Happiness Starts with Your Brain Type

Happiness originates in distinct brain regions: pleasure in the orbitofrontal cortex; motivation and habit formation in the basal ganglia; and mood and cognitive flexibility in the brain stem.

You may be one or a combination of these five primary brain types: (take this brain assessment to find out yours)

• Balanced: you have a very healthy brain
• Spontaneous: you have low dopamine
• Persistent: you’re often worried, rigid, and inflexible
• Sensitive: you need other people and isolation is hard
• Cautious: your GABA levels are low

When you know your brain type and what’s making you, well, you, the rough edges of your day-to-day smooth out and you can live life with more ease. In the process, your relationships with others will improve, your happiness will grow and your sense of self will become stronger.

Learn more about brain types and what actually boosts your happiness according to neuroscience in Dr. Amen’s book, “You, Happier: The 7 Neuroscience Secrets of Feeling Good Based on Your Brain Type.”

Those seven secrets to happiness include things like brain health, targeted nutrients mindset and following a path that’ right for you.

“Happiness comes from moving your life forward toward your life goals with meaning and purpose, based on your values, despite whatever obstacles are in your way,” Dr. Amen says. “A happy life doesn’t focus on the past with regret or look to the future with fear.”