Happiness

I was bored and folding laundry the other night and found this documentary on netflix. It was actually really good and very interesting. They showed that once basic physical needs are met that extra material gains do not change happiness levels.  The most interesting thing to me is that God really does love us. He created us in a way that the chemical dopamine, which creates feelings of happiness, is released in our brains when we do things that he asks us to do. Such as being compassionate and loving, being close to your family and friends, being part of and participating in your community, exerting yourself physically through work, and having a good spiritual connection of some kind. All these things that are free and help us get out of ourselves and become more like the Savior. The sad thing is Satan has also provided stimulants that chemically release dopamine in the brain such as drugs and alcohol. Amazingly enough feelings of compassion release way more dopamine than if someone were to take a hit of cocaine. And being loving and compassionate is free and opportunities for it are all around us. So they have scientifically proven it Heavenly Father really does love us and his paths truly are the paths for happiness in this life... if only all of society would get that and stop chasing down false sources of happiness.