Mindful Breathing Thought Leader: Nancy Candea
Many women in the second half of life find themselves not as happy as they thought they would be.
“It also means that we are constantly looking for something else to fill the void.”
Happiness From Outside Sources:
They may have successful careers and families, but they still feel a sense of emptiness or dissatisfaction. This is because we women are socialized to believe that our happiness should come from outside sources, such as our relationships, work, or material possessions. Potentially, making the ways to happiness after 50 more elusive.
The problem with this belief is that it leads us to chase after things that we think will make us happy but often don’t. It also means that we are constantly looking for something else to fill the void.
Another challenge is that as we age, our brains go through a lot of changes. One of the most common changes is a decrease in the production of dopamine. ¹ Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood and motivation. A decrease in dopamine can lead to sadness, fatigue, and low motivation. Luckily, there are things that women can do to raise their dopamine levels.
“Relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation can also help to increase dopamine levels.”
3 Easy Ways To Boost Your Mood:
- Exercise is one of them. Exercise releases endorphins, which are chemicals that have mood-boosting effects.
- Eating well also plays a role in maintaining healthy dopamine levels. Foods that are high in protein and omega-three fatty acids are especially good for boosting dopamine production.
- Relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation can also help to increase dopamine levels.
When you raise your dopamine levels, you feel good about yourself, your life, and happiness overall. This makes it easier to accept yourself – through all the ups and downs of life. The ways to happiness after age 50 are very much internally driven.
¹ Berry AS, Shah VD, Baker SL, et al., “Aging Affects Dopaminergic Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive Flexibility,” J Neurosci. 2016;36(50):12559-12569. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0626-16.2016
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About the Author:
Nancy Candea is a life coach and yoga therapist who helps women make peace with their past, find self-acceptance, and step wholeheartedly into their purpose. Nancy, who specializes in yoga therapy for trauma, addiction, and chronic pain, has led trainings and retreats in Greece, Uganda, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, upcountry Hawaii, Detroit, and Newark.
She created 2017’s social justice summit on the Navajo Nation in Arizona. She has brought her personal trainings to the Boulder Women’s Shelter and to seven-figure households. Nancy’s articles have been featured in Elephant Journal and Purpose Fairy. Check out her freebies at NancyCandea.com.
