Inquiry to Discover

I was listening to a lecture by a famous Neuroscientist the other day. Her name is Candace Pert and her lecture was on the molecular signals of pleasure. Pert has been researching this topic for over 30 years and is partly responsible for discovering the body's own opiate receptors, which led to the discovery of the body's own version of opiates, called endorphins.

A large amount of endorphins are released in your brain when you need to be shielded against pain. People have often recalled times when something traumatic happens, like an accident, and they notice only after everything calms down that they have an injury. Endorphins are released during childbirth. Endorphins also cause the extra boost of energy and the blissful feeling that runner's get when they have run to a certain level of exhaustion- the runner's high.

It was interesting to learn from Dr. Pert,  that there are opiate receptors in the gut. That wonderful feeling after eating is not just a matter of the food tasting good but also because of the drug-like feeling of pleasure caused by endorphin release.

So the bad news is that along with all the cues from the outside urging us to overeat (commercials, billboards, other people), along with the ease of obtaining good-tasting calories from one of gazillions of fast-food restaurants- our own bodies may become addicted to that wonderful feeling of fullness.  No wonder that obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight is so very difficult!!!

Fortunately, Dr. Pert finished the lecture with some more insightful information. She talked about the role of the medial prefrontal cortex or mPFC in overcoming hormonal cues.  The mPFC is in the front of the brain (right above the nose and behind the forehead). This part of the brain is unique to humans and used for the planning of behavior, the assessment of risk, goal attainment and many other important cognitive skills.  Dr. Pert spoke of studies that showed that the mPFC is activated during quiet focused attention, like meditation and contemplative prayer. Furthermore, activating the mPFC in a quiet focused way serves to calm down the surge of hormones, like endorphins and in addition improve one's ability to bring focused attention and intention to other behaviors....like eating.


So, the  bottom line is that when you practice quieting the mind you are also quieting the hormones in the body... and the more you practice it the better you will get at keeping your mind on task. This ability for mind to win over body will prevent  giving in to urges to eat impulsively, or eating when not hungry, or eating when feeling, lonely, tired, angry or bored. 


Healthy lifestyles include many different and bountiful ways to feel pleasure besides eating food. We are all scientists, to a certain degree, charged with discovering our own paths to health and wholeness. Every single day presents an opportunity for a new discovery once you commit to the inquiry of knowing and appreciating yourself.     Quieting the mind is a good first step.

The power of my own peace

I belong to a professional organization of Black Psychologists and ever since the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida I have received emails every day from members urging some type of action. There are calls to protest, or calls for political action but this one, by Dr. Mersella caught my attention. He apologizes. Further, he promises to work toward inner and outer peace in his own thoughts and actions. 

What sense does it make in the face of such justifiable anger and frustration to offer such sentiments?   This is exactly what the principle of non-violence protest is all about..the realization that the anger and hatred that seeded the problem cannot also root out the problem.

It should be evident by now that the solutions needed for out times, must come from a deeper source, a higher wisdom and a more enlightened view.  This does not mean that there is no place for public outcry and political change. However, a long view of history will quickly reveal that what ever is necessary to cause lasting and profound change in the human condition it must occur by creating changes from within. As Rev. Michael Beckwith says, "A person cannot seek to change the world and also remain the same".

Put another way,  In order for the world to change, I must change myself.

You and I both know that change is hard. If  changing one's own eating behaviors is difficult, what about ingrained prejudices, implicit feelings of superiority or inferiority, the effect of institutional biases that reinforce stereotypes. How does one person combat all of that?

 I say it is through a deep and abiding inner presence that will then influence all other actions and will alter all contradictory beliefs. I speak from my own experience. I have protested in my day and I have fought for political change. I know that it is hard and exhausting work and sometimes the rewards seem to be so fleeting. However, now I would have my protest be fueled from this inner presence and peace I want my political maneuverings to be informed by inspiration and insight. Then no matter what happens at the end of the day, I can have faith that something was accomplished.... if in no one else, in myself.

In peace and in health,
Cheryl

There is a deep, abiding darkness in the soul of our times.  A passion for violence and hate that is omnipresent and unrelenting in its pursuit of satisfaction and satiation. I am filled with grief and sorrow as a witness to the injustice, indifference, and faceless presence that is devouring our world. I offer you and every victim of this endless and timeless horror of our times my apology and promise to work toward inner and outer peace in my thoughts and actions.  Hope is not enough.  Patience cannot heal.  Our own nation, our institutions, our  popular culture are the very sources that sustain and nurture violence, destruction, and death.

 

 If there is any meaning to come from the killing of yet one more Black, one more repetition of a killing that has crossed centuries and place, let it be that this  evil be confronted in all it's forms across our land.  We must not permit time to remove this killing from our mind or conscience or actions.

It is time for a national atonement -- a confession and a public plea for forgiveness for what we have wrought, and continue to deny.

Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D.

Called to Revolution (Posted March 1, 2012)

Last time I wrote about how the principles of Sacred and Fit have transformed my life, starting with my health and fitness. I don't think I've every actually written about those principles on the blog but they are available at the Sacred and Fit website. Losing weight and keeping it off has been just one benefit of this lifestyle change. More than that, living these principles was a way for me to begin to infuse my relationship with God into every area of my life. During the fast, I prayed specifically for my relationship with William, being disciplined with my finances and to be a more effective teacher at my job. Due to some things going on at work, I spent a lot of time praying for my job.


I believe that in order to cause a radical shift in behavior, radical change is required on all three levels, spiritual, emotional/mental and physical.  For me, seeing my body as a temple, a dwelling place for God- raised caring for my health to a spiritual act. Using fasting, prayer, meditation and introspection- caused a change to occur in my thoughts and feelings about my body. Finally, in order to adopt new healthy habits and maintain the motivation for spiritual discipline, I made physical changes in my environment and created ways to support a new way of being.

During the fast, I came to understand that if I could raise eating and exercise to a spiritual act then I could also make my job my ministry. I'm not talking about proselytizing. I'm talking about seeing my students as God's beloved. Using fasting, prayer, meditation and introspection to create a change in how I relate to them and how I teach them. Adopting a way of being in the classroom, that creates an environment for excellence for me and for them.

In January I was inspired to chart this course after receiving two words "Teach What?"  Those words caused me to use the month of February waiting and listening for the rest of the message. So, before my morning meditation, I started to spend a few minutes, right after waking, to listen for the complete answer. As I went to sleep, I pondered the question and waited for the answer. During the day, I would quiet myself and create a space for the answer to come. It finally did, last Sunday at church. In the midst of a sermon where the Pastor was not preaching about teaching, suddenly he made a statement about teachers and at that very moment, a revelation erupted in my head.

"Teach What, Teach Who and Teach How." 
And this time, I got the entire message- So, here it is.
 I am to teach WHAT I've been hired to teach but I must realize that at every moment, I am also teaching much more than the content area or book knowledge. I am always teaching something about my values, which will ultimately be of the most use to my students. 
IF I believe my students to be "underprivileged" or "low performing" I will teach to that belief. When actually, WHO my students are is a matter of my own faith and not anything else.
 HOW I teach them is directly related to my capacity to love, as faith and love work together. There is no fear in Love and therefore, no need to worry about resources. I will have all that I need.

 My capacity to love is directly related to the love of God flowing in and as me, the evidence of which is peace. The peace of God is directly related to the continued spiritual disciplining of my mind, will and emotions. From peace will spring joy.


Sacred and Fit started out for me to be about health and wellness. However, at the end of the day the Body/Temple is put on earth for a reason, a purpose, a mission- a calling. Not all ministries happen in churches.  Not everyone's calling will be big and flashy.  Mine isn't. But the need for ministry; the need for the expressed love of God exists all around us, including here at Virginia State.

I am called to be a teacher. I have received my charge and I am now a Revolutionary Teacher.
What is your Revolution?

No failure in the Revolution

There are times in teaching when a spark is created, a moment when a student gets an insight and from that insight a whole new level of understanding emerges. I cherish those moments but unfortunately, those times have been rare. Much more common are the times like yesterday when the entire class seemed lost.

This was their midterm exam and as I walked around the room. I could tell something was amiss. Early on, they were doing a lot of thinking but not a lot of writing. About halfway through the 90 minute class, what I thought had been deep thinking revealed itself to be frustration- fidgeting,  sighing, pages turning and then turning again as students sought questions they could answer.

 In the last fifteen minutes I saw it and felt it--the resignation, the hopelessness, the fear.  Answer sheets that had more white space than writing. heads in hands, eyes staring into space with five more minutes remaining. Although I offer lots of homework and many quizzes, there is only one midterm and a final exam for this class and these students are seniors who need the class to graduate. I felt tendrils of frustration seeking entrance into my own mind and the temptation to start blaming them and defending myself against a tidal wave sense of failure.  Then I recalled my Charge- Teach What, Teach Who, Teach How.

 Last time, I shared with you, the Charge, I received concerning my personal Teaching Revolution. After deeper reflection I saw that the charge also contained the instructions for times like this. As I walked the room, I brought to my mind Who I was teaching and What lessons I ultimately wanted to impart. I could feel the tension in the room rising but in bringing to mind, my Revolutionary Charge, I retained my peace. I stilled myself and started listening to receive the How.

In the few minutes that it took to return to my office, I knew what to do. I immediately sent the entire class an email with an attachment of the test they had just taken. I told them that even though I had not yet graded their exams, I would be willing to offer them another opportunity. They now could take the same test at home using their books and notes. I would then average the Take Home version with the In Class version as their final midterm grade.  Since next week is Spring Break, they have two weeks to get this assignment done.

After I sent the email, I took a moment to notice how good I felt. This time, I was the one having sparks of insight. One insight was that it is possible to stay in peace in the midst of a perceived failure when you remember your Charge. The other insight was that remembering your Charge, all the time, in every day life, requires lots of practice. I understood that my How idea could be traced all the way back to a green smoothie or rather the practice of choosing a green smoothie or a salad or taking a walk. The practice of self-control over little things provided the foundation for the self-control over big things. In essence, Self control ultimately teaches peace control.


Of course, it is possible that I would have had this idea for the Take Home exam without focusing on peace or having an expectant faith in the Revolution. However, in comparing this situation with other similar situations I've faced, I don't think so. Something was very different about this. I believe the Revolution is working...one opportunity at a time.

Everyday, we all get opportunities to choose and every single choice can be practice for the Charge. What about you? What Charge have you been given and how are you practicing it today?  It can be as simple as choosing to drink a glass of water.