Understand the inherently peaceful presence of Awareness the art of Living in the NOW, and see that this peace is not dependent upon the condition of the mind, body or world, just as a screen is not dependent on the quality of the words or images that appear on it.
Sunday 31 March 2013
Friday 29 March 2013
The addicted brain is distinctly different from the nonaddicted brain, as manifested by changes in brain metabolic activity, receptor availability, gene expression, and responsiveness to environmental cues
There are many biological factors that are involved with the addicted brain. "The addicted brain is distinctly different from the nonaddicted brain, as manifested by changes in brain metabolic activity, receptor availability, gene expression, and responsiveness to environmental cues" (2) In the brain, there are many changes that take place when drugs enter a person's blood stream. The pathway in the brain that the drugs take is first to the ventral tegmentum to the nucleus accumbens, and the drugs also go to the limbic system and the orbitofrontal cortex, which is called the mesolimbic reward system. The activation of this reward system seems to be the common element in what hooks drug users on drugs (2).
Drugs seem to cause surges in dopamine neurotransmitters and other pleasure brain messengers. However, the brain quickly adapts and these circuits desensitize, which allows for withdrawal symptoms to occur (3). Drug addiction works on some of the same neurobiological mechanisms that aid in learning and memories (3). "This new view of dopamine as an aid to learning rather than a pleasure mediator may help explain why many addictive drugs, which unleash massive surges of the neurotransmitter in the brain, can drive continued use without producing pleasure-as when cocaine addicts continue to take hits long after the euphoric effects of the drug have worn off or when smokers smoke after cigarettes become distasteful." (4)
Since memory and pleasure zones are intertwined in the brain, many researchers have been using psychological approaches to stop drug use. Many rehabilitation centers have used classical conditioning to rehabilitate drug addicts. They combine exposure to drugs combined with cognitive scripts, like statements how drugs have destroyed a person's life or what can be accomplished without using drugs, according to DeLetis (5). By using classical conditioning, the drugs addicts pair the drugs with negative connotations and properties. "Adverse withdrawal symptoms can function as an instrumental negative reinforcer and can be linked to the opponent process theory of motivation." (6) However, drug addicts may relapse and start using again because of many environmental "cues", which are external forces that are associated with drug use in their lives. When the drugs addicts see these cues, their brain circuitry, especially the orbitofrontal cortex become hyperactive and causes these people to start craving drugs again (2). No matter how successful the rehabilitation treatment is, once those "cues" are around, the drug addicts remember how pleasurable the drugs felt and relapse into drug abuse again.
Through all of the research done about drug addiction and its affects on the brain, one can see how drug addiction is considered a brain disease. Drug addiction is a disabling disease and can ruin a person's life. By taking drugs, a person's brain becomes "rewired" to tolerate high amounts of dopamine neurotransmitters, but once those high amounts of dopamine cease to exist, the person experiences withdrawal symptoms. However, there are ways drug addicts can control their drug intake by using classical conditioning techniques, which allows them to associate drugs with negative attributes.
Wednesday 27 March 2013
The results strongly suggest that the mechanism of depression after alcohol drinking may be related to serotonin.
| We examined tryptophan and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) levels in the blood after consumption of alcohol. Forty-five minutes after drinking, whole blood serotonin concentration was significantly reduced, whereas no changes were observed in tryptophan level. The diurnal rhythm of 5-HT in subjects who the day before had drunk alcohol was quite different from the control group, but very similar to that of patients with depression. The results strongly suggest that the mechanism of depression after alcohol drinking may be related to serotonin. |
The important thing with serotonin, is to keep it at steady levels.
The important thing with serotonin, is to keep it at steady levels. The medicines that raise the level of serotonin in the brain do so by slowing the reabsorbtion of serotonin. The alcohol increases the availible serotonin for a bit and then it drops off quickly, leaving the depressed person feeling worse, and they tend to not take the medicine correctly when they feel badly or are drunk. High serotonin levels do not mean somebody will feel happy or good, It makes it more likely that they won't feel realy bad.
Sunday 9 December 2012
Breaking the grips of materialism
I used to love going to the underground parking garage of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, or the Merc, when I began trading there in 1991. Four floors of underground parking held some of the most expensive and sexy automobiles I had ever seen. Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari, they were all there in abundance. Those visits to the CME parking garage were my inspiration for success. It was one thing to see those cars on car lots dotted throughout the suburbs. But to know that I traded next to and with the owners of those fine automobiles made it more tangible, more attainable.
I used to dream of the day when I would drive my some‐day‐I’ll‐own‐it‐ two‐seater 
convertible Mercedes from the suburbs into the city, stealthily dodging the early morning traffic. And when the market closed at 2pm, I could just see myself taking the elevator down to “P3” where my freshly washed red chariot awaited the comfortable drive home in the summer air, top down of course.
But something funny happened on the road to wealth. My early struggles as a trader were not just about making enough money to survive on. I overcame that hurdle after the first couple of years. My struggle revolved more around how not to compartmentalize my faith and my career. I wanted to be not just successful, but wildly successful. That was certain. But my focus on material wealth continued to cause me inner static that I could not ignore.
Various and specific Biblical principles began to shape my mind and change my heart about material possessions at the time that my trading success began to escalate. In my study time, I formed what I call Scripture Links between very specific Biblical principles and precepts that, when taken as a whole, create a wonderful tapestry of God’s instructions and promises.
Breaking the grips of materialism
One specific Scripture Link was instrumental in breaking the stronghold that materialism had on me…
In John 15:7, Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” “AMEN!” I shouted when I first read that. Who wouldn’t? Just spend time with God, “remain in Him”, and we get whatever we want? I know what I wanted – a red convertible two‐seater Mercedes. Bring it on, God! But hold on a minute. There is a bit more to the promise that cannot be ignored. Let’s take a peek at the next verse, verse 8: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be my disciples”. “Okay, I can live with that”, I thought. What I ask for should enable me to bear much fruit. Well, a convertible could take me to church, that’s a good thing, right? And maybe I could use the car to pick up a visiting missionary form the airport. That’s got to be a good thing.
Further Bible study brought me to a Scripture Link that opened my eyes in a new kind of way. The Scripture Link is found in Romans 14:26‐28. Here, Paul describes that he is on his way from Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem where he will bring the contributions for the poor given by the Macedonians and the Achaeans. Paul says that the Macedonians and the Achaeans were “pleased to make a contribution to the poor among the saints in Jerusalem” (Romans 14:26). And again, “They were pleased to do it” (Romans 14:27). They were pleased “to share with them their material blessings” (Romans 14:27). But here is the part that struck me hard. This was my “Aha!”’ moment: “So after I (Paul) completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit (emphasis added), I will go to Spain and visit you on the way” (Romans 14:28). Did you catch that? Sharing material blessings, (yes, money) joyfully, counting it as a privilege; this is truly bearing fruit!
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be my disciples”. God’s desire is for us to remain in Him, to have our hearts connected with His. When we get there, God can confidently say that He will give us whatever we ask because our heart’s desire is wrapped up in His. It is at this place in the relationship that God can trust us with that promise. It is at this place in the relationship that we will bear much fruit. After the discovery of this Scripture Link between John 15:7 and Romans 14: 26‐28, my heart began to slowly change.
My visits to the underground parking garage at the CME became less frequent. Instead, my eyes become ever more opened to the needs of the poor and hungry around the world. Over time, I came to understand the joy of giving material blessings, (yes, money), and God was faithful. My prayers, my “asking whatever I wished”, focused less and less on what I could spend on me. In fact, it was around this time that Trading Account Giving Goals, TAGGs I call them, were born. TAGGs are goal‐setting mechanisms that specifically revolve around giving away increasingly larger portions of my income while challenging me to maximize my trading results.
I never did buy that Mercedes, even though I could have. Rather, I continued to drive a rusty 1991 Honda Accord with over 150,000 miles on it. I used to joke that I was afraid to wash it because the dirt was all that held it together. The guys at work used to have a field day when they saw me in that car.
Certainly God is not against any of us driving a luxury car, as long as we can afford it. God is the giver of all good things. If a Mercedes is in your driveway, I say, “God’s blessings to you!” But for me, God knew a severe change of heart was needed. The focus of my desires needed to change. As my trading success flourished, so too did the focus of my desires. God showed me a way to harness my desire to set goals and achieve higher profits for a higher purpose.
Saturday 8 December 2012
What is koinonia?
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| Saint George Preca has been likened as a successor to Saint Paul's evangelical work on the island of Malta. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Koinonia is a Greek word that occurs 20 times in the Bible. Koinonia’s primary meaning is “fellowship, sharing in common, communion.” The first occurrence of koinonia is Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of koinonia.
Philippians 2:1-2 declares, “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” Koinonia is being in agreement with one another, being united in purpose, and serving alongside each other. Our koinonia with each other is based on our common koinonia with Jesus Christ. First John 1:6-7, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
A powerful example of what koinonia should look like can be found in a study of the phrase “one another” in the Bible. Scripture commands us to be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10), honor one another (Romans 12:10), live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8), accept one another (Romans 15:7), serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13), be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32), admonish one another (Colossians 3:16), encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13), spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), offer hospitality (1 Peter 4:9), and love one another (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11-12). That is what true biblical koinonia should look like.
I face the pain of my life with courage.
I face the pain of my life with courage.
Within my pain is the wisdom to transform it.
I turn my pain into wisdom.