Love....(and Other Neurochemicals......)

by  Christian Flint

I was reading the other day as I often do.  I was quite shocked when I came across a 2010 census statistic that gave the percentage of "single" people in the United States at 56%.  I was in disbelief.  But, as I sat and pondered my various friends and acquaintances I realized that percentage was even higher for persons I am familiar with.  And, from the letters and emails I get, people seem lonelier and more depressed than ever before.  Searching for "perfect and true love" seems to be at an all time high.

Times are changing.  I am a student of history and a collector of abstract and obscure information about sociology and cultures.  I recognize that even in this country, the USA, we have set a precedence for healthy, long term marriage in our society.  Uniquely however, Christianization and religious practices has helped define the popular foundation of monogomous relationships and marriage.

In the earliest times of history, as intelligence and communication advanced, men began to recognize the inevitable forthcoming end of their own life.  They also recognized their power to produce children, thus "heirs".  Once we established the ability for land ownership and wealth transference, heirs became the only way to preserve heritage and family, as well as pass what had been earned down to forthcoming generations. This was one of the best arguments for monogamy.

With pressure for men to sustain their own forthcoming generations, and women's innate desire to maintain a more monogamous relationship with a responsible protector and caretaker, marriage was formed.  While this may seem a methodical and idealistic theory, there is not one more popular or scientific today.

Over time, "love" became the common theme for dedicating one's life to a monogamous relationship.  Love made great stories, as the ideas and concepts of love and being loved, release the natural pleasure endorphins in the body.  These natural endorphins relieve pain, cause elevated optimism and happiness, as well as give the feeling of everlasting love, hope, joy, desire and pleasure toward another individual.  The neurochemical that creates "love" however, releases in only a picalitre at a time.  That is about one-millionth of an ounce.  It is a miniscule speck of liquid that causes some of the most influential emotions and decisions in our lifetime.

This amazing chemical that is made and stored in our brain and body, releases in such small amounts, that the volume each time would barely be visible to the naked eye.  That small amount, however, creates an overwhelming sensation to the mind  / body.  This neurochemical is powerful stuff.  And, most everyone wants it released within their own mind and body, it seems, as often as possible.

As someone that has studied neuroscience, I am often overwhelmed at how primitive the human mind and body really are.  We have made great strides and technological advances, even in my lifetime.  However, the simplicity of human needs and desires tend to predict and influence the types of technology that advances.  When I was creating Mind Design Unlimited, I would constantly ask people what things they would like to improve in their life, as well as things that "if" they had control over it, what would they "change" within their life.

Most people responded with "To Be In Love".  Or, I should say, most "single" people did.  Amazingly, there are drugs (external stimulants) to make us; more confident, more alert, give more mental clarity, to speed up our metabolism, to make us hurt less, and even to get to sleep faster, or to remain awake longer.  But, there has been no drug created to cause us to feel "love" exclusively.  (Ecstasy, most may argue, would be a close simulator, but it is not the exact same effect.)

The most amazing point about "love" is that it is seemingly a universal trait among humans.  We have the capacity to "love" unconditionally, even to extreme measures.  This feeling can last a lifetime, even between two persons.  And, this feeling can bond two individuals remarkably close for their whole life together.  This feeling can even cause another person to risk or give their life for another.  And, this feeling can create confidence, healing and unpenetrable happiness for the person that experiences it.   And it really is nothing more than a brain chemical that is responsible for it all.

Here at Mind Design Unlimited, I work to constantly understand the human mind; what changes it, what motivates it, what stimulates it and what external influences can be manufactured / produced to optimize it.  Yet, even with technology, when one understands the pure and absolute capacities of the human brain, you must stand back, take a breath and be in awe of what you are encountering, once again. 

Never underestimate the power of the human mind.  It truly is the most powerful resource that you own.

To Blog or Not To Blog, That IS The Question.....

From the Hypnotist's Couch.....

On this life's journey, I am always surprised by how we can learn so much from those around, as well as our most simple experiences in life.  To many, so many days run together.  And, as we get older, it just seems like the days go more quickly, and the time in the day gets less and less.  We all seem to reminisce about times past, and how life just seemed more "simple" back when......

In retrospect, is it because life truly was more simple, back when we were young?  Is it because the technological advances of our day makes it appear that life today seems more stressful and time consuming? 

The truth is, as we age, we tend to maintain memories, feelings and emotions that clog up our memory banks.  We get weighed-down by the emotions and feelings that tend to soak up our energy and our optimism.  While they say "Time heals all wounds".  I believe that without proper "emptying" and clearing out these emotional and mental "trash bins", we tend to carry alot of garbage and baggage with us through life. 

Scientists often compare our minds to computers and rightfully so.  Computers are the closest hardwired object that acts very similar to our minds.  It was completely dreamed up and developed by human minds, so why would it not act as one?  Clearing memory banks in our minds, is much like clearing out the "cache" or cookies that can sometimes slow our computer or cause certain software to not work properly.

Several years ago, I had a client.  We had tried several techniques to deal with her stress, worries and concerns.  We were not making the progress that I would normally feel comfortable with.  I was prepared to tell her that if we did not achieve some success today with our session, that maybe she should look for another approach to deal with her issues.  But, I never had to tell her that, thankfully. 

I noticed that she was quite left-brained in her thoughts on life and approaches to applicable problems and stressors.  After reevaluating her job, and job description, I found that she worked with computers daily in her professional life.  Actually, she had been involved in programming and had a degree in computer science. 

I had already had a few semi-successful sessions with her, I was willing to try another approach, and it was time to get creative.  She was well conditioned, body and mind to go into a deep trance state.  I asked her, once in trance, to run a "virus check" on her mind.  I asked her to be thorough and quick.  I told her to isolate any and all bad memories, stressors and information that had become useless and outdated.  I told her to take as many minutes as needed, but not more than 20, as that would complete the process.  I also asked that when she was done with the task, to raise her left index finger. 

About 8 minutes later, her left index finger raised.  She had not moved.  There was no REM, nor any ideomotor responses during that period.  I asked her if she had thoroughly "virus checked" her memory banks, hard drive and all.  She nodded affirmatively.  I then asked her to erase and completely clear any and all unnecessary data, and any viruses that had been clogging her mind or her "system".  She lowered her head a bit more, continuing on with her eyes closed.  I asked her to again, raise her left index finger when completed. 

About 2 minutes passed, and she raised her left index finger.  I asked if the task had been completed.  She nodded affirmatively.  We spent a few more minutes with imagery and affirmations, as I wanted to make sure she kept the few good bits, and completely let go and erased any and all harmful "data".  I then brought her out of the trance state.  I asked her what she remembered.  She said she remembered very little, but felt much more "clear-headed".  I asked her if she understood or remembered any part of what she experienced.  She said she only felt "lighter and more optimistic". 

I asked her if she felt like we had made any progress.  And, with the first time I had ever seen her smile, she said "YES, I feel as though I am released from negative emotions and many of the things that hold me back." 

We made another appointment in two weeks.  It would be her last, until she encountered another issue that she felt would require my services.  In that last session, we also discussed how much her life had improved since that earlier session from two weeks prior.  She still claimed she had no idea what I had said or asked her to do, but she claimed that her optimism in life had returned, and that many of her co-workers, friends, family and peers had commented on her positive change.

She noted that she was sleeping better and more soundly at night.  She said she was awaking in the mornings more clear headed and optimistic.  She claimed that the negative thoughts that would often immediately "jump into" her optimistic path of thoughts, were gone.  She said that she had started exercising again, had lost 5 pounds and was eating healthier foods.  And, most noticeably, she was smiling when she explained all of this, which was only the second time I had seen her smile. 

She asked me what I had done in that previous session.  I explained to her, and her jaw dropped.  She claimed she would never have dreamed of something like that.  It was so "simple", she said.  But regardless, it had worked.  In that last session, I taught her how to do the same "virus check" and memory clearing, as she was already well conditioned to work on her own with self-hypnosis.  She was quite pleased, and seemed surprised that was really all the "hypnosis" and suggestion that had occurred to make such an impact on her life.  I explained that sometimes the simplest things are the most effective.  Even moreso, she was already "programmed" by her pre-existing life and lifestyle and thought processes.  We just had to remove the "obstacles" that stood in the way of the positive things she was wanting and capable of enjoying again.

Now, about every three months, I do a "virus check" on my own mind and body.  I clear out any and all "clogged", useless memories, and I isolate, then dispose of any negative thoughts that may hold me back.  I do a thorough "cleansing" of any toxins on my body and I refresh my memory banks, with healthy and positive ideas and optimistic thoughts.  It really does seem to work.......  And, I learned it all in one afternoon...  in working with a client.  You see, there ARE perks to my profession.

It's time for a cigar....

Blog to you soon...........  Christian.

Is Money Now God??

Is Money Now God??

Being in the business I am in, I am constantly amazed in how we focus on things that either empower us, or disempower us.  While this is a "no-brainer" thought process or something most take for granted, I am in constant analysis and research on the fundamental basics of human needs, desires and empowerment.  Since people come to me for answers and direction, they expect answers and direction that manifests in results for their lives.  In most cases, people expect immediate results and benefits.     ...... I would too.

The challenging aspect of what I do is to get to the fundamental issues that keeps an individual from obtaining their goals.  Sometimes it is very simple to assess.  Sometimes, it is very difficult to dissect and confront.  And, since every human being is unique, almost all of their experiences and interpretations are quite subjective.  And, why wouldn't they be, if it entails how each person believes and experiences for themselves?

In offering those first two paragraphs as a basis, you now get to peek into my world and daily functions of assessing human behaviors, thoughts and philosophy.   It can be difficult.  While I do like a challenge, I often get caught up myself in the empowering and disempowering aspects of money and it being the only "resource" or remedy for  a problem in many cases.  Certainly, it began in this recession.  But now, instead of being able to move people forward in their lives, it turns out that much of my advice and consultation  is directed more towards how to keep people in their homes, or just to find money to pay for their basic needs such as food, gas, electric and so on.  As it turns out, most people today just want / need money.  Money seems to be the answer for most of their current problems.

Being the common thinker that I am, I cannot help but try to understand how and why people put themselves in the mental flux that they often end up.   Even for myself, I find myself focusing on the "financial basics" being covered before I can move forward in my life.  But, at what point did we empower "money" or the "Almighty Dollar Bill" as the essence and mainstay of our lives?  

Today, especially in the United States, without money your life almost comes to a halt.  Money provides for most all of our basic needs now.  50 -100 years ago, you had a small farm or garden, or knew someone that did, and you could often acquire food to sustain your life, fairly simply.  Common gardening knowledge, practice and space was amongst a family group, and could provide some basis for sustenance.  Also, carpentry knowledge could add an addition onto a house to provide for additional family members who had lost their home.  Survival instincts and capacities back then required different knowledge and abilities than most recent times.

Today, most people are looking for or taking an additional second or third job (if they can find it).  Many people are looking online for resources to assist in obtaining money.  For the most part, people are cutting back on expenses, trying to do without their normal comforts or luxuries in order to make ends meet.  Thus, money becomes the common denominator in self-empowerment in not just "reaching goals" but sustaining life today.

Again, my instincts go to work to find and understand how and why we, as humans, empower these small snippets of  green-printed paper cloth as the common denominator of our lives.  Today, without money, almost everything you have is at risk, as well as almost everything you need.  Mortgage (your house) / rent costs money, food, automobile, gasoline for the automobile. heat and electricity costs money.  And, if you have knowledge of  Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of  Needs, you realize that even the very basics today costs money.  At what point did we put ourselves in such a vulnerable situation?

People that are religious used to be (and most religious people still are) "thankful" for the basics; a roof over their head, food on their table, etc.  Thus, the family prayer consisted of naming and praising the basics and fundamentals that were present in their lives.  More than one car in the family was considered a "luxury".  Today, it is defined as a "requirement" to most households.  Electricity now "heats" and / or "cools" our homes, as "air conditioning".  That which was once a luxury is now a staple expectation in our lives. 

So, the things we used to be thankful for, the bare minimums, are generally taken for granted.  Today, we "need" a roof over our head, a car to get us where we are going, food to sustain our lives, and electricity to run our computers, cell phones and to provide heat or cooling to our surroundings.  All of these things today, are not possible without money.  

Most religious people in the past and of the day, claim that "God provides for our needs".  Today, it appears that only "money" provides for our needs,   God was / is generally given credit for any financial means or abundance, by religious or semi-religious persons.  So, if Americans are struggling with meeting the financial obligations of today's basic needs, does that mean that "God" is "teaching us a lesson"?  Or, trying to get us to appreciate what basics we DO have, instead of taking so much for granted?  You won't have to look far to find these sermons being preached in most churches today.  As well, many churches are preaching awareness of the "end times" because of these "signs" today.

I am not challenging religion as much as I am the things that we often utilize to "empower" ourselves.  We, as humans, should be able to  look beyond these small snippets of green colored paper cloth if we want to truly have happiness and fulfillment in our lives.  Instead of empowering things that "matter" to us today, we have obviously "empowered" a (semi-) tangible object (dollar bill) that other people control the value of , which in turn seemingly controls and dictates the happiness and fulfillment of our own lives.  And, to some, bemoaning money and its power is as insulting as bemoaning a religious person's God.  Me, attacking the "power of money" is as offensive to some, as attacking ones "Faith".  

Truly, living in these times, is a test of will, strength and survival.  But, who would have thought it would fundamentally rest on the shoulders of the dollar bill?  As, even persons of "faith" today turns to their God in prayer and in faith for "money" as to resolve the majority of their woes. 

Changing How We Think

So far, from this recession, I have learned alot.  In listening and learning from my clients' needs, I have developed a keener awareness of necessity and principle.  I used to practice the "Abundance Principle" which is based quite a bit from the movie, "The Secret".  It is where you teach others how to "attract" the things that they want into their lives.   Now remember, I said "want", not need.  While this worked well for a number of people, it is not practical to teach to most everyone now, because with human "basics" at risk, it is difficult to teach / train guided meditation, calmness and stress relief conditioning to people who are stressed about losing their home, car or even just trying to find a basic job that pays their bills. 

Today, I am progressively trying to teach how to find fulfillment in oneself and the "free" things and basics that go with life.   These FREE things are the rights of anyone.  Yet, we are constantly forced to believe that they are rights that either "cost" money or worst of all, have little to no value or consequence.  These are things such as physical health, mental health, sanity, love, personal empowerment, relationships, communication, atunement, nature, and the list goes on and on.  As, if we continue to create this "monster"  (money empowerment), then we are only feeding something that is eternally hungry, and never fulfilled.  As proven today, the dollar bill value goes way down, as the cost to most anything goes up, further and further.   We end up spending all of our time and energy focused on "money" and its empowerment, more than we do ourselves.  If you are not understanding this philosophy, then you are probably caught up in feeding this monster right now.  

In order to "learn" a new approach to personal fulfillment and personal success, you pretty much need to unlearn much of what you already know.  Because, you are "taught" from a young age, that most "anything of value" costs money.   In a Capitalistic Society, money IS power.  And, unfortunately it now means "Money equals happiness and fulfillment in life".  Money seems to dictate the hierarchy and empowerment in which you live.

 The truth is, money only has power, because we give it power.  If we begin to empower other things, then they will uniquely take on power in which gives us (individually and collectively) more empowerment, instead of giving power over to something that others own and have control thereof.   We need to begin to think "outside of  the box" if we are tired of living "inside of the box".  It is our "right" to do so.  Why not exercise it?

You see, if only the things we "want" or need in life costs money, then we are individually disempowered when there is not enough money to go around.  This clearly reflects that we are NOT in control of our own lives, and that someone / something else is.   This happens because we have ALLOWED it to happen in our own lives as well as in our society.  And, if  I am a "SELF-Help Guru", then of course, it is my JOB to find different ways to empower individuals or for them to find fulfillment and happiness.  So, that is what I do.

This is "food for thought", and there is more to come related to this subject.  My goal is to get you to recognize that YOU have the ability to change your life and the world around you.  Do not lose site of that empowerment.  And, if you need help with that, then that is what I do and through my company.  

www.MindDesignUnlimited.com