This picture has many an allegory!
From waxing poetic about mountain grandeur or the reflection and clarity seen in the lake as if it were a mirror, to the peaceful beckoning of calm water, smooth as glass. What about the ripple effect? I love the story of one individual's influence being sent out in every direction. Also the physics of sound waves bending and bouncing with the various shapes they make before reaching our eardrums. You can imagine as the trees stare longingly at the water that their roots are all reaching down deep into the earth to quench their parched roots.
In looking for a picture of our DE (Dear Elder) today to post here, I thought I could post more family photos but I found this picture and it struck me as being very profound indeed. I will call this picture "INFLUENCE".
in·flu·ence
ˈinflo͝oəns/
noun
noun: influence; plural noun: influences
1.
the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.
"the influence of television violence"
- the power to shape policy or ensure favorable treatment from someone, especially through status, contacts, or wealth.
"the institute has considerable influence with teachers"
- a person or thing with the capacity or power to have an effect on someone or something.
"Frank was a good influence on her"
Sin often happens by first abhorrence of it, then tolerance with it, later acceptance and then finally embracing it. Satan is so cunning.
So we have a stunningly beautiful picture of a mountain lake! How did it degrade so fast? Well I have been thinking a lot lately about the effect of the gospel in our lives. As you would probably guess. Currently all three of our children are exerting their influence all around the world. Missionaries have a very distinct power as messengers of the Lord and His great gospel. They are on His errand. I have come to learn, surprisingly enough, that when we have great spiritual experiences, it triggers the same feel good hormones in the brain as do the negative addictions. But imbalance is the problem. I came across this article and I know there are plenty of talks to read on the subject as well.
10 Things To Increase Dopamine Production Naturally:
Don't get addicted.
“Many people get addicted to something because it gives them some kind of instant gratification – drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, shopping, and other addictive behaviors actually have the opposite effect on dopamine levels in the long-term. In essence, when we get overly addicted to something, the ‘reward circuitry’ of our brain kicks into overdrive and we crave the ‘quick hit.’ This is not a sustainable solution for dopamine production, which can and should be done naturally.”
Checklist Small Tasks
“Dopamine increases when we are organized and finish tasks – regardless if the task is small or large. So, don’t allow your brain to worry about things that need to be done. Instead, write these tasks down and then check them off one at a time. It’s been shown that it’s more satisfying to the brain’s dopamine levels when we physically check something off of our to-do list. Also, write down and check stuff off regardless if you can mentally remember the tasks.”
Create Something
“For us writers, painters, sculptors, poets, singers, dancers, and other artists, we can identify with this. When we’re in creative mode, we can become hyper-focused. As a result, we can enter a state called flow. Dopamine is the brain chemical that allows us to achieve this state. The lesson is this: take up a hobby or activity in which you actually create something tangible. Try something like arts, crafts, auto repair, drawing, photography, or something else that sounds interesting.”
Exercise
“Same ‘ole, same ‘ole, we know. We’ve discussed repeatedly the importance and benefits of physical exercise, and we’re just going to add to this list again. So, not only does exercise help us relieve stress, achieve better physical health and make us more productive; it boosts our dopamine levels. More specifically, exercise increases multiple neurotransmitters – serotonin and endorphins, besides dopamine, receive a boost. Here’s something else cool: the exercise needn’t not be arduous. Simply taking a stroll or climbing some stairs will achieve a good dopamine jolt.”
Get a Streak Going
“As with creating a
checklist, getting a streak going is a great way to increase dopamine
levels. For the purpose of this article, a streak is a visual reminder
of how many days in a row you’ve achieved something.
Get a calendar specifically
for this purpose: write down whatever goal you have and the days of the
week or month when they are scheduled. For example, if you work out on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, mark these days on the calendar for the
month. As you finish a workout, mark it off on the calendar. Keep a
streak going, and you’ll keep the dopamine coming.”
Increase Tyrosin
“Of the chemicals that make up dopamine, none are more important than tyrosine. In fact, tyrosine is considered the building block of dopamine. Therefore, it is important that you get enough of this protein. There’s a large list of foods that increase Tyrosine, including: Almonds, Avocados, Bananas, Beef, Chicken, Chocolate, Coffee, Eggs, Green Tea, Watermelon, Yogurt.”
Listen to Music
“Do you ever wonder why music makes you happy? I mean, we can be in the dumps one moment but once we put on our favorite jam, we’re swaying and shaking away…feeling pretty good about ourselves too! The reason for this is that listening to music increases dopamine levels. In fact, scientists say that listening to music has the same effect as eating our favorite foods or watching our favorite T.V. show. So, when you’re feeling down, throw on some of your favorite tunes and jam out!”
Meditate
“As with exercise, we are discovering more and more benefits to meditation.
We are again adding to the list. As we discussed, the human brain is
susceptible to a variety of addictions. One other addictive habit that
we have is overthinking. In fact, some Buddhists have a phrase for this
addiction: ‘monkey mind.’
Overthinking is not merely a
distracting habit, it’s also a genuine compulsion that leaves us in a
perplexing state, while also having a negative effect on our spiritual
development. However, scientists are finally catching up to what
Buddhists have known for thousands of years: meditation and mindfulness
are essential to a healthy mind.”
Take Supplements
“While there are some great
ways to increase dopamine levels, sometimes we’re facing a time crunch.
Fortunately, there are natural supplements on the market that have been
shown to increase dopamine levels. Here are a few:
Acetyl-l-tyrosine: Another building block of dopamine. A healthy dose of this makes it easier for the brain to produce dopamine.
Curcumin: An active ingredient that’s also common in curry spices and turmeric.
Ginkgo Biloba: A
tremendously popular wonder supplement that’s also believed to boost
dopamine levels and keep it circulating in the brain longer.
L-theanine: Increases multiple neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine.Toxic Cleansing
“As miraculous as our bodies are, we do accumulate toxins and bacteria that is bad for us. Endotoxins are the kind that can cause our immune systems to get out of whack, and it also constrains the production of dopamine. Here are a couple tips for helping cleanse the gut of endotoxins: eat fermented food, get enough sleep, and resist the urge to indulge in fatty or sugary foods.”
For more info here is the URL for this article:
http://www.collective-evolution.com/2016/01/20/10-ways-to-increase-dopamine-levels-in-the-brain/
What great suggestions! It's amazing to me to find I am in the process of doing each and every one of these. It is an ongoing process and a daily challenge. But I feel great!!
This is the story of the pebble:
The Ripple Effect©
Have you ever thrown a rock or pebble into the still waters of a pond or
lake? Did you notice how the little waves ripple away from the center
in circles and continue on and on? The same thing happens every day in
our lives. Little things we do create ripple effects that can sometimes result in good
things and sometimes make bad things happen to other people, even people we have
never met.
Suppose one morning you happen to see a friend who is grumpy and somewhat
unhappy, and you give her a big smile and say hello. Since smiles are contagious, she
gives you a smile right back and suddenly feels better. If so, she may smile at someone
else. The ripple effect can continue to others, all from that one smile you gave.One early evening on a lonely country road, an old man was standing on a bridge, high above a deep river. He had just dropped a pebble over the railing to see how long it would take to hit the water. As he watched the ripples fanning out, along came a pickup truck. It slowly came to a stop, but the motor was kept running. The old man noticed the name painted on the door: Todd’s Greenhouse Nurseries. Walking up to the window, he saw a man behind the wheel with his head bowed low, breathing heavily.
“Is anything wrong?” he asked.
“Yes,” the man said quietly, “I think I am having a heart attack. I am trying to get to the hospital.”
“Let me help you,” said the old man. “You shouldn’t be driving. The hospital is a good ten miles from here.”
“I know,” mumbled the man. “I’m Jack Todd. I’m a widower. I was all alone at my nursery, after my employees had left for the day.”
“Don’t worry, Jack,” said the old man. “I’ll drive you there.”
He opened the door, took the wheel, and drove as fast as he could down the road. When they arrived at the emergency entrance to the hospital, the attendants rushed out with a wheelchair and quickly wheeled Jack Todd to the emergency room. The old man waited throughout the night. He knew what it was like to be all alone, without family or friends in times of need. He, too, was a widower. He had lived alone since his wife had died several months before.
The doctors were able to save Jack Todd’s life. They told the old man that Jack Todd would have died if he had arrived just a few minutes later.
A week passed. Jack Todd was getting well. Several of his employees came to visit, as did the old man. While everyone was gathered around his bedside, Jack Todd took the hand of the old man and said to his employees, “This dear and gentle man saved my life, though we were perfect strangers. And I want you to know, he created a ripple effect in all of our lives. By saving my life, he saved my business. By saving my business, he saved the jobs of thirty families. We all owe him so much.”
There was silence as all eyes turned toward the old man. He gave a gracious smile, but there were tears in his eyes. He gently leaned over the railing of the bed and whispered to Jack Todd, “I must tell you something, Jack. You saved my life. Just about the time you drove up in your truck, I was about to jump off that bridge. Now I know how important every life on earth is to every other. It is just as you said, Jack, the ripple effect.”
Words of kindness, deeds you do
Touch lives and ripple through.
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