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F$%! the poor video

Three kinds of people

1. the ones who are indifferent

2. The ones who only react when they are offended

3. The ones who give to charity in either situation

[7:176] Had we willed, we could have elevated him therewith, but he insisted on sticking to the ground, and pursued his own opinions. Thus, he is like the dog; whether you pet him or scold him, he pants. Such is the example of people who reject our proofs. Narrate these narrations, that they may reflect.

It is good to speak up, but it shouldn’t be the only time we react is to an external stimulus

This is the difference between a thermometer and a thermostat

• Thermometer only reacts to the external environment

If we are only going through life reacting to events then we are just being a thermometer

This isn’t bad, but it shouldn’t be our end destination. Think of these moments as our call to action.

David vs. Goliath

Example of Moses

• Kills a man

Rather than just getting mad at the person who is saying these terrible things about the poor. Go and give to the poor.

[2:274] Those who give to charity night and day, secretly and publicly, receive their recompense from their Lord; they will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

[3:92] You cannot attain righteousness until you give to charity from the possessions you love. Whatever you give to charity, GOD is fully aware thereof.

[25:63] The worshipers of the Most Gracious are those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace.

[84:19] You will move from stage to stage.

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

[3:175] It is the devil's system to instill fear into his subjects. Do not fear them and fear Me instead, if you are believers.

The devil wants to fear, to incite, to get you outraged

But fear and outrage are not virtues

The question is what do you do when you experience them?

7 stages of grief

• Shock & Denial

Why so angry?

Same thing we go from fear to love of God.

[72:13] " `When we heard the guidance, we believed therein. Anyone who believes in his Lord will never fear any injustice, nor any affliction.

Injustice only exists if you don’t believe in a Hereafter

[4:79] Anything good that happens to you is from GOD, and anything bad that happens to you is from you. We have sent you as a messenger to the people, and GOD suffices as witness.

It is easier to destroy than to build

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Why do people like spicy food?

Believed to originally be because to mask the taste of food particularly meat that was not fresh.

Found that in climates the more hot the more the use of spices in their recipes

But this for the most part no longer applies as we have plenty of access to fresh meat by means of refrigeration yet I don’t think there is a decline in human desire towards spicy food

With the exception of the tree shrews, I don’t think there is any other mammal that has a fondness of spicy food

https://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/man-is-the-only-animal-to-find-pleasure-in-the-pain-of-peppers

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/21peppers.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&ref=science

https://www.thrillist.com/health/nation/what-makes-some-people-like-spicy-food-and-others-hate-it

And the only reason that tree shrews like particular chili peppers is because they have a mutation that lowers the sensitivity to the compound that gives spicy food that burning sensation in all other mammals.

Dr. Paul Bloom: “How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like,”

• First we do it because we see other people doing it

This shows how we can train ourselves to like unpalatable things

This can be true for much of what we do.

Outrage associate the feeling with excitement

Animals, for the most part, don’t get angry (monkey grapes and cucumbers experiment)

Outrage is a learned behavior

Entice / provoke - devils tool

[17:64] "You may entice them with your voice, and mobilize all your forces and all your men against them, and share in their money and children, and promise them. Anything the devil promises is no more than an illusion.

How cheap is your happiness?

When we get angry and stay in a state of anger we are showing that we are doubting God’s promise…

[4:85] Whoever mediates a good deed receives a share of the credit thereof, and whoever mediates an evil work, incurs a share thereof. GOD controls all things.

Outrage has a social contagion effect

Pepsi commercial - Kendall Jenner

https://player.fm/series/what-really-happened-1638434/kendall-jenner-the-anatomy-of-an-advertising-disaster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA5Yq1DLSmQ

How anger affects judgment - we make worse decisions

The average person didn’t think it was that bad

• between 18 - 29 years old 50% said it gave them a positive view of Pepsi, 26% less positive. 24% neutral

Experiment with music

Gave people a list of songs in one group they were told certain songs were liked more than the other and the other group was told the opposite

Netflix got rid of the star review system with a simple thumbs up or down. The reason is that everyone says they like movies like Shindler’s list and not Adam Sandler movies, but their viewing habits show otherwise.

We weigh negative critiques more than positive.

If someone tells you the food at somewhere is bad who is more likely not to go there? The one who went there and experienced that bad food or the one who never went there?

Need 10 positive reviews for each negative review

What message are we putting out to the world?

[9:15] He will also remove the rage from the believers' hearts. GOD redeems whomever He wills. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

[5:2] O you who believe, do not violate the rites instituted by GOD, nor the Sacred Months, nor the animals to be offered, nor the garlands marking them, nor the people who head for the Sacred Shrine (Ka'bah) seeking blessings from their Lord and approval. Once you complete the pilgrimage, you may hunt.* Do not be provoked into aggression by your hatred of people who once prevented you from going to the Sacred Masjid. You shall cooperate in matters of righteousness and piety; do not cooperate in matters that are sinful and evil. You shall observe GOD. GOD is strict in enforcing retribution.

We have limited time and limited brain capacity are you going to focus on the things that make you mad or the the things to be grateful for? 

If you look at the world from a perspective of gratitude, looking to see joy and happiness, the brain will translate that joy and happiness into chemistry, such as a dopamine release from feeling pleasure.

Molecules of emotion  - peptides and receptors - feedback loop 

Happiness: Now and Forever* [10:62] Absolutely, GOD's allies have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. [10:63] They are those who believe and lead a righteous life. [10:64] For them, joy and happiness in this world, as well as in the Hereafter. This is GOD's unchangeable law. Such is the greatest triumph.

Every time you focus on gratitude, you’re helping combat depression and anxiety by minimizing your cortisol production. 

https://qz.com/1463947/the-science-behind-the-health-benefits-of-a-daily-gratitude-practice/

Boredom is when our attention has been so dulled that we need some external stimuli to keep our mind occupied -

sensationalization of our external stimuli dulls our senses -

need outrage to keep us entertained

We would rather electrocute ourselves than spend time in our own thoughts. This was demonstrated in a controversial 2014 study in which 67 per cent of male participants and 25 per cent of female participants opted to give themselves unpleasant electric shocks rather than spend 15 minutes in peaceful contemplation.

Meditation is the act of getting back to baseline and being aware of your thoughts your surroundings being present - put things in perspective