Taking an interest in others may broaden your mind and lead to new discoveries, which in itself can cause a hit of feel-good brain chemicals!
When you talk to people, how often do you ask questions? Are you usually in ‘transmit’ mode or do you encourage others to talk? Whether you’re surrounded by strangers, or with your loved ones, try to learn about people. Find out what they do, things they’ve done or what they think. Being curious about those around us brings a whole range of benefits. It combats people’s loneliness, creates a sense of community and helps us feel we are worth something. Setting yourself a challenge to learn more about those around you will open you up to new experiences, learning new things, and it can provide a natural boost to your dopamine levels.
Dopamine is one of the chemicals responsible for transmitting signals in between the nerve cells (neurons) of the brain, explains Dr Phil Newton from Swansea University. But it’s best-known for being our brain’s ‘pleasure centre’, providing positive feelings to motivate us to do, or continue doing, certain things.
