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.
