According to this article by Kelly Pate Dwyer, "'Runner's high,' once believed to be caused by endorphins, more recently has been attributed to endocannabinoids--substances released with exercise that produce an effect similar to a marijuana high. Also contributing to this state of euphoria is epinephrine (adrenaline)--the surge that comes with getting excited for a race, which also has the power to boost confidence and kill pain. Add to that serotonin and dopamine, two other feel-good brain chemicals, and you've got a physiological cocktail that can transform a workout into happy hour."

Everyone has these 'magic chemicals' running through our bodies - -  But it's what we choose to do with them that makes all  the difference.  Develop techniques to tap into them and use them on demand and you're sitting on a gold mine.

So how do we do this? A possible answer lies in a function called neuroplasticity, which is "the brain's ability to change its structure and function by expanding or strengthening certain neural circuits while shrinking or weakening others."

"Neurotransmitters released during exercise can contribute to neuroplasticity," says neuroscientist Ronald Duman, Ph.D., a professor at Yale University's School of Medicine. "Neuroplasticity within the brain's motivation and reward pathways may play a role in the perception of experiences, including exercise."

So what's the moral of the story? Be happy. Start to habitually associate anything, whether it is running 5 miles, practicing an instrument or tackling a new skill at work, to positive thoughts. Tap into your body's ability to literally change your outlook on life and what you can accomplish. Avoid the negative thoughts - - SMILE. 

When I first started racing competitively back in high-school, I was constantly nervous and scared while on the starting line, waiting for that gun to go off.  I soon learned that if I forced myself tosmile, I was practically instantaneously calmed and happy.  Even though I looked slightly crazy while standing there smiling at nothing, the chemical response that is produced by the mere act of smiling helped me settle down. 

But there's also a What Came First: The Chicken or the Egg type battle about whether certain people are simply born with more of these chemicals and thus pre-disposed to a greater capacity for happiness.  And if you're more inclined to be happy, those neural circuits will certainly be that much stronger than your perpetually gloomy neighbor's.

I, for one, believe that both answers are valid.   I believe that I'm blessed and lucky to have been born with so many 'happy chemicals', but at the same time, I work my my butt off - - and not just for killer legs, good abs or a faster P.R...for my mental health and happiness and positive energy as well.

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