The Brain Science of Joy*: A Layman's Commentary
Joy is the ingredient that causes us to celebrate the happy events of life. Joy is also needed to bear the disappointment, heartache, loss, and traumas of life. Without joy my life is a flat line at best. Raising 5 adopted children, and then teaching emotionally handicapped students for 15 years contributed to my drive to overcome dysfunction and move toward a more joy-filled life.
Since the Bible talks about joy so frequently, I wanted to know what joy had to do with my identity as a Christ follower. I found I was not alone in the quest to understand more about joy. This search has caused many different disciplines of study to make contributions to help us answer the questions: What makes joy so powerful and what in the world does our brain have to do with it?
WE ARE CREATED FOR JOY!
Joy is produced when I experience that another is “glad to be with me.” When I have a cup of coffee with a friend who welcomes me —-without judgment—- to be myself, I experience joy. I want to be with that person often. The incredible “glad to be with me” power of joy motivates me to connect with another person. God gave us brains that naturally seek joy.
Often called the joy center, the right orbital prefrontal cortex (unformed at birth) grows through human interaction, therefore, our joy growth and capacity is developmental and physiological. If we have lots of relational “glad to be with you” joy in our early life (infant/toddler) this area of our brain will experience maximum growth. But don’t despair if that didn’t happen for you, or if it wasn’t the way you reared your children —-the good news is that your joy center has the ability to grow until end of life. When we experience joy, neural pathways are formed and as neurons link together and become myelinated they form permanent pathways.
Allow me to say it again. Additionally, and probably more importantly, because of the property of neuroplasticity, the right orbital prefrontal cortex or joy center in our brain is able to continue to grow over our entire lifetime as we intentionally focus on positive relational experiences.
WE ARE MOTIVATED AND EXPERIENCE HEALTHY ATTACHMENT THROUGH JOY !
Neurology and behavioral sciences have made great contributions to our understanding of how our brain produces joy. Our left-hemisphere is concerned with words, information, and problem solving. The right-hemisphere is focused on emotions, rhythm (music), and experience. In very simple terms, the function of my right hemisphere is to experience life, seeking relationships with those who are “glad to be with me,” whereas, the function of my left hemisphere is to tell the story (brain activity moves from right to left). We function best when these two hemispheres synchronize.
Here is where, I believe, knowing a little elementary brain science assists our understanding. One of our primary goals as an infant is to attach securely to our caretaker. This takes place in our thalamus and basal ganglion as the attachment light goes on and off. When our attachment light is on and someone consistently responds, we bond, and joy is produced. Secure attachment happens when the infant experiences eyes connecting with them that communicate that they are welcomed, wanted, loved, and that someone is “glad to be with them.” This activity produces joy. This does not happen on our own. It happens in relationship with our family and community.
This joy experience that leads to secure love bonds can also happen in our relationship with God (“I have loved you even as Father has loved me... I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:9, 11). This bond of love causes us to be strong enough to manage the difficult circumstances of life and still stay in healthy connection. The Bible states, “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10 NLT
As we bond with God by gazing (focusing) on him and his never changing love for us we build joy (neuro-pathways) in our brain.
WHAT CAN I DO TODAY TO INCREASE MY JOY?
• Make eye contact when you are speaking.
• Make relationship a higher priority than solving a problem.
• Share stories of thankfulness that focus on relationship.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Much of my earlier life was spent in anger and sadness but, as I have digested the truth in this teaching, intentionally and consistently practicing these activities, I have been changed. My joy bucket gets fuller every day. I am truly thankful! “Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.” Philippians 1:25 NLT
Blessings on your journey to greater joy!