HEAL with Dr Gabor Mate

Step 1 - Relabel - This is a thought or belief

Step 2 - It is an old belief my brain sending me an old message

Step 3 – Refocus on another aspect of life – find some distance

Interrupt the common pattern

Step 4 – re-evaluate – what is the actual value of this thought? Keeps you stuck? Keeps you depressed, sad, what is the value that is keeping me stuck.  Wha tis the impact on me?

Step 5 – Recreate – what kind of life do you envision for yourself?

HEAL

H- Hearing seeing understanding the pain – understanding

E- Empowering yourself to be a healer

Emergency kit, meditation, grounding exercises

Reconnecting with your authentic self, with nature

Asking questions in a compassionate way

A- Align your relationship

Being in contact with other individuals with healthy boundaries

You develop you own emotional resilience

L-Lifelong learning

Deepen your awareness

A course in miracles

https://www.amazon.com.au/Course-Miracles-3RD-Helen-Schucman/dp/1883360269

My creations with Magdalena

Recently, I came across the works of Magdalena through a friend.

I contacted Magdalena via LinkedIn and then sent a note to say I would love to have a virtual coffee catch-up.  A few days had passed, and I had not heard.  So I gave up.  Then, the moment I gave up, I surprisingly received a Calendly link, and wohoo, I met her.

The 20-Minute Writing Exercise That Neuroscientists Say Can Solve Your Hardest Problems

The reason I wanted to meet her was the whole funding-and-grants mindset for ECRs, and the limitations researchers face with a few thousand here or there.  In the industry, funding is not (or has not been an issue - they just want results.  So I thought connecting Magdalena with the university, but before that, I need to connect on a personal note.  

 

I got an appointment on a Sunday morning at 9am and was super excited too, as per her message.

Key takeaways from our conversation:

1. Human doings versus human beings
2. Consumption versus creation
3. Internal and external life of a researcher 
4. Connecting Magdalena with the University to have her as a guest in Comms Program 

What I learnt about myself in this meeting:
1. There is always going to be an internal chat/conversation in the head 
2. Being present and what is it that I truly want - this morning, all I wanted was just to sit and listen to the birds - being in the present moment.
3. Human doing is all about what's next, all the actions and tasks pending, remaining
4. Human beings are about emotions, feelings, joy, sadness, happiness, disappointments, excitement, and what energises us.

When I am in the human doing it is so tiring, so unmotivating, so meh that I just want to procrastinate, be a sloth, do nothing, the zest, joy, fun is missing.  We also talked about information obesity.  We can see the food and its effect on our bodies, but when it comes to information overload or overconsumption, that tires the mind!

I also read what I had written about six months from now – that gave me goosebumps and a kick in the bum to say, Jaishree, go do and complete the lab work!  It works, it works, it does not work, that's also ok , we’ll figure something out.  When in the human doing - to pause and ask myself 'How can I hijack the excitement that zest into whatever gets me excited into the taks I need to act upon?'

 “Information obesity" due to overloaded digital consumption :-) versus choosing or diverting the energy!

I ask where is my focus? How is this serving me? Is this an investment or entertainment? If entertainment - is this a dopamine hit or have I had enough protein serotonin?

So the key lesson for me was when I feel exhausted from wanting to do something - is it from the heart or the head?  The head is all about human doing - overthinking - the thoughts, whereas when it is from a place of joy - I am living my life tothe fullest :-)

 

Race between potato chips and doom scrolling - Serotonin and Dopamine hit

I was watching this interview by Dr K – Dr Alok Kanojia.

Dr. K: Exposing the Dopamine Crisis—“We’re Being Programmed” - YouTube

I also realise my so called personal life I am very content with.  I have published a book – yes, available at the library at CSU and also Wagga Library, Wagga Wagga City Library.  I meditate for 25 minutes a day, and when I have too many thoughts, I increase the meditation to 1 hour.  This not only calms my mind but it also helps me focus and be aware of my thoughts.  Through practice, I have been able to observe my thoughts without judgment and still get on with tasks that require discipline and motivation.

I am a big junkie on self and personal development, and I loved the interview with Dr K and how he beautifully crafted the serotonin and dopamine story. It finally makes sense to me!

Often I have reverted to community work or doing volunteering and did not realise it was serotonin until today! Serotonin is linked with peace, contentment and a sense of meaning and purpose.  I finally get it. Serotonin was giving me content while I was volunteering, running workshops, and my protein and food intake were good too! I also realise that when there isn't enough protein (low serotonin), it leads to snacking for a dopamine kick. I am not eating enough protein when I cook for myself or with the PhD journey. Guess what I munch on: salt-and-vinegar chips. Eat lots of masala Maggi noodles, to the point I wonder if I can control it or if this is just a phase?  I find myself  doom scrolling too for the dopamine hit! It all makes sense.

After listening to Dopamine Nation by Dr Anna Lembke, I can avoid snacks to an extent through self-binding or abstinence, but this understanding of the see-saw of serotonin and dopamine takes it to the next level. Though I want to eat chips, I now ask, " Did I get enough protein? Am I content? I get such a splurge of happiness when helping someone on the computer or Excel spreadsheet - there goes the dopamine - only short-lived!

So the key lesson from this for me is taking responsibility for eating well, enough protein to feel content, doing activities that give a sense of satisfaction and purpose, meaning, and contributing to science as a big picture through my PhD.  Thus, creating tolerance for life without the dependence on dopamine.

Have you ever had such deep insights that you would like to share?  When was the last time you read a book that moved you and started taking action?  Personally, transformation without action keeps me stuck in the loop of wanting those salt-and-vinegar chips.