Author: path2totality

Not All Forms of Happiness Are the Same,

and Your Cells Can Tell the Difference

Philosophers and theologians have long distinguished between two types of happiness: the kind that comes from doing for yourself and the kind that comes from doing for others, or, put more simply, the happiness of getting versus the happiness of giving. The first type is termed hedonic (he-DON- ik) and represents the type of happiness that is derived from superficial gratification, like enjoying a good meal or a pleasurable experience. The second type is termed eudaimonic (u-DY-moh–nik) and comes from having a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in life beyond self, like feeding the homeless or volunteering in the community. Researchers at UCLA and the University of North Carolina have now not only corroborated the distinction philosophers have made between these two types of happiness, but they have identified the ways in which each form of happiness impacts your health.

It appears that human bodies recognize at the molecular level that not all forms of happiness are the same and that the type of happiness one engages in over time affects your genome. Even though both forms of happiness can give a sense of well being and we may perceive ourselves as being happy, in reality each type of happiness is experienced very differently in the body’s cells. Key researcher Barbara Fredrickson, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at NCU reports from her research, “The happiness of simple gratification may have negative effects at the cellular level, despite an overall perceived sense of happiness, whereas the sense of well-being derived from ‘a noble purpose’ may actually provide cellular health benefits.” The study, which was published in The Proceedings from the National Academy of Sciences, took blood samples from 80 healthy adults, 63 of whom had been assessed for hedonic well being and 17 assessed for eudaimonic well being. Both groups reported they were happy and showed a positive mental state, so researchers expected the blood analysis from each group to yield similar results. But this is where it got interesting. When they looked at gene expression in the immune cells from each group, the eudaimonics had a profile more favorable to health than the hedonics: in particular, the individuals with eudaimonic well-being had low levels of genes expressing for inflammation and higher levels of genes expressing for anti-viral and anti-body, whereas the gene profiles of the hedonic individuals showed just the opposite with high levels of genes expressing for inflammation and low levels of genes expressing for anti-viral and anti-body. This is significant in that we now know inflammation over time damages the body’s tissues and leads to chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer, and lower levels of anti-viral and anti-body gene expression means a decreased ability to fight infection and illness. The research shows eudaimonic happiness appears to reinforce the body for health, whereas hedonic happiness doesn’t. Even more surprisingly, not only did the gene profiles from the two groups not match as expected but the gene profile of the hedonics closely mirrored the gene profile of individuals who report being lonely or depressed.

“What this study tells us is that doing good and feeling good have very different effects on the human genome, even though they generate similar levels of positive emotion,” said Steve Cole, professor of medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UCLA and senior author of the research. “Apparently, the human genome is much more sensitive to different ways of achieving happiness than are conscious minds.”

So it seems that our body’s natural intelligence knows that striving for meaning and purpose is a higher quality of happiness than just seeking positive experiences. This is not to say of course that we should deny ourselves short term pleasures like enjoying a great movie or a wonderful meal. After all, both forms of happiness are valid and we need to be filled ourselves before we have something to give another. But it’s important we see beyond what serves just our personal self and strive for the kind of happiness that comes from helping others and having a deeper purpose. Not only does this serve all of life, but this form of happiness boosts your health as well. Because even if your mind doesn’t perceive a difference between happiness that is hedonic and that which is eudaimonic, your cells know the truth. 

Article: A Functional Genomic Perspective on Human Well Being. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences http://www.pnas.org/content/110/33/13684 Aug 13, 2013

The Art of Authentic Self Care

“Self care. ” What does it mean for you? Maybe it’s a Sunday afternoon wrapped in a cozy blanket, absorbed in a favorite novel, or a soothing walk on the beach at sunset? Perhaps it’s that warm glow after a restorative yoga class, or the satiety following tasty, nutrient rich cuisine? Whatever your idea, we all engage in self care activities striving for the same goal: a sense of well being and ultimately, happiness. However the term self care can be vague and when the nature of genuine self care is misunderstood, it can become a mechanism to continually feed one’s own selfishness rather than as a mechanism to foster one’s true well being. In fact we can actually block real nurturing when self care is misapplied and done for the the wrong reasons. What we often fail to realize is that there are two levels of self care: a kind of superficial, pseudo self care that primarily comes from the ego, and a deeper, more authentic self care that comes from the soul. Although on the surface both pseudo and authentic self care may look the same, it is the intent and state of mind that sets the levels apart. We may do all the right actions, but if we do not go deep enough into the core of what true self care means, we fall short of giving ourselves the well being and nurturing that we really need for a contented and happy life.

Pseudo self care vs authentic self care

Self care for most people translates into taking care of the physical body. This means things like getting a massage, going to the gym or eating healthy. If you are a little more savvy, you recognize caring for the mind is important too, and you do things like listen to music, read a book or just take a day dreaming break and let your mind wander. But that’s only half the story, and if you stop here, you stay on the surface in pseudo self care.

If you look underneath the hood of pseudo self care, you’ll find ego is running the engine. When you approach self care from this level, the intent is getting for oneself and the ego is always looking to gain something. Because it springs from a mindset of lack, people engage in this level of self care in an attempt to fill the holes, change what they believe is broken or to try to add value to themselves. Even though one may experience temporary periods of gratification from the self care “fix”, the energy will quickly run out and leave a recurring sense of being empty, unfulfilled and wanting for more. Self care at this level is run exclusively by the mind and involves constant doing and thinking: the mind invents lists of things you need to feel better, and even more things to do to be happy. This leaves a person focused entirely on themselves and what they need, in an endless quest to “get.” In the end, the selfishness of pseudo self care never results in the genuine well being, fulfillment and contentment for which it is looking.

Authentic self care, on the other hand, is where real self advocacy and nurturing lies. Some of the surface actions like getting a massage or going to the gym may mirror those of pseudo self care, but this type of care comes from a deeper level that includes not only body and mind but essence, too. It could be more accurately called soulful self care because it is guided by the heart, not the mind. This level wants healing and is not concerned with getting. It is based on a perception that one is already intact, and actions reflect a generosity towards oneself and others. It’s end game is not to add anything but is to cultivate enduring states of being such as contentment and equanimity, and is based on strengthening the qualities of gratitude, respect, and kindness to oneself. It is characterized by a sense of maintaining the wholeness that is already there. For self care to be authentic, effective and ultimately fulfilling, it must encompass this deeper level.

To illustrate this difference, let’s take the example of getting a haircut. At the pseudo self care level, it starts with a feeling of deficiency. The mind begins thinking of ways to fix the problem, and imagines a new haircut will provide the feeling of well being and satisfaction that is missing. You get a haircut and for a short time feel a sense of gratification, and there is an energy shot from the approval and attention of others. You imagine you have added value to yourself and there is a pleasing sense of gain. However, because the energy of feeling cared for is dependent on sources outside yourself, the warmth of well being soon dissipates and reverts back to that feeling of deficiency. The whole cycle starts again, with the mind thinking up new ways to alleviate the lack, and you are caught on an endless wheel of self concern.

At the soulful self care level, the desire to get a haircut starts from a feeling of adequacy. The activity is prompted by the heart and is not a decision made by the mind’s thinking or imagining. The haircut is seen as a way to support and foster the sense of wholeness that already exists. You get a haircut, and now there is a sustained feeling of care that truly feeds well being because, at this level, the haircut comes from a place of honoring oneself, rather than trying to seek gain for oneself. When actions come from the deeper core of yourself it serves to nurture you from the inside rather than providing a temporary energy boost from the outside. As a result of experiencing actual fulfillment, there is freedom from perpetual self concern, and a generous spirit can emerge.

Any self care action such as getting a haircut is, in and of itself, entirely neutral. But it’s the why beneath the why. Is the intent for a haircut because you are looking to get something and add value to yourself, or because there is a spirit of giving and you want to honor the you that is complete? This misplacement of intent is how pseudo self care blocks real nurturing: by focusing exclusively on the outside as one’s source of fulfillment, one never looks inward. The heart is not listened to and the qualities that are the foundation of authentic happiness, such as trust, equanimity, and having/being enough are never recognized, much less cultivated. True self care must begin from within, because at the core, feeling fulfilled is an inside job, and requires you to listen to your individual heart. Self care is misapplied when it is an invention of the mind and does not originate from the heart.

So how does one move from pseudo self care into authentic self care? How does one start from a place of adequacy? Creating space through a meditation practice or an activity that encourages self reflection and a listening silence is critical. Time spent here will help you recognize and connect to the deeper self that is complete, sound and well. The next step is to actually listen to the messages that come up from this place of integrity. Messages from the core are like a firmly rooted, settled type of “knowing” that you feel solidly behind your chest, whereas messages from the mind have a thinner, directorial, more scattered and anxious feel to them around the solar plexis. If you find the mind is in charge, a good solution is to think of something that is abundant in your life and focus on that feeling of enoughness, then sit with it until the mind quiets a little bit and you experience a more settled state of calm. Then listen again. The “what to do to take care of yourself” messages that come up may be identical for both pseudo self care and authentic self care, but now the “how to do it” will be different because guidance is coming from a deeper place, and is the key to whether actual caring for the self happens. You can ask yourself, “is the action offered as an act of love and respect to my inner being or as self aggrandizement for my ego? The same action can be self serving or selfless, depending on intent. Connection to your core self is how you let the true nurturing and healing in and is what turns that Sunday morning wrapped in a blanket from a day of self indulgence into the happiness and well being of authentic self care.

Changing Your Fear Of Change

“Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” -Jim Rohn

You can ask anybody. Almost everyone will say they could use a better life. More money, a better job, better relationships, a bigger house…. something better than what they have. But what does “better’ really mean? Better implies something different from what you have now, and moving into something different requires change. And therein lies the snafu. You see, the only thing people will tell you they want more than a better life is that they’re afraid that things will change. Change is annoying at best, and scary at its worst. We like the way things are, and we develop thought patterns, habits and beliefs that fight hard to keep things the way they are. Unfortunately, these very habits, patterns and beliefs effectively block the conditions for a better life to emerge. We are caught between wanting change, and fearing it. So we end up only dreaming about a better life, a life of sailing the Seven Seas, while spending our lives clinging to the harbor.

One of the biggest fears we have is of letting go, and mastering this skill is the cornerstone to successful change. Intellectually it makes sense to us: We cannot make room for the new until we have let go of the old. But emotionally it is a much different story. Many reasons exist for this: we have intense survival fear, we have attached our very identity to something that is changing, we have deep trust issues, etc. But regardless of the cause, the solution remains the same. In order to implement change, we must decrease the experience of fear and replace it with an experience of safety.

There is a technique I have been using to overcome my fear of change as I move forward into the life I desire and can tell you from first hand experience it works. The first time I tried it, it manifested in a life change that far exceeded my expectations and dreams. Here’s my practice:

1. Sit in a quiet space and take three long, deep breaths. Put your hands on your heart and think of one thing in your life that you are truly grateful for. Stay with it until you feel the gratitude replace your anxiety, and a sense of calm settles your body. Now think of another thing you are grateful for, and sit with that peaceful energy. The key to this first step is to make this an emotional exercise, not an intellectual one. When you are secure in this centered state, visualize what you want. Ask yourself these three questions:

   A). What do I have to do to make this happen? The answers might be taking a physical action like making a phone call or re-prioritizing daily activities. Or it may be a deeply spiritual action of trusting the moment and relaxing into the flow of life.

   B). What kind of person do I have to be to have this reality? When you envision your preferred life, how does this future you behave? What are you thinking? What actions are you doing? What actions are you not doing? What attitudes do you hold? How are you feeling inside? Have a clear vision of yourself as you want to be.

   C). What do I have to let go of to achieve this goal? This might include an expectation you have of yourself or that others hold of you, a perspective of yourself or the situation that is negative or a commitment that is not supporting your desired reality. You may need to let go of a person or place, a belief or habit. The key is to pinpoint what is not supporting the life you want. Whatever the answers, trust what comes out of this harmonious state. Your heart knows the truth.

2. The second half of this exercise helps to neutralize the fear and put your vision into action. Action is the foundation of success. This practice draws on an old Wayne Dyer technique called “Thinking from the End.” It goes like this: With the situation you desire in mind, see it as already having happened. Feel what it feels like to have reached your goal and have your desire now be reality. By visualizing the end result as accomplished, one experiences a sense of relief and a confidence in one’s ability to succeed. This exercise gives you an emotional foundation of fearlessness, security and certainty from which to springboard forward. I have discovered that this particular technique is helpful in calming down an agitated mind and body. When I am feeling anxious or panicky about an outcome, I ask myself, “How would I feel and what would I do right now if I knew my goal was already complete?” I see myself living the life I desire, being the person I want to be, and it transforms my whole mood and mindset from one of fear to one of calm. As Maya Angelou said,

   “Hope and Fear cannot occupy the same place at the same time. Invite one to stay.”

   Practicing these two methods for overcoming the fear of change has had enormous benefit for me, and can benefit you too. They help you discern between that which is assisting you in attaining a better life, and that of which you need to let go. Then it helps you actually let go of those things by giving you an emotional base of confidence and security from which to move forward, and providing an opportunity to experience how it feels to achieve your goal. “You’re already there.” The end result is that it turns your subjective experience of life into a settled and happy one, and transforms your objective reality into the one of your dreams.

A total solar eclipse is one of the most unexpected, mind altering, and astounding experiences we humans can have. Science explains it simply as the spectacle that is created when the new moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily obscuring the Sun’s disk completely. At the moment the Moon covers the Sun, a shadow from the Moon is cast on the Earth, and we call this channel of darkness the Path of Totality. But because celestial timing, angles of orbits and degrees of axis tilt all have to align perfectly for the event to even happen, it is a relatively rare occurrence. Add to the mix that an earthly observer needs to be at the right place at the right time within the Path of Totality, then witnessing a total solar eclipse becomes an exceptionally rare event. Indeed, for any one particular location on our planet’s surface, that exact spot gets darkened by the Moon’s shadow on average only once about every 400 years. Science will further explain that of all the 200 confirmed moons orbiting 6 planets in our solar system, our moon is the only one that is the right size and at the right distance to perfectly cover the brilliant solar disk. We get to experience Totality because the Sun is 400 times bigger than the Moon which just happens to be 400 times closer than the Sun. The result is the two bodies appear almost exactly the same angular size in the sky, so the fit is precise. Change that ratio even a tiny bit and there would be no moment of Totality. Given all the variables, it’s amazing we experience total solar eclipses at all. Yet we do.

Totality is considered to be one of the most awe inspiring spectacles in all of nature.  To witness such an event is a singular experience which cannot be conveyed adequately through words or photographs.  The mind takes in something much greater than the sum total of data during one of these extraordinary events, and what cannot be communicated is the way it affects you. It is a somatically primal, three dimensionally integrated event during which all five senses are observing phenomena never before experienced. It is both unsettling and exhilarating, and can be the catalyst for an internal shift of spiritual proportions.

For two minutes, the norm of our reality is no more. In it’s place is a completely foreign spectacle, a vision that is opposite of everything we have come to know and expect, and earthly surroundings are profoundly “off”. The world we have experienced to be true no longer exists in that moment..the sun that we have seen everyday is suddenly gone, the environment takes on a strange, dream like quality and one becomes humbly aware that there are powers far more vast and incomprehensibly immense running this show. To watch the sun morph into this surreal sight is similar to witnessing an elephant transform into an octopus right in front of our eyes. It’s incompatible with our “normal” experience and definition of reality, and the result is a mind that is stunned into stillness and silence.

August 21, 2017-A Walk into Totality

On the morning of Monday August 21, my family and I set up a make shift camp in a field somewhere near Salem, Oregon. With our NASA approved eclipse glasses securely in place, we settled in for the show of a lifetime. We were not disappointed…this is the story.

Before the Moon began it’s journey across the Sun, the day starts out entirely familiar: the Sun is bright, there is heat in the air and the sounds are routine. At ¼ coverage, there is a notable drop in the intensity of the Sun’s heat and the air gets cooler, although the sky is still at the same brightness. At about ½ coverage, the sunlight gets a little muted, as if there were a screen or filter over the Sun, the air is cool but there is still plenty of light. At about ¾ coverage, the ‘screen’ effect thickens and the light becomes a shade dimmer, and the shadows on the ground go from having fuzzy edges to sharp and clearly defined lines as the light becomes more focused through the narrowing aperture of sunlight. As the Moon progresses, the light grows increasingly more eerie, the environment takes on a cartoonish quality as colors are faded and images appear crisper, as if outlined in pen. Everything has a metallic hue and objects reflect an odd color never seen on earth at any other time. At about 90% coverage, the stars come out and an orange ring around the horizon appears, similar to sunset, but the colors are deeply rich and distinctly stratified: not the usual blurry and diffused merging of pastel shades in a typical sunset. As the Moon moves to center over the Sun, nightfall happens in mere seconds, and the light fades like someone is moving a giant dimmer switch to the off position. There is a bright flash from the left side of the sliver of Sun, the diamond effect, then the environment goes completely dark. The air is cool, the light is gone and the sounds go silent. Then the Sun turns completely black, and enormous white flares 3 times the size of the Sun are strewn off the disk like someone was finger painting with light. This is the Sun’s corona and it is brilliant, a super heated plasma that burns at 2 million degrees, but the white wisps don’t hurt your eyes. It is the only time your can stare directly into the face of the Sun. This is the moment that reaches into your core, when your mind stops, your reality is completely surreal, and the magnificence of this massive cosmic event leaves you dumbfounded. There is a deeply troubling sense from the rational mind that everything is majorly off, this is all wrong, but at the same time there is an incredibly reassuring sense of awe, a distinct impression that a bigger reality is running this Infinite Universe, and It has allowed you to briefly witness It’s workings of unimaginable precision, balance and intelligence, first hand. You feel to your core the authenticity of a power far beyond your understanding or control. As the Moon continues on her path, the diamond effect flashes on the other side of the Sun, and within a fraction of a second, the blinding solar light reasserts itself as the dominate reality in the sky.

American author Annie Dillard calls it a “divinely disorienting experience” and describes it in this way: “What you see in a total solar eclipse is entirely different from what you know. Indeed, the most powerful aspect of the experience is the way it unfirms the mind’s grip on meaning, on humanness, on reality itself — an eclipse, after all, is a visceral reminder of the vast cosmic scale of space and time, on which our own existence is but a speck…”

My experience in the Oregon stretch of the 2017 Path of Totality was a catalyst for an internal transformation because it reminded me of four truths. Firstly, I was made aware that realities do exist that are very different from that which I know, and I need to question at times the validity of “my reality”. Secondly, it deepened my trust of Life, as I saw beyond a shadow of a doubt that Life can and does run itself, and can do so with precision on an incomprehensibly vast and massive scale. Thirdly, I was made privy to the idea that to experience the ultimate splendors of Life, I need to stand in a Path of Totality. For me, that path is one of trust, and the trust has to be total. Lastly it reaffirmed in my heart there is an Intelligence in our Universe and that Intelligence is beautiful, magnificent and good. Einstein once said “There are two ways to live your life. One is though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle.” I believe there is nothing more profoundly transforming than witnessing a total solar eclipse because it has the capacity to open your eyes to wonder, and inspire you to live your life as if everything is a miracle.