為什麼生活充滿「歡樂(好玩)」(have fun)是重要的？
“To all this, fun is the antidote maybe even literally, neurochemically. You see, fun shared with others is connected to a second, equally important feel-good hormone that we don’t talk about enough: oxytocin. We earn some of our oxytocin through prosocial interactions and engaging in experiences that connect us to others. Oxytocin gives us that real sweetness of something larger than ourselves, while dopamine is metaphorically feel-good saccharin…“
「歡樂」是一種解毒劑。「歡樂」的人事物，會促進人體中催產素(oxytocin)的分泌。從與他人的社交互動參與經驗和他人的連結中，我們的身體會產生催產素。催產素是讓我們感到自己被重視的東西，而相對的多巴胺則只是一時的快感而已。
”When we have a bias toward fun, we start to take back control. When we prioritize sharing in deliberate experiences, when we actively seek out meaningful social interaction with others through fun, we escape the need for dopamine’s IV drip. As such, fun is an antidote to the hedonic treadmill, enriching our lives instead of simply repressing our true need to feel alive and connected.“
當我們刻意過得「歡樂」，願意優先跟別人分享我們的經驗，積極在與他人的互動過程之中充滿歡樂，我們就不需要多巴胺的刺激了。「歡樂」是快樂職場的解毒劑，它豐富我們的生活，而不是壓抑我們對生命喜悅及歸屬感的需求。
‘”Oxytocin release appears to be more than merely pleasurable; research suggests it protects us from our own negative impulses… When we prioritize activities that enrich us with oxytocin, satisfying our need for fun, we’re better equipped to move beyond instant gratification and make better choices about how to invest our time and attention. Encouraging the release of oxytocin also appears to support the bonds of connectedness through helping us experience empathy more deeply…“
催產素的分泌並不僅僅讓我們感到愉悅而已。研究顯示，當我們在面對負面衝擊的時候，催產素會產生保護的作用。歡樂的活動促進催產素的分泌，滿足我們歡樂的需求，但不僅僅是一時的快感。催產素的釋放，增強跟別人的連結，我們因此而更有同理心，那種充滿歡樂的活動是更好的選擇，促使我們投入更多時間和注意力。
”…When oxytocin is present, we tend to act more prosocial and better actualize that it’s not about ourselves and how we rank against others, but rather that we are better when we are supporting each other…”
催產素的存在，使我們更願意跟別人溝通，而且因此愈感到自我的完成，不是因為我們比別人更優異，而是透過互相幫助，讓我們變得更好。
“Death is the key to the door of life. It is through accepting the finiteness of our own individual existences that we are able to find the strength and courage to reject those extrinsic roles and expectations and devote each day of our lives—however long they may be—to growing as fully as we are able … When you fully understand that each day you awaken could be the last you have, you take the time that day to grow, to become more of who you really are, to reach out to other human beings.”
死亡是開啓生命之門的鑰匙。只有體認生也有涯，不管可以活多久，我們才可以有勇氣甩開日日要求我們投入的外在角色及期望，充分讓自己得以真正成長……每天醒來，當作是生命的最後一天，用滿那一整天去成長，去成就真正的自己，並主動向他人伸出援手。
……
佛教說因果。基督教說贖罪。伊斯蘭教說順從。猶太教說應許。無神論者說隨機混亂。什麼是不管信仰什麼，都可以讓自我更完成呢？
心理學家說，用歡樂的態度過每一天，充滿更大的慈悲心(同理心)和別人互動，讓催產素分泌吧！那麼，個人的自我將更形完成。
如果說，人難免一死，人類世終將結束，這個世界也會繼續朝向最大亂度去發展，那麼人的一生，存在的意義又是什麼呢？
「生まれて、すみません」(生而為人，我很抱歉~寺内壽太郎 語 太宰治 引用)。所以無賴。而讓有限生命的時時刻刻，都儘可能充滿「歡樂」，就是它的對位面。
人生是沒有意義的，除了那吉光片羽的歡樂瞬間，當如是說。
*：Mike Rucker, the fun habit, 2023, Simon & Schuster, Inc.
2023/11/9 the fun habit Damakey
