Do you love surprises or do you hate them? Not all surprises are created equal. Being surprised on your birthday is different from being suprised with a $400 auto repair bill. But the brain responds to surprises in a, well, surprising way!
Neuroscientists have discovered that surprise is one of the most powerful human emotions. As it turns out, the brain’s pleasure center (or the nucleus accumbens) lights up like a Christmas tree when you experience something pleasant that you didn’t expect.
A cluster of nerve cells underneath the cerebral cortex, near the front of the brain, is so associated with good feelings that neuroscientists refer to this region as the “pleasure center.”
Dopamine floods the “pleasure center” bringing on feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Not only do you get a nice boost of dopamine, the brain releases noradrenaline – the neurotransmitter responsible for focus and concentration. Think of it as the reset button for the brain. It actually stops all of the other brain activity to let you find meaning in the surprise.
Perhaps the best part of surprises is that they don’t have to be huge to make a huge impact. The unexpected thing – a random act of kindness, a hand-written thank you note from a colleague, or something simple that makes you laugh out loud – can create positive chemical changes that reset your brain, create new neural pathways that make you a little smarter, and make you happier.
Whether love surprises or hate them, it’s not that complicated to make them work for you and your brain. Here are four ways to both inspire and embrace surprise:
1. Practice of the art of vulnerability.
Vulnerability is sexy. Research has shown that practicing vulnerability is endearing and incredibly powerful in helping us connect with others. Those connections give us purpose and meaning. Nurturing your own sense of vulnerability is one way to allow life to surprise you.
2. Nurture curiosity.
Curiosity opens your brain to the notion that you’re okay with not knowing. It’s the cornerstone of learning and discovery, and it requires you to let go of control and embrace unpredictability.
3. Be unpredictable.
Doing the unexpected is a great way to lead to new insights, new perspectives, and “a-ha” moments. Most of us tend to be creatures of habit, so it takes intentional practice to break away from the comfortable places and spaces.
4. Surprise and delight people around you.
Look for little ways to make someone else smile. A kind unexpected act or gesture will give you both a dopamine boost. Something as simple as a handwritten note of appreciation or a cookie from your morning Starbucks run can make someone's whole day look differently... and yours, too!
So take a minute today to figure out a way to surprise someone in your corner of the world. A quick note, a reason to laugh, or an invitation to lunch… how delicious to know that small surprise will light up someone’s pleasure center!
Want to learn more about how the brain works and how to make it work better?
Check out Happier Hour with Einstein and the companion Gratitude Journal available now on Amazon!
