If you were a fan of the Super Bowl and especially if you were happy that the Eagles won, you probably had many moments of exhilaration from the time they won the playoffs to when they actually won the Super Bowl and went on to the big celebration in Philadelphia with over a million people in attendance. The energy in each of these events was palpable even if you just experienced it by watching TV. The feelings go beyond mere happiness. You probably were jubilant.
There are many times in our lives when we have celebrations: birthdays, graduations, weddings, the birth of a child are a few examples. There is the fun of preparing for each, sharing the joy with friends and relatives, often sharing special food and beverages. Sometimes there are gifts exchanged as part of the celebration. We take pictures and share them so we can remember the moments.
Celebrations typically provide many opportunities for people to share their stories. These stories promote connections among family members, friends, colleagues and within communities.
I found the following information entitled “Storytelling’s Impact on the Brain: Neuroscience Behind Narrative Power” from Neurolinguistics on NeuroLaunch, September 30, 2024 very helpful in explaining how a person’s body is impacted by joyful excitement.
“Studies have shown that when we’re engrossed in a story, our brains mirror the brain activity of the storyteller. It’s as if our neurons are doing a carefully choreographed dance, stepping in time with the narrative beats.
This brain-to-brain synchronization isn’t just a neat party trick. It’s the foundation of our ability to create shared experiences and collective understanding. When we’re all on the same page (pun intended), we’re more likely to empathize, cooperate, and build stronger social bonds. It’s storytelling as the ultimate team-building exercise, if you will.
Storytelling also triggers a veritable chemical carnival in our brains. Let’s break down some of the key players in this neurochemical narrative:
First up is oxytocin, often dubbed the ‘love hormone’ or ‘cuddle chemical.’ When we’re emotionally invested in a story, our brains release oxytocin, fostering feelings of empathy and trust. It’s why we feel so connected to fictional characters, sometimes even more than to people in our real lives. This chemical connection is part of what makes storytelling such a powerful tool for building relationships and fostering understanding between diverse groups.
Next on the guest list is dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. A well-crafted story can trigger dopamine release, keeping us engaged and motivated to continue. It’s the reason we stay up way past our bedtime to finish ‘just one more chapter’ or binge-watch an entire season of our favorite show in one sitting.
Last but not least, we have cortisol, the stress hormone. Now, you might think stress is something we’d want to avoid, but in the context of storytelling, a little cortisol can be a good thing. It heightens our attention and focuses our minds on the narrative at hand.”
The website Quartz offers the following information: “Back in 1980, psychologist Richard Solomon came up with an idea he called the ‘opponent process theory’ (paywall). Broadly, this states that whenever you feel one emotion, you’re slated to feel the opposite next. This would explain why after feeling happiness, we feel slightly gloomy.
‘[Opponent process theory] is a basic physiological phenomenon that the body reacts to any challenge associated with it, and often in a way to counteract the effects of that challenge,’ says George Koob, a behavioral physiologist and the director of the US National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Koob explains that the idea behind the theory is that we all have a baseline state called homeostasis, a Goldilocks setting when we’re not too happy or sad—just going through life. A super fun weekend or receiving an award would swing that balance in one direction, and the brain may try to overcorrect in order to restabilize. It works in reverse, too. ‘You can also endure pain and have an opponent process that is pleasurable,’ he says. This is why something like skydiving can turn from terrifying to invigorating.”
This information can help us all understand why we felt so excited and then feel a little down now that all the celebrating is over. Some of us may struggle to regain our equilibrium and can get back to our old familiar selves. For a while we may not be as productive or as happy. Life just doesn’t feel as fun as it was when we were celebrating.
For me it is helpful to have a scientific explanation for my feelings. At least I can tell myself I’m not crazy or being unreasonable. I also can reassure myself that my good spirits will return once my brain and body recover from the neurochemical bath I received when celebrating.
And none of these reactions prevent me from hoping to be able to experience a similar celebration at the end of our next football season!
Invitation for Reflection
- What emotions and sensations did you experience if you were excited about the outcome of the Super Bowl? How did you behave?
- What did you notice about those with whom you celebrated?
- Think about other recent times when you were celebrating something or someone. How did you feel during and right after? Did you notice that once your excitement waned that you had an opposite reaction, felt down, less energetic?
- What can you tell yourself the next time you experience a celebration and release the neurochemicals of joy?
Diane Wagenhals
Director Emeritus, Lakeside Global Institute