🕯️ Traditions The Balance & Healthy Way In Seeking Pleasures

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The Balance & Healthy Way In Seeking Pleasures

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Romans 7:15

Why the things we used to enjoy no longer seems to not bring much pleasure anymore? And have you experienced something pleasurable then afterwards regrets it?
-Like eating junkfood turns to guilt
-Cheating on a diet leads to disappointment
-Or watching **** turns to shame
-Getting drunk to regrets
-Spending too much money to financial stress
-Engaging in gossip leads to guilt and regret
-Staying up late binge-watching shows leads to fatigue
-Comparing ourselves leading to feeling of inadequacy
-Focusing on short-term gains instead of long-term success leads to missed opportunities
-Pursuing superficial relationships leads to loneliness

Understanding how our brain works can help us recognize why we still sin and hopefully can help us strategize and be more compassionate of ourselves and others.

Before we continue, we need to understand the neurochemicals that gets released and what are their associated feelings:

Dopamine: Pleasure from taking something (e.g., eating a delicious meal, getting a reward, achieving a goal).

Serotonin: Joy from giving something (e.g., acts of kindness, helping others, experiencing connection).

Oxytocin: Love and bonding, often triggered by physical touch, social interaction, and acts of care.

Endorphins: Natural pain relievers and mood boosters, released during exercise, laughter, and other enjoyable activities.

Cortisol: Stress from facing something (e.g., a challenging situation, a deadline, a difficult conversation).

Now think of your brain as a seesaw. On one side, you have pleasure, fueled by the release of dopamine. Dopamine is like a reward signal, making you feel good when you do things you enjoy, like eating delicious food or spending time with loved ones.

On the other side of the seesaw, you have pain, triggered by the release of cortisol. Cortisol is your body's stress hormone, making you feel tense, anxious, or even physically uncomfortable. It's a signal that something isn't right or that you need to take action.

Now, there's a part of your brain that acts like the fulcrum of this seesaw, trying to keep things BALANCED. It tries to make sure you experience enough pleasure to keep you motivated and happy, but not so much that you ignore important things or get addicted.
It also tries to make sure you experience enough pain to keep you safe and aware of potential threats, but not so much that you become overwhelmed or paralyzed by fear.

This "balancing act" is why we sometimes do things we hate. Like what Paul in Romans 7:15 talks about doing things he hates, even though he knows they're wrong. This could be because the immediate pleasure (dopamine rush) from those actions outweighs the longer-term pain (cortisol stress) of knowing he's acting against his values.
The seesaw is tilted towards the side of pleasure, even though he knows the long-term consequences are negative. This is a common human experience, and it highlights how our brains are wired to seek pleasure even when it might not be in our best interest.

While we have these dopamine and cortisol neurotransmitter, there's also Serotonin.
Often called the "happy hormone," - it plays a crucial, albeit indirect, role in managing pain and stress. While it doesn't directly counteract cortisol or block pain signals like endorphins, its influence on mood regulation and overall well-being significantly impacts how we experience both.

A healthy level of serotonin promotes emotional stability, making us better equipped to handle stressful situations. This resilience reduces the likelihood of our bodies flooding themselves with excessive cortisol, the hormone associated with the stress response.

By fostering a sense of calm and emotional balance, serotonin helps prevent the cascade of negative effects associated with chronic stress.

Furthermore, serotonin's influence on mood regulation indirectly affects pain perception. When we're feeling anxious, depressed, or generally unwell, pain often feels more intense. Serotonin's mood-boosting effects can lessen this amplification of pain, making it more manageable. It doesn't eliminate the physical sensation of pain, but it can reduce the emotional distress and overall suffering associated with it.
This makes serotonin a valuable component in overall pain management strategies.
Here's a list of Jesus's principles and practices found in His teachings that can contribute to increased Serotonin and a sense of well-being.

Love & Connection - increased feeling of joy and contentment
Purpose & Meaning - greater satisfaction and fulfillment contributing to increased serotonin production.
Hope & Optimism - Hopefulness and a positive outlook are strongly linked to increased serotonin and reduced stress.
Gratitude & Thankfulness - Practicing gratitude has been shown to boost serotonin levels and improve overall well-being.

Why the things we used to be enjoyable seems to not bring much pleasure anymore?

- The Dopamine "Rush": When we experience intense pleasure, our brains release a surge of dopamine. This creates a feeling of euphoria and motivates us to repeat the behavior that led to the pleasure.

- The Problem with Overstimulation: The problem arises when we constantly chase these dopamine rushes. Our brains become accustomed to the high levels of dopamine and require more and more stimulation to achieve the same level of pleasure. This can lead to a state of desensitization, where the reward system becomes less responsive.

- Dopamine Depletion: It's important to note that dopamine isn't actually depleted, but rather the sensitivity of the receptors that receive it is reduced. Imagine it like a radio that's turned up too loud. Over time, the speakers might become damaged, requiring a louder signal to be heard.

- Consequences of Desensitization: This desensitization can lead to several issues:

• Addiction: The constant need for more intense stimulation can lead to addictive behaviors.
• Anhedonia: A loss of interest in pleasurable activities, making it difficult to experience joy and motivation.
• Increased Stress: The constant pursuit of pleasure can create a state of chronic stress, as the brain struggles to maintain its dopamine levels.

- The Solution: The key is to find a balance between enjoying pleasurable activities and allowing our brains to "reset." This means:
Moderation: Engage in pleasurable activities in moderation, allowing time for your brain to recover.
Variety: Explore different activities and experiences to avoid becoming desensitized to a single type of pleasure.

• Mindfulness: Pay attention to your emotions and sensations, recognizing when you're seeking pleasure out of habit rather than genuine enjoyment.
• Focus on Meaningful Activities: Engage in activities that are fulfilling and contribute to your overall well-being.

For example, you really love a music and you keep listening to it, overtime magsasawa ka and it won't be much pleasurable na dahil nababawasan na sensitivity mo to hit a certain level of satisfaction which can lead us to seek more pleasurable level.

In essence, it's not about stopping pleasure altogether, but rather about finding a healthy balance that allows us to experience joy and fulfillment without becoming dependent on constant stimulation.

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This topic might also correlate with Jesus's teaching. In Matthew 18:2 Jesus says that we must “become as little children” in order to enter the kingdom of God. The context of Jesus’ statement is the disciples’ question, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (verse 1). In response, Jesus “called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me’” (verses 2–5).

So, as the disciples focus on what constitutes “greatness” in heaven, Jesus provides a new perspective: the way “up” is “down.” Meekness is required (cf. Matthew 5:5). Jesus exhorts the disciples (and us) to seek to possess a childlike MODESTY and INNOCENCE in addition to their faith. Those who willingly take the lowest position are the greatest in heaven’s eyes. A young child is DESTITUTE of AMBITION, PLEASURES, and is therefore a good example for us.

Mark 10:15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
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Children tend to experience pleasure more intensely than adults because they have more dopamine receptors in their brains. As people age, the number of dopamine receptors typically decreases, which means adults may require stronger stimuli to activate their dopamine systems and produce the same intensity of pleasure.

As for Serotonin in children, high levels of serotonin contribute to their natural curiosity and enthusiasm for exploration.