The Science of Self

• There are countless theoretical approaches to understanding the universal problem of suffering. We start with the Buddhist conception, which sees pain as an inevitable and natural part of life, which is transient and always changing. Therefore if we attach to what is impermeant, we will suffer when it changes. • The parable of the farmer and the Buddha shows that our biggest problem is that we believe we should have no problems. • In these views, suffering occurs because, paradoxically, we think we should not be suffering! • Pain is unavoidable, but suffering is optional. Suffering is pain plus our grasping, resistance, attachment or identification. Thus we can greatly reduce our suffering by changing how we deal with pain. • The serenity prayer teaches us that we need the wisdom to discern between what is in our power to control (our mental reaction to pain) and what isn’t (the pain itself). • According to Viktor Frankl, in the brief moment after pain, we have a gap where we can pause and decide what response we would like to have. We may evolve mechanisms to respond automatically, but we also have the power to choose our response if we are conscious. • Cognitive behavioral psychologists recognize a similar principle, and explain how our minds can trap us in suffering. We experience pain and then immediately create a thought about it. This thought creates our feelings and a physiological reaction, for example, stress and tension in the body. In time, these feelings spiral out of control and manifest as behaviors that reinforce our original thoughts. Get the audiobook on Audible Show notes and/or episode transcripts are available at https://bit.ly/self-growth-homePeter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a dedicated student of the human condition.Visit https://bit.ly/peterhollins to pick up your FREE human nature cheat sheet: 7 surprising psychology studies that will change the way you think.#Aurelius #Buddhist #Frankl #MarcusAurelius #Seneca #SerenityPrayer #Stoic #ViktorFrankl #ToSufferIsToLive #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #PeterHollins #TheScienceofSelf #HowtoSufferWell

Shackleton’s lessons: • Find purpose. Seek a deeper meaning and significance in your life, and, if it strengthens you, anchor yourself in religion or spirituality. Shackleton never felt alone during his most arduous challenges, and that’s because he was a man of faith. • When times are challenging, keep sane and even-keeled by engrossing yourself in the details of day to day life. Keep a routine, look after the basics of life, and if need be, find relieving distractions when things get especially difficult. • Finally, don’t give up. When you encounter a challenge, reframe the way you look at it: it’s not the end. Difficulties are not a sign that your journey is over, just that the route has changed. Difficulties are just things to overcome. If you have hope, then you’ll be prepared and ready to grasp opportunity when it does finally come your way.Get the audiobook on Audible at https://adbl.co/3NBG3vWShow notes and/or episode transcripts are available at https://bit.ly/self-growth-homePeter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a dedicated student of the human condition. Visit https://bit.ly/peterhollins to pick up your FREE human nature cheat sheet: 7 surprising psychology studies that will change the way you think.#Grit #Hollins #PeterHollins #ErnestShackletonAndHisCrew:AnInspiringStoryOfStrengthAndSurvival #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #Old-SchoolGrit

• The final major biological difference is the level of background noise that is inside the introvert’s or extrovert’s mind. To put it plainly, introverts have perpetual static and chatter in their mind, which makes them more liable to overwhelm, analysis, rumination, and retreating to solitude. Hans Eysenck proved a corollary of this with his lemon juice test, in which he found that introverts were generally easier to arouse and become alert.• All of these differences make it seem like introverts are somewhat less predisposed to survival than extroverts. But the opposite is true; zoological studies have found that there are generally two groups in a society, rovers and sitters, and both are needed because they complement each other. Rovers are extroverts—thrill-seekers and out and about. Sitters are introverts—planners, analyzers, and operating in the background. That is to say, introverts keep themselves and the people around them safer than they might be otherwise. Get the audiobook on AudibleShow notes and/or episode transcripts are available at https://bit.ly/self-growth-homePeter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a dedicated student of the human condition. Visit https://bit.ly/peterhollins to pick up your FREE human nature cheat sheet: 7 surprising psychology studies that will change the way you think. #ArousalLevels #BaselineArousal #BaselineLevels #BiologicalDifferences #CognitivePerformance #Darwinism #Eysenck #Introvert #BackgroundNoise #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #PeterHollins #TheScienceofSelf #TheScienceofIntroverts

   • Get into the reading habit to increase your empathy and communication skills, as well as relax. Anything goes, but literary fiction is best for strengthening perspective and “theory of mind” ability.    • Journaling or keeping a diary can make you happier and help you modulate and regulate your emotions. Try whatever form works best for you.Hear it Here - https://bit.ly/Show notes and/or episode transcripts are available  Learn more or get a free mini-book  #CognitiveAbilities #CultivateDiscipline #EmotionalRegulation #LaurenMSinger #Lieberman #MatthewLieberman #MentalAcuity #MindlabInternational #TheReadingAndWritingHabits #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #NeuroHappiness

A few of the most well-known and dangerous cognitive distortions are all-or-nothing thinking, personalizing, overgeneralizing, catastrophizing, and jumping to conclusions. An especially notable cognitive distortion that robs us of resilience is emotional reasoning. This is when reality is defined by the emotions we feel at that very moment. Comparisons are not necessarily a cognitive distortion, but they create the same skewed reality and set of expectations. You should evaluate yourself according to your own baseline instead of comparing your worst to other people’s best.Get the audiobook on Audible at http://bit.ly/MoreEnergyHollinsShow notes and/or episode transcripts are available at https://bit.ly/self-growth-homePeter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a dedicated student of the human condition. Visit https://bit.ly/peterhollins to pick up your FREE human nature cheat sheet: 7 surprising psychology studies that will change the way you think.#Catastrophizing #CognitiveDistortion #Fortunetelling #Overgeneralization #Personalization #DangerousCognitiveDistortions #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #PeterHollins #TheScienceofSelf #HaveMoreEnergy

Dopamine and acetylcholine are at the heart of another difference in how introverts and extroverts process external stimuli.Extroverts have blunted dopamine receptors, so they need more stimulation to feel pleasure.Introverts have heightened dopamine receptors, so they feel overwhelmed more easily.This leads them to seek out activities and behaviors that generate acetylcholine, which creates feelings of tranquility and calm.Get the audiobook on AudibleShow notes and/or episode transcripts are available at https://bit.ly/self-growth-homePeter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a dedicated student of the human condition. Visit https://bit.ly/peterhollins to pick up your FREE human nature cheat sheet: 7 surprising psychology studies that will change the way you think. #Acetylcholine #ChristineFonseca #Dopamine #Extrovert #Fonseca #MartiLaney #ScottBarryKaufman #IScream #YouScream #WeAllScream #ForDopamine! #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #PeterHollins #TheScienceofSelf #TheScienceofIntroverts

Try self-affirmation, but focus on affirmations that are value-based, rather than those dealing with your traits or performance as a person.#Affirmations #Cascio #ChristopherCascio #Meditation #MentalChatter #Neurohappiness #PositiveThoughts #Selfaffirmations #Self-TalkingYourselfToHappiness #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #NeuroHappiness

• Even after we take care of our physical selves, we can still feel like a piece of pudding: unable to move on our own free will, and generally without strength of structure. As the energy pyramid demonstrates, physical fitness is a requirement but not a guarantee of energy. Mental and emotional energy tend to be far more powerful than basic physical energy, and mostly, this works against us. Sure, we have the occasional stories of being insanely motivated and working for twenty hours straight, but more often than not, we are saddled into useless states because of emotional or mental energy depletion. • First, we will discuss emotional energy. This concerns how we feel about ourselves, the world, and our place within it. It involves our sense of confidence, security, anxiety, and feelings. It is influenced by vampiric people, our own negative beliefs, cognitive distortions, and disempowering narratives. All of this amounts to us spending too much time and energy inside our own heads, rather than directing energy into the external world. And for what? Typically, nothing based in reality, as cognitive distortions demonstrate.Get the audiobook on Audible at http://bit.ly/MoreEnergyHollinsShow notes and/or episode transcripts are available at https://bit.ly/self-growth-homePeter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a dedicated student of the human condition. Visit https://bit.ly/peterhollins to pick up your FREE human nature cheat sheet: 7 surprising psychology studies that will change the way you think.#CognitiveDistortion #Energy #EnergyLevels #EnergyPyramid #Nickerby #EmotionalAndMentalEnergyVampires #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #PeterHollins #TheScienceofSelf #HaveMoreEnergy

Show notes and/or episode transcripts are available at https://bit.ly/self-growth-homePeter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a dedicated student of the human condition. Visit https://bit.ly/peterhollins to pick up your FREE human nature cheat sheet: 7 surprising psychology studies that will change the way you think. #Depue #Extroverts #Introverts #IvanPavlov #RichardADepue #YuFu #TheBiologicalBasisOfIntroverts #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #PeterHollins #TheScienceofSelf #TheScienceofIntroverts

Gratitude is strongly associated with feelings of wellbeing. Say thank you, or simply dwell on all the things you have to be thankful for. Try meditation, but remember to approach it without grasping at goals or desired outcomes.Hear it Here - https://bit.ly/Show notes and/or episode transcripts are available Learn more or get a free mini-book #CaliforniaSanFranciscoMedicalCentre #DrPrathikKini #Dzongsar #DzongsarKhyentseRinpoche #Enigula #JillSakai #Kini #Lutz #NeuroHappiness #RichardDavidson #Rinpoche #GratitudeAndMeditationCanMakeYouHappy #RussellNewton #NewtonMG #NeuroHappiness