{"id":30081,"date":"2023-01-12T18:01:40","date_gmt":"2023-01-13T02:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=30081"},"modified":"2023-01-12T18:04:42","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T02:04:42","slug":"the-complexities-of-reality-a-practical-exploration-from-where-i-sit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/the-complexities-of-reality-a-practical-exploration-from-where-i-sit\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complexities of Reality: A Practical Exploration from Where I Sit"},"content":{"rendered":"

As I Begin<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of my goals this semester is to reduce the amount of time I spend preparing my blogs, in order to sharpen my communication skills and create a more balanced life and work routine. I am pushing myself to form and hone my ideas more quickly and to edit less. I find this approach uncomfortable but am committed to improving my writing routine. I am open to the feedback of my peers as I navigate this learning process. I appreciate Dr. Clark\u2019s comment that every blog need not be a homerun.[1]<\/a>\u00a0 I hope to hit some homeruns this semester and I hope to be content with simply getting on base some weeks, as well. In general, my aim is to free myself from the book and interact critically with the content by weaving in my personal experiences and learnings from other sources. To that end, let the challenge begin.<\/p>\n

In Review: The Molecule of More<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The first book we are reading this semester addresses the influence of dopamine on human behavior. Psychiatrist Daniel Lieberman and physicist Michael Long collaborated to create the book, The Molecule of More, How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity \u2013 and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race. <\/em>In their writing, they highlight the power of dopamine to drive human decisions and actions, despite the fact that only 0.00005 percent of brain cells produce dopamine, saying, \u201cThese cells appear to exert an outsized influence on behavior.\u201d[2]<\/a> They also dispel the commonly held idea that dopamine is the \u201cpleasure\u201d molecule and show through research, that in fact, dopamine is the \u201canticipation\u201d molecule.[3]<\/a> \u201cFrom dopamine\u2019s point of view, having<\/em> things is uninteresting. It\u2019s only getting<\/em> things that matters.\u201d[4]<\/a> Dopamine drives us to pursue new and attractive materials and experiences, but once we obtain them, dopamine subsides, as do the accompanying feelings of excitement. \u201cThe dopamine circuits in the brain can be stimulated only by the possibility of whatever is shiny and new, never mind how perfect things are at the moment. The dopamine motto is \u2018More.\u2019\u201d[5]<\/a><\/p>\n

Interestingly, as Lieberman and Long point out, dopamine helps us to enjoy and envision the things that are possible, however, a completely different set of neurotransmitters, the Here and Now <\/em>molecules, allow us to enjoy those things once we obtain them. \u201cTo enjoy the things we have, as opposed to the things that are only possible, our brains must transition from future-oriented dopamine to present-oriented chemicals,\u201d which include serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins.[6]<\/a> Many of us get hooked on the pleasure of anticipation and find it hard to settle into the pleasure afforded through the sensations and emotions of the here and now. Lieberman and Long draw upon wisdom from anthropologist Helen Fisher, who illustrates the role of dopamine through the example of human relationships. She estimates that early love, driven by dopamine, lasts twelve to eighteen months. Beyond that, to foster a successful relationship couples must develop what Fisher calls, \u201ccompanionate love,\u201d which is fueled by the Here and Now chemicals in the body. Fisher says, companionate love \u201cinvolves experiences that are happening right here, right now \u2013 you\u2019re with the one you love, so enjoy it.\u201d[7]<\/strong><\/a> <\/em>Our challenge is to recognize the pull of dopamine in our lives, make deliberate choices regarding our behavior, and enjoy the here and now.<\/p>\n

An Area of Personal Intrigue<\/strong><\/p>\n

This presentation on dopamine offers various areas of interest I would like to pursue.[8]<\/a>\u00a0 For the purpose of this blog, I am going to discuss a particular idea that intrigues me near the end of Lieberman and Long\u2019s book. In chapter six, the authors refer to the allure of virtual reality and the temptations they predict will cause humans to choose reliance on and interaction with artificial intelligence, instead of reliance on and interaction with human beings. They offer these words:<\/p>\n

\u201cWith VR, the human race may go willingly into the dark night. Our dopamine circuits will tell us it\u2019s the best thing ever. There\u2019s only one thing that will save us: the ability to achieve a better balance, to overcome our obsession with more<\/em>, appreciate the unlimited complexity of reality, and learn to enjoy the things we have.\u201d[9]<\/a><\/p>\n

Though there are several powerful ideas in this quote, the one phrase that catches my attention is: \u201cappreciate the unlimited complexity of reality.\u201d What is the unlimited complexity of reality? Is reality complex?\u00a0 Is the complexity unlimited? Do we too often ponder and reach for possibilities of what could be obtained, as opposed to spending balanced amounts of time in the here and now? Are we underutilizing our \u201cHere and Now molecules\u201d and missing the richness of our present reality? Is reality ever so painful, boring, or disappointing that it\u2019s easier to continuously be moving forward into a new future?<\/p>\n

An Experiment in the Here and Now<\/strong><\/p>\n

I decided to experiment with the \u201cunlimited complexity of reality\u201d to further understand what the authors are talking about. Pausing from my writing, I tried to sit in the present and experience what is immediately here and real. It struck me that I\u2019m sitting in the church where my family attended when I was four through six years old. I accidentally found myself back at this church when I was in college and met my first husband here. We ended up back in this spiritual family after twelve years living in California and Mexico. I joined the church staff. The congregation offered office space for the nonprofit for which I now work. I am sitting in the chair and working at the desk that once belonged to my mentor who served as a pastor here years ago. I was baptized, married, and ordained here. I am struck anew by the reality that I have lived much of my life in connection to this church family and they are an encouraging group of people for whom I am grateful!\u00a0 Immediately, I can see that reality is complex and offers deep and broad opportunities through which to live and grow.<\/p>\n

As I continue to sit in the present, my colleague Amy comes to the office door on her way home and shares her appreciation for a woman at the school district with whom I work. She tells of the lifechanging gift that this woman, Sara, offered her family as they navigated a move after their recent house fire. I am reminded of Sara\u2019s dedication to her clients. Amy asks me to help her carry something to her car. I\u2019m feeling the tension of needing to get back to my essay, but I lean into the opportunity to explore the present. We have a fun conversation on our way to the parking lot, I am renewed by the chance to get up and walk and spend some time outside, I am reminded that there are cookies in the church refrigerator and grab one on my way back to my desk.[10]<\/a> I am energized and receive joy from conversation, a short walk, the outdoors, and a delicious cookie. This combination adds significant value and inspiration to my day.<\/p>\n

Before I return to my essay, the pastor of the church enters my office and sits to recount a story from the afternoon. It\u2019s a sobering story. I am privileged to share this burden with her. My relationship with a friend is strengthened. This is not only significant to my day, but to the long-term wellness of my being.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I turn back to writing, I am inspired to more deeply notice and experience the complexities of reality and to let the Here and Now molecules flow more freely in my life. Though dopamine serves an important role, I want to be more aware of the ways in which I give into its pull and instead, strive for balance between my desire for \u201cmore\u201d and my appreciation of what I have. There is complexity in our reality and that complexity offers opportunities for contentment, growth, and the experiences and emotions that make us human.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Jason Clark, DLGP01 Zoom Chat<\/em>, January 9, 2023.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long, The Molecule of More, How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity \u2013 And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race <\/em>(Dallas, TX: BenBella Books, Inc, 2018), 2.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Lieberman and Long, 16. Italics added by the author of this blog.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Lieberman and Long, 16.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Lieberman and Long, 16.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Lieberman and Long, 16.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Helen Fisher, A. Aron, L.L. Brown, Romantic Love: A Mammalian Brain System for Mate Choice. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, <\/em>361 (1476), 2173-2186 in Lieberman and Long, 16.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Topics I would like to explore further include the role of dopamine in consumerism, the effect of the \u201cculture of more\u201d on the church, potential health effects of overly focusing on the future and underappreciating what we have now, the Biblical perspective on the role of dopamine and the human tendency to focus on obtaining \u201cmore.\u201d<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Lieberman and Long, 208.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> C. Mooney, Just looking at nature can help your brain work better, study finds. Washington Post. <\/em>Retrieved from https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/energy-environment\/wp\/2015\/05\/26\/viewing-nature-can-help-your-brain-work-better-study-finds\/.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As I Begin One of my goals this semester is to reduce the amount of time I spend preparing my blogs, in order to sharpen my communication skills and create a more balanced life and work routine. I am pushing myself to form and hone my ideas more quickly and to edit less. I find […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":157,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2309,1],"tags":[2156],"class_list":["post-30081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-of-leadership","category-uncategorized","tag-lieberman","cohort-dlgp01"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/157"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30081"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30081\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30083,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30081\/revisions\/30083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}