GARCIAWESTBERG » Archive
A PLEASURE SHOT OF INNOVATION
Many pleasurable activities are categorized as sensation seeking (varied, novel and intense sensations and experiences). These activities are also somewhat risky such as: • Parachuting • Snowboarding • White water rafting • Hang-gliding • Bungee jumping • Rock climbing • Motorcycling • SCUBA diving • Racecar driving These aren’t the only types of sensation seeking activities. Any activity that can be described as the following is believed to be sensation producing: • Thrill and Adventure Seeking (risky physical activities) • Experience Seeking (new experience through mind and sensation) • Disinhibition (other people or partying, social drinking, sex) • Boredom Susceptibility So, I’ve added some more to the list: • Partying • Traveling • Discussion • Unconventional actions • Music • Watching Porn • Compulsive Shopping • Gambling The list is endless. Many activities can provide for novel and intense sensations. The good news is that these activities are pleasurable and good for us. They contribute to our happiness. Here is why: If we take in an unpredictable experience that is risky, we activate part of our … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pleasure
The Secret to “The Secret”
It’s taken me years, but I think I got The Secret figured out. For those of you who don’t know, “The Secret” is a book/movie that advocates for the notion that whatever you believe and imagine about your life becomes your reality. So, if you image that you own a beautiful mansion, you will eventually get that mansion. Their motto is, “ask and the universe will provide.” There is one caveat however. It works for things you think about not wanting as well. Hence, if you imagine and believe you are a loser, that is what you will be. Back to my discovery. I’ve witnessed that the ideas behind The Secret worked but I couldn’t accept that it was simply magic or metaphysical will. Today I spent the whole day … Read entire article »
Filed under: Self-Development
Work Is Making Americans Sick
Although the Declaration of Independence promises the pursuit of happiness as a natural and legal right, stress, anxiety, and depression kill more people in the United States than anything else. These emotional states lead to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Most of the stressors involved are due to job related events. We are overworked and over-indebted. Our need and compulsion to work as much as we do is making us a sick society. “Depression affects more than 21 million American children and adults annually and is the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals ages 15 to 44.” Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. “By 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pleasure
How to Change A Negative Image
If you think back on your experiences you will notice that the outcomes of a particular event, or your whole life for that matter, have been determined by how you were feeling about yourself. For example, job interviews go better if you are feeling like you are on top of the world than if you are feeling like your life is doomed. In general, life is determined by our psychological state. The problem lies in knowing how to change our perception of ourselves or of our lives. How can someone go from feeling like a failure to feeling like a winner YOU HAVE TO RETRAIN YOUR MIND. The way you retrain your mind is by daydreaming or imagining yourself as a winner and not a failure or by imagining an optimal … Read entire article »
Filed under: Self-Development
Next Time You Are In A Rut
Yesterday I had one of those days. It all climaxed in one moment of utter despair. I sat there feeling myself cycling downwards, minute by minute I felt myself getting more down. I said to myself, “Stop the cycling!” That didn’t work. I said to myself, “Stay in the moment; ride the wave.” That made it worse. I felt that the more time I spent in this rut, the worse it got. Everything I could think of doing I dismissed because I felt it was useless. Finally, I said to myself, “Just get up and do anything!” I got up and washed the dishes. I ended up cleaning the whole house. I started to feel better. I learned that sometimes the only thing that works is moving. Even if moving … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety, Depression
Taking The Middle Path: Successful Life Management
Extreme points of views or extreme reactions to events are favorites for me. When a situation is bad, I usually leave it. When I can’t handle something, I ignore it or avoid it. I usually react to something that happens in an “either/or” fashion. For example, if I can’t get along with someone, I usually just walk away and give up talking to them. Or if I don’t succeed right away, I move on to something else. Dialectic Behavior Therapy argues that we should think of taking a middle road when facing problems rather than taking an “either/or” position. Instead of approaching life in a “take it or leave it” fashion, we should try finding a middle ground. Hence, instead of ignoring, dismissing, or running away from problems, I should … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety, Depression, Mindfulness, Self-Development
Good Feelings Change Your Brain Chemistry and Physical Conditions
Deepak Chopra validates what I’ve been saying about the healing effects of pleasure including changing your brain chemistry and physical conditions. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Pleasure
Why We Worry
Scholars say that it is impossible to be anxious if we are thinking about what is going on right now, in the present. They say that anxiety comes from thoughts about the past and the future. Anxiety is a healthy response to perceived danger about the future (and the past because it influences the future). When we worry or become anxious, we try and figure out ways to keep danger away or how to prepare for the worst. Anxiety is healthy when it prepares us for danger. However, it is not healthy when the dangers we anticipate are a figment of our imagination. Or when the worry and anxiety reache a level that it is not longer problem solving. For example, if I am worrying and anxious about the fact … Read entire article »
Filed under: Anxiety, Mindfulness, Stress
How Satisfied Are You With Your Life?
On a scale of 0 to 10 (0 = Very Dissatisfied; 5 = Neutral; 10 = Very Satisfied), How satisfied are you with your life as a whole? Sometimes a simple question reveals a lot. But we have many different areas in life with which we can be satisfied. Ask yourself the same question for each one of these areas. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Happiness, Self-Development
Now Available!
The book on pleasure and happiness is available now! Researchers have determined that engaging in pleasure is crucial to happiness.Read More