If an infinite, personal God who created the universe and humanity exists, doesn’t it make sense that he would make things about himself, such as his nature, character, and desires for his creation, known? Perhaps so, but the question remains as to whether or not he has (and/or does), what form that might take, and how that can be relevant to all people. 

Links to resources: 

YouVersion Bible app - https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ 

Bible Gateway - https://www.biblegateway.com 

A Thought-out Faith: Christianity as the Best Explanation (paperback or Kindle) - https://www.thoughtoutfaith.com/books 

Attributions: 

“Say Hello” from the album “Testify” by P.O.D. 

https://soundcloud.com/p-o-d 

http://www.payableondeath.com

“A Distant Loss, Pt. 1” and “A Distant Loss, Pt. 3” from the album “A Distant Loss” by Hakobune. 

http://hakobunemusic.jp 

https://hakobune.bandcamp.com 

“Cadillac” from the album “Death Don’t Always Taste Good” by Ivy Lab. 

https://ivylab.bandcamp.com 

https://soundcloud.com/ivylab 

“All My Angels” from the album “Soulful” by Lemongrass. 

https://lemongrassmusic.bandcamp.com/track/all-my-angels 

https://soundcloud.com/lemongrassofficial/sets/soulful-562728946

A fundamental aspect of human nature that we can all relate to is that information alone isn’t all that’s needed to effectively modify behavior. So often we are well aware of what to do or avoid yet we struggle to make lasting changes, and one of the areas where this tension is most evident concerns our eating habits.

In this episode we’re looking into some fascinating insights provided by research in the overlapping fields of neuroscience and psychology that seems to reveal that so much about our decision-making processes are related to non-conscious aspects of our mental wiring. So when it comes to making decisions about and then following through with lifestyle approaches regarding what we consume, the fact seems to be that it can’t be boiled down to just matters related to self-control. Critical issues related to eating reside in the non-conscious regions of our brains and conflicts can rage between the brain’s conscious and unconscious functions that can explain, at least to some extent, why we overeat even when we don’t want to.

Much of what we’re going to unpack in this episode is material covered in the fantastic book, The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts that Make Us Overeat, by Stephan J. Guyenet, Ph.D.

We’ll look into the way the brain works in response to various cues and how the modern food environment presents such a monumental challenge. So many of us or those we love can feel as if taking control of our diet and managing our weight and body composition are futile, but there is hope! What it requires is the willingness to make your rational mind the boss (not your feelings) and adopt tactics such as those outlined toward the end of the episode that can equip you to succeed.

Attributions:

“Routine” from the EP “Iss002” by Skee Mask.

https://iliantape.bandcamp.com

https://soundcloud.com/scntst

“Monday Moon” from the album “The Ambient Archives, Vol. 1” by Bing Satellites.

https://bingsatellites.bandcamp.com

https://soundcloud.com/bing-satellites

“Drunken Dwarves” from the album “Wintersaga” by Wind Rose.

https://wind-rose.bandcamp.com

https://soundcloud.com/windroseofficial

“Eyez” from the album “Murdered Love" by P.O.D.

https://soundcloud.com/p-o-d

http://www.payableondeath.com

“Discovery” from the album “Essence” by RRAREBEAR.

https://rrarebearbeats.bandcamp.com

https://soundcloud.com/rrarebearbeats

In developing habits that lead to lasting wellness (physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually) the key is to adopt an approach that makes your mind the boss, not your body and not your emotions or feelings. You can develop the capacity to do the challenging things that you know will take you to the next level even when you don’t feel like doing them. It starts with an informed decision that requires both humility (you need to make some changes and you don’t know it all) and grit (bear down, adapt, and get on with it!).

Once that decision is made the next step is to equip yourself with the right tools to achieve your goals. Sounds obvious, right? Not a new concept but one that should be reinforced. And when it comes to diet management your best friend is data and the best tool for that job, in my opinion that is based on experience, are tracking apps that enable you to get on the path, course correct when needed, and stay on the path. It’s not complicated! Sure, it’s not easy, but it truly is not overly complicated.

All of this starts with patterns of thinking that lead to behavior you willfully and intentionally adopt and then practice. It’s good to have the support and encouragement of family, friends, mentors, and counselors, but nobody can fix your life for you; you have to own it and get after what it takes to improve your position. Get on the path, stay on the path, and never look back! You’ll be changed for the better and that is also going to bless everyone you love and who loves you.

Peace...

Following are links to the websites for the apps referenced in this episode that can be downloaded directly onto your device:

https://www.myfitnesspal.com

https://www.mypacer.com

Attributions:

“Simple Beginnings” from the album “Hospitality Drum & Bass 2011” by Fred V.

https://soundcloud.com/fredvmusic

https://fredv.bandcamp.com

“Sleepy Quest for Coffee” by Plastik Joy.

https://soundcloud.com/plastik-joy

https://plastikjoy.bandcamp.com

A few minutes of inspiration, encouragement, and motivation to fan into flames the desire to crush the workout you’re about to do. Prepare to get some! 

Attributions:

“Twighlight” from the album “Self” by Om Unit.

https://omunit.bandcamp.com

https://soundcloud.com/omunit

What does it take for a nation as wonderfully diverse as ours to come together and walk shoulder-to-shoulder in cooperation to make things better for us all? What is the key to lasting change?

Attributions:

“Headspace” by Kazukii.

https://www.instagram.com/ohthatkazuki/

https://twitter.com/Ohthatkazuki

https://soundcloud.com/ohthatkazuki

“Hold Me I’m Fragile” from the album “Redolent/Dissolve” by WMD.

https://wmdchiptune.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/wmdmusic98

“Intransigence” from the album “In Arboreal Whispering” by Hakobune.

http://hakobunemusic.jp

https://hakobune.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/hakobuneongaku/

https://twitter.com/hakobunemusic

What does it mean to be an eminently qualified human? What does it take to be one?

Attributions, Links & Resources:

"New Dream" and "Saffron" by RRAREBEAR.

http://www.instagram.com/rrarebearbeats

http://www.twitter.com/rrarebearbeats

https://soundcloud.com/rrarebearbeats

It’s never too late (or too early) to get started doing worthwhile things. After all, you might just bless the world with what it is you would like to do, so please get after it and make things better for yourself and the rest of us!

Attributions:

“Sleepy Quest for Coffee” by Plastik Joy.

https://soundcloud.com/plastik-joy

https://www.facebook.com/PlastikJ/

https://www.instagram.com/plastik_joy/

No matter how healthy, wealthy, and prepared we might consider ourselves to be the fact remains that there’s not a thing we can do to keep disruptions and even chaos from occurring, which is similar to how a tree cannot control the weather including times of drought. When this happens the determining factor pertaining to whether or not the tree maintains green leaves and continues to bear fruit has to do with where it is planted. What are some insights and lessons to be learned from this example?

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

Attributions, Links & Resources:

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

“Watching the Prescribed Burn” and “At the Gilgai” from the album “Watching the Prescribed Burn” by Hakobune.

http://hakobunemusic.jp

https://hakobune.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/hakobuneongaku/

https://twitter.com/hakobunemusic

“Discovery” from the album “Essence” by RRAREBEAR.

http://www.instagram.com/rrarebearbeats

http://www.twitter.com/rrarebearbeats

https://soundcloud.com/rrarebearbeats

Visit the following link for how to download the YouVersion Bible app for mobile devices:

https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/

Helpful primer on breathing exercises for beginners provided by the Johns Hopkins Division of Rheumatology:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wemm-i6XHr8

Readings from the Gospel of John (chapters 18-20), Hebrews (chapter 2, verses 10-17), and Romans (chapter 5, verses 1-11).

Attributions, Links & Resources:

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

“II” from the album “Parhelion” by Hakobune.

http://hakobunemusic.jp

https://hakobune.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/hakobuneongaku/

https://twitter.com/hakobunemusic

“Milo” by Kazukii (Used by artist’s permission.)

https://www.instagram.com/ohthatkazuki/

https://twitter.com/Ohthatkazuki

https://soundcloud.com/ohthatkazuki