Dr. UnStuck Podcast — Get Out of Your Head. Get Into Your Life.

We often hang on to a grudge because we think this gives us power. Sometimes we want to secretly (or not so much) punish the wrong-doer for the pain they caused us. Ironically, when we hang on to a grudge, we are actually handing over our power to the offender . . . and on a silver platter. We give them another piece of us even after all they had taken when they hurt us. Hanging on to grudges therefore keeps the pain alive and current. By hanging on to our past pain and history, we are prevented from achieving all who we were meant to be. While in the tight grip of a grudge, we are prevented from fulfilling our destiny.

#resentment #forgiveness #letitgo

According to Dr. Lisa Miller, author of the "Awakened Brain," there are two modes of awareness. She and her research team have found that the spiritual brain is a healthier brain, and the neurological ingredients of the awakened brain can now be seen on a brain scan. This means that spiritual awakening is a choice which we have the agency to make throughout the day at any moment. We can choose how we perceive the world, ourselves, and how we fit into the big scheme of it all.

#awakenedbrain #spiritualawareness #meaning

As it turns out, when we do good things for other people it causes structural changes in the brain that can protect us against depression. This concept of "relational spirituality" is based on the two universal phenotypes of altruism and loving your neighbor as yourself. Brain scans have actually shown that those reporting "strong spiritual importance" have a thicker cortical lining than those who do not. Also, the parts of the brain responsible for reflection and making the connection between self and its place in the external world are far more active in those who report an enriched spiritual life. Depression can result in a thinner cortical lining, and the areas where reflection and connection take place to be much less active and even disengaged. The good we do for others benefits us right down to the neurons.

*Author's note: "Othering" is this episode refers to doing conscious acts of kindness for other people, which is based upon the mindset of oneness and Divine connection. 

Reference: Lisa Miller (2021)-The Awakened Brain

#depression #spirituality #altruism

We have certainly known about the detriments of depression for a very long time, physically and mentally. Now, we are becoming increasingly aware of how spirituality affects the brain and how these structural changes may serve as a protective buffer against the black hole of depression.

#Spirituality #theawakenedbrain #depression

Benjamin Hoff explains to us that, "A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly." On some level we all know this, though we continue to force round pegs into square holes out of our own stubborn will to do so. On some level we know this, though we allow ourselves to be seduced by external messages that steer us away from our authentic compass.

#authenticcompass #meaning #purpose

For some of us, our family of origin just didn't work out. There may have been addiction, dysfunction, neglect, and/or blatant abuse. We may have tolerated being mistreated for years, because as children we did not have a choice. Now we do.  Though we obviously could not control the family we were born into, we can absolutely control who we allow into our lives as adults. We can choose to create a new family, one that is made up of good people who bring unconditional love and kindness to our lives. Family is not defined by genetics and lineage, but rather by who we love and who loves us. That's it.

#chosenfamily #toxicparents #dysfunctionalfamily

So often we let our fear drive us. We fear failure, becoming unhealthy, dying, being alone, embarrassed, humiliated, or being found out such as with "imposter's syndrome." There is lots of fear out there and it tends to lure us off track by throwing us into self-preservation mode. Once we learn how to change our relationship with fear, we can use fear to tap into the best parts of ourselves.

#fear #avoidance #positivefearmindset

The ego is the evil twin of the authentic self. Much like the emperor seduces young Anakin Skywalker with something to the effect of, "There is no good or evil; there is  only power, " we are pulled in by the false self as it can be enormously rewarding in the moment. Then, there is a half life, as each and every time we cave into the needs of the ego we strengthen it. The strengthened ego then pulls us further away from our authentic self and into a cycle of continuous false self-talk and suffering. An unchecked ego is dangerous and can be harmful to our spiritual health.

#ego #falseself #authenticity

Many of us can relate to the feeling of unwanted and intrusive thoughts flying across our minds like howler monkeys swinging from vine to vine in the rain forest. As it turns out, we have approximately seventy thousand separate thoughts each day. In addition, our minds are only present in this moment for about 3 seconds before we wander off either forward or backward, filling our precious present moments with past experiences or anticipating what the future may bring. The goods news is that with rigorous training the mind can be taught to think and behave the way we want it to. With diligent practice, we can become a "mind Jedi." A calm mind is a powerful mind.

#Monkeymind #MindJedi #presentmoment

Many times we try to run someone else's race. We see them being successful doing whatever and decide that we want what they have, or we want to do something similar to what they are doing. Often we'll read self-help books on how to improve this or that, or how to start your own business. The thing is that we can achieve what we set our minds to, but only to a degree. Authentic fulfillment can only be obtained by living out our own Dharma, running our own race. The recipe for this is the alignment of passion and personality with purpose.

#dharma #passion #purpose