_that_spark_solutions.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/09/10_practices_that_boost_your_b.html
http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2007/10/ten_distinctives_in_a_brain_ba.html
Hey there!
I don't know that I do it best. Seems to me that you are pretty darn good yourself. Why just look at this post. Gotta lots of serotonin spilled here. :)
Posted by: Liz Strauss | May 22, 2007 6:07 PM | Permalink to Comment