Your Power to Re-wire Your Happy Brain Chemicals
If you want to explore more of Loretta Breuning’s material, you might like to check out her “Your Power to Re-wire Your Happy Brain Chemicals” 7-video series.
“These 7 short videos show you how to build new neural pathways to turn on your happy brain chemicals in new and healthy ways. Anyone can do it by following these simple steps. You’ll learn what turns on each happy chemical in the state of nature, and why they’re not on all the time. Then you’ll learn why our unhappy chemicals turn on so easily. Finally, you’ll learn three simple steps to wire in new self-soothings skills, so you can replace an old habit that you’re better off without.”
Reflection Question
After watching each video, you might like to reflect on one new thing that you learned that you can use in your Somatic Self-Compassion practice.
Articles
If you want to explore the topic of neurochemicals some more, please check out the article category on the HeartWorks website.
(Not So Great) Expectations
In this article David Rock talks about how dopamine works to motivate us and how we can support ourselves in avoiding the drop in dopamine and rise in cortisol that can happen when we suffer disappointment instead of reward.
Reflection Questions
How does it feel to consider keeping your expectations low as a self-care and self-compassion practice?
How does it feel to consider looking forward to future events that will most likely happen as self-care and self-compassion practices?
Serotonin and Weighted Blankets
This article explains that weighted blankets offer deep pressure that stimulates serotonin in our system, helping us to calm down, ground, and sleep.
Science confirms: Dancing makes you happy
From this article: “When we dance our brain releases endorphins, neurotransmitters that create a feeling of comfort, relaxation, fun and power. Music and dance do not only activate the sensory and motor circuits of our brain, but also the pleasure centers.”
Reflection Questions
How does it feel to consider introducing more movement to music into your repertoire of self-care and self-compassion practices?
How might you make a dance and music practice more accessible for yourself (e.g. moving while sitting in a chair, listening to music via headphones, joining a group).
Somatic Self-Compassion Community on Facebook
You can see articles to support your study and practice on neuroscience and physiology on our Somatic Self-Compassion Community page on Facebook.