SAD SONGS WE LIKE- QXYTOCIN / ENDORPHIN DRIP
The biology of sad music
Let’s start with biological theories. When we experience real-life loss, or empathise with another’s pain, hormones such as prolactin and oxytocin are released within us. These help us cope with loss and pain. They do so by making us feel calmed, consoled, and supported.
Feeling Adele’s pain, or recalling our own, may cause such chemical changes within us. Clicking on Adele’s song may be like clicking on our own metaphorical morphine drip.
A completely different type of psychological theory is that Adele’s songs are emotional gyms. They give us a safe, controlled space in which we can explore simulated sadness. They are the emotional equivalent of Neo sparring with Morpheus in the Matrix movie.
Simulated sadness lets us experiment with and learn from this emotion. We can enhance our empathy, learn to better see things from other people’s perspectives, and try out various responses to sadness. This may make us better prepared for when real loss strikes. Such learning experiences may have evolved to be pleasurable to encourage their use.
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Higher intelligence drives ‘cognitive hunger’.
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Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.”
- Robert Louis Stevenson
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According to a large study, women taking omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, multivitamins or vitamin D supplements are less likely to test positive for COVID.
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When Valmiki completed his Ramayana, Narada wasn't impressed. 'It is good, but Hanuman's is better', he said.
'Hanuman has written the Ramayana too!', Valmiki didn't like this at all, and wondered whose Ramayana was better.
So he set out to find Hanuman.
In Kadali-vana, grove of plantains, he found Ramayana inscribed on seven broad leaves of a banana tree.
He read it and found it to be perfect. The most exquisite choice of grammar and vocabulary, metre and melody. He couldn't help himself. He started to cry.
'Is it so bad?' asked Hanuman
'No, it is so good', said Valmiki
'Then why are you crying?' asked Hanuman.
'Because after reading your Ramayana no one will read my Ramayana,' replied Valmiki.
Hearing this Hanuman simply tore up the seven banana leaves stating
"Now no one will ever read Hanuman's Ramayana.'"
Valmiki was shocked to see this action of Hanuman and asked him why he did this,Hanuman said, 'You need your Ramayana more than I need mine.
You wrote your Ramayana so that the world remembers Valmiki;
I wrote my Ramayana so that I remember Ram.'
At that moment he realized how he had been consumed by the desire for validation through his work.
He had not used the work to liberate himself from the fear of invalidation.
He had not app reciated the essence of Ram's tale to unknot his mind.
His Ramayana was a product of ambition;
but
Hanuman's Ramayana was a product of pure devotion & affection.
That's why Hanuman's Ramayana sounded so much better.
That is when Valmiki realized that "Greater than Ram...is the name of Ram!"
(राम से बड़ा राम का नाम).
Moral : There are people like Hanuman who don't want to be famous. They just do their jobs and fulfill their purpose.
*There are many unsung "Hanumans" in our life too, our spouse, mother, father, friends, let's remember them and be grateful to all.*
In this world, where everyone is highlighting his work and seeking validation, let just do our karma because he who matters, the almighty God, knows without telling him and in the end, it is actually just he who matters.
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collection of quotes for a good life
When we are in a hurry, we are inviting trouble.
Focusing on what we do not have only brings unhappiness.
We cannot control as to what will happen the next moment but we can develop an attitude that will withstand any storm.
Be our master do not let situations overwhelm us.
The world wants too many things from us but the greatest accomplishment is in focusing on what we really want.
Always focus on the toughest job first.
Obsession is a mental disorder. It causes only discomfort.
Instead of worrying over little things go out and have fun.
It is true we failed a couple of times. Now try with a happier and positive frame of mind. We will not fail.
The journey for peace and happiness is often undertaken in the wrong direction. The right direction for this journey is to the inside not outside.
Bliss is always with us but unfortunately, we never realize it.
Success will elude us if we do not believe in ourselves.
We have to start somewhere. We will fail in the beginning. But then who does not fail? Do not stop? Each failure is a stepping-stone to our goal.
No one can escape struggles. All people go through it. Socialize and get to know about their struggles. Share yours. Inspire and get inspired.
We are not ready to move out of our comfort zone. The net result is that we miss golden opportunities.
Set small goals. Do not try to achieve everything overnight.
www.hindu-blog.com
Abhilash
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Is it? What do you think? Are you there? Are you experiencing emotions? Yes? Probably. Likely.
You can experience yourself in many ways, on many levels. You can experience yourself on the subatomic and atomic level, as a cloud of particles swirling around.
You can experience yourself on the cellular level, as a collection of cells organized together in various ways.
You can experience yourself on a physiological level, as a collection of organs working together to perform various life functions.
You can experience yourself on a physical level, as a physical body that lives, functions in the world.
You can experience yourself on a mental level, as a collection of thoughts, a mind, a self, an ego.
You can experience yourself on a spiritual level, as awareness manifesting itself as a physical form, as matter, as an organism.
All those levels of experience are correct, all those ways of experiencing yourself are true - you are all those experiences, on all those levels.
Why would you choose one of those levels, judge it as better, higher, truer, and then deny the reality of all the others?
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SAKSHI BHAVA
Detaching emotions from situations
Rani JeyarajAPRIL 26, 2015 20:34 ISTUPDATED: APRIL 26, 2015 20:34 IST
Using Sakshi Bhava can help develop a witnessing attitude
Do you work hard or do you work smart? I tend to start the day working smart — I am focused, sharp and full of ideas. But post-lunch (especially if it is a big, heavy lunch) I find myself working hard — writing and re-writing, brainstorming but getting clichéd ideas and generally taking longer to complete tasks than I should.
The easy solution is to have a big cup of coffee, but after a short while, the same feeling returns. The problem is that the mind gets distracted and these distractions tire it out. In today’s world, there are a thousand things to distract the mind — what did your boyfriend really mean by that text message, how did your friend manage to lose so much weight and look so hot in that red dress on Facebook, is the boss upset with me or someone else?
Of course, these situations will keep arising in life and I don’t think logging off Facebook and WhatsApp is a practical solution. What would help is to control the emotions that arise when we interact with the world. Emotions can be draining and they steal energy from things that really matter, like finishing your project on time so that the boss has no reason to be upset with you.
There is nothing like a great yoga practice to bring the mind back to the present and keep it fresh and focused. But your boss will certainly be upset if you start practising asanas in the office hallways. The simple yogic practice of Sakshi Bhava can help. Sakshi Bhava means to have a witnessing attitude to the world and is developed by practising a body awareness technique.
In order to understand the effects of Shakshi Bhava and the importance of a witnessing attitude, we must look at the benefits of this practice. By shifting our focus to different parts of the body, we are able to observe the body as though we were observing another person’s body. In this way, we become detached in our observation. Slowly, through practice, this method of detachment can be practised with the mind as well, and we are able to observe our thoughts instead of being attached to them.
There is a story that illustrates this well. Two elderly gentlemen were sitting on their balconies sipping their morning chai. Below them, the vegetable vendor arrived, shouting out his produce for the day, and soon, residents were crowding around his cart to buy from him. Suddenly, the men heard raised voices: the women were complaining that the vendor’s prices were too high and he was arguing back. The men exchanged glances and a few remarks about how women love to fight and returned to sipping their chai. One of the gentlemen suddenly recognised his wife’s voice. He looked down, and sure enough, it was his wife who was leading the fight against the vendor. He put down his chai and from his balcony began to shout abuses.
The situation was funny and something to laugh about when it didn’t involve him. But as soon as it did, his emotions changed. When we identify with situations, we then become emotional. However, if we are witnesses to a situation, we are able to remain above emotion and in a calm and peaceful state.
This is not an easy task. Anyone who has gotten into a fight with a friend or with a colleague will agree. But the fact remains that arguments and negative thinking can easily be avoided if we take a step back and see the bigger picture. Sakshi Bhava is a difficult quality to develop but the process of body awareness, if practised regularly, will help you.
Method:
Sit in a comfortable posture, either on the ground or on a chair.
Keep your back, neck and head in a straight line.
Begin by observing the breath. Feel the cool air as it enters the nostrils and the warm air as it exits the nostrils.
Once the mind is calm, begin to rotate your awareness from one body part to another, starting with the head. Go from the crown of your head, mouth, right eye, left eye, right ear, left ear, right nostril, and left nostril, right cheek, left cheek, upper lip, and lower lip and so on.
In the early stages, use your hands to direct your awareness to a part of the body. Always use the right hand unless you are unable to do so; for example, when you are touching your right elbow.
As you shift your focus, become completely aware of that body part, attempt to have no other thoughts in your mind.
This exercise should take you between 2 to 3 minutes and can be practised anywhere.
Next time you are unable to find a creative idea, or are stuck with a problem or are feeling tired, take a few minutes to practise Sakshi Bhava.
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Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life."
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Any man who supposes the moon is always the same, regardless of the season, and is therefore unable to detect the difference in autumn, must be exceedingly insensitive.
–YOSHIDA KENKO
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