By Dr. Victor Schueller | Brain and mind
Is there a link between being drawn to food and cocaine? This story reveals that there may be. Check it out!
Appetite for Food, Cocaine Linked to Same Spot in Brains of Mice – ABC News.
By Dr. Victor Schueller | Brain and mind
I found an interesting article that I wanted to share with you. It appears that stress blocks an important gene that guards against brain shrinkage and depression. This study may be key in identifying future treatments for depression.
The article can be read below:
Stress Blocks Gene That Guards Brain Against Depression – Businessweek.
By Dr. Victor Schueller | Brain and mind
By Dr. Victor Schueller | Brain and mind
Okay, now I know I claim to be the “Professor of Positivity and Possibility,” and the title of this post doesn’t appear to fall in line with my message. I promise it will by the time we’re done! 😉
Over the past few weeks, I have discussed tapping into your inner genius — being silent and still through meditation or prayer, to listen to our intuition, higher conscious, or divine spirit as it speaks to us. The obvious benefit of performing this type of exercise is to tap into higher levels of consciousness, where our true creativity and innovative self resides. When we can tap into this resource, we can create our own destiny. In other words, anything is possible.
Now, I know there are those who are naysayers, who say that there are just some things that are not possible. Yes, I agree that I could come up with some seemingly outrageous idea, and point out that it’s not possible. For example, I could say that it is not possible for me, at my current age and personal history, to become the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers tomorrow. Most people would agree, but can I prove, without any doubt, that this is not possible? Is it for certain?
It’s time for a little fun with you today. Here are some quotes from some famous “naysayers,” who vocalized beliefs rooted in doubt about future developments or progress. It’s easy now to point out how flawed these statements and beliefs are. However, who can really blame them for believing and saying what they did? If I were to go back in time and tell someone in the 1920s it is now possible to wirelessly transmit movies or music to a device called a television or a onto a telephone that is rectangular and flat and has no cord through something called the internet, they would have a hard time wrapping their mind around how that would even be possible. If I were able to go back in time to show a smart phone to someone in the 1960s, it would absolutely blow their mind!
Thank goodness we have been blessed by those who have tapped into their creative genius within, and thank goodness they didn’t listen to these people, and what they had to say:
“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” ~Western Union internal memo, 1876
“Everything that can be invented has been invented.” ~Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, U.S. Office of Patents, 1899
“Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.” ~Irving Fisher, Professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929
“Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.” ~Lord Kelvin, President, Royal Society, 1895
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” ~Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943
If you can dream it, it is possible…It really is. Now excuse me as I check my email on my “useless” phone. 🙂
Photo source: freedigitalphotos.net
By Dr. Victor Schueller | Relationships health family business friends community culture work school life blogs blogging
Dad and me in 2004 when I graduated from Chiropractic School
I have to say that I had special relationships with both of my parents. I had special moments with both of them. My time with my mom was usually spent goofing and joking around, and just being silly (and like friends in many ways). It’s not common for boys to enjoy going on shopping trips with their mothers (at least I don’t think it’s common), but I always enjoyed those trips with my mom and cherish those memories of those outings dearly.
My dad and I had a much different relationship than I had with my mom, but different doesn’t mean bad, by any means. While my mom and I were like friends, my dad and I were like pals. I remember sitting on my dad’s lap in the evenings as we watched television as a family. I would rub my hands along my dad’s rough stubble on his chin, and play with the wedding band on his finger, pulling it off and putting it back on again, and just talking about things in general.
As I got older, he was the coach…I don’t mean that figuratively; he actually was a coach. He coached some basketball and lots of baseball. He was a little league coach for over ten years, and he was very successful. He started when my older brothers were playing, and he continued to coach for a few years after I was done with little league. My dad was an excellent teacher — he always taught his athletes the fundamentals, and he was a student of the game.
My dad also got me hooked on the Green Bay Packers. A die hard Packers’ fan, he has Packer yearbooks from every season, starting from the late 1960s all the way up through last season. Back in the day, before my mom passed away, he was so meticulous with his yearbooks! It was awesome…He would keep track of who the team signed (and the date they were signed), who they cut (and the date they were cut), and the scores of every game of every week throughout the season. To look at his yearbooks from those years, it is like looking at a historical record of the Packers and the NFL in general.
My most memorable moment of my time with Dad: When my dad and I were alone in the hospital after my mom was killed in a car accident and he told me that she had passed. I’ll never forget that moment with him. He ended up driving down to Indiana and back to Wisconsin that same night to pick up my older sister from college. I can’t imagine what was going through his mind on that trip…
My fondest memory of Dad: Seeing how proud he was of me when they formally introduced me, along with my fellow classmates, as a Doctor of Chiropractic. I’ll never forget that moment either!
My dad is still around — he will be 71 this summer, and he is in great physical and mental shape. In honor of Fathers’ Day, I wanted to share with you the life lessons my dad has taught (and continues to teach) me:
The Green Bay Packers rock! I was hooked…Back in 1989, I started sitting down and watching the Packers play on TV with Dad. They were pretty good that year, so it was easy to get hooked. The next couple of years were lean, but I was hooked. My most fond memory of watching Packers’ games was in 1992 when the backup quarterback, Brett Favre, entered the game after our star quarterback, Don Majkowski, got injured. I remember turning to my dad and remarking that we were doomed now that he entered the game. Okay, so I was just a little off the mark there! A couple of years ago he shared that he didn’t get around to getting a Packers’ yearbook! I couldn’t believe he was in danger of ending his streak! I gave him mine from that year so that he could keep the streak alive! 🙂
Value your children for their gifts individually — don’t make comparisons between your children. My parents had six children. My two older brothers were very athletically gifted and active in sports. My dad loved sports, and I did too, but I loved music and acting more! I was pretty active in sports through middle school and about halfway through high school, but after that I stopped participating in sports and committed fully to music and theatre. I know my dad would have preferred me to continue playing sports, but he never said a word to me about it. He respected my decision, and never compared me to my brothers. He supported me fully in my artistic endeavors.
Your children want and need you to set limits, even if they don’t recognize it. My dad was the heavy most of the time in our family. My mom preferred to stay on the kids’ good side, which has its benefits and drawbacks. My dad, however, frequently drew the line and came down on us if we were out of line. He established clear limits for us, but in the end, that discipline and structure was important for us. Children need to be provided limits and boundaries, so that they can grow into respectful and functional adults. I thank him greatly for providing limits on me as I grew. While I didn’t always appreciate it at the time, I have grown to love him for it and respect him greatly now that I have my own children.
Enjoy life to its fullest. My dad had a rough decade — his 50s. At the age of 52, he lost his spouse in a tragic car accident. It was tough on him, and I saw it first hand. He had a lot to deal with. He suddenly was solely responsible for two minor children, with two additional children who were in college and still connected to home. He had to deal with the insurance companies after the accident and related legal matters; he was responsible for getting psychologic counseling for his children as well as himself, and he still had to go to work and earn a living. I remember right after my mom passed, when he would go to the vending machines at work and buy hamburgers and sandwiches from them and bring them home to heat up for our supper. As an adult and trying to put myself in his shoes, it must have been a very scary and sad time for him. It was for us kids, and most of us didn’t have any “real” responsibility, so I can’t imagine how it was for him. My dad lives a great life now — he got remarried, is retired, and golfs most days of the week. We’ve talked many times about life in general, and he always tells me to cherish life and make the most out of it, because it can change without notice. “Enjoy life to the fullest,” he tells me.
Keep yourself physically fit. My dad ran — a lot. He would come home from work and run between four and five miles several times a week. Talking to him now, he tells me that it was one of the best things he did to give him better health now that he is older. He said he is in better physical shape than many people his age, and his mind is still sharp. This is no surprise, because increased physical activity is good for the body and the brain. As I got myself back in shape ten years ago, the image of my dad running on the country roads back home was a powerful example and motivator.
It’s not too late to learn how to do something new. My dad started playing golf in his mid 50s. He has continued to get better at the sport, and he’s actually pretty good! He would kick my butt any day. I don’t know if I’ll ever take up golf, because I blasted through a couple wrist ligaments digging my club in the ground back in 2003, but knowing that he took up something new at that time in his life sets a great example for me. I know it’s never too late to try something new!
Thanks, Dad, for always being a great example for me! You have always been someone I admire, and it continues still today! You are a great man and a great father! I thank you for all you have done and continue to do for me, and I hope that I can make you proud to be my dad. I love you!
By Dr. Victor Schueller | Brain and mind
It’s not uncommon for my daughters to run into disagreements from time to time when they play together. Usually their spats revolve around what an adult would consider “minor” problems. Here’s a breakdown of the usual causes of discontent and unhappiness:
1. Someone isn’t sharing something with the other.
2. Someone said something that wasn’t nice to the other.
3. Someone hurt the other physically.
4. The two don’t agree on a decision on which they are expected to reach a consensus.
I am sure there are more, but these arguments are, well, “childish,” which is to be expected, because they are children. They haven’t reached a level of maturity that allows them to transcend above this type of low-level behavior that is, for all intents and purposes, rather harmless and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
When we look at the levels of “consciousness,” and mental functioning, we also have different levels of behavior that we, as adults, can engage in. Here is a look at the various levels of consciousness that we believe to exist:
1. The Conscious Mind
2. The Subconscious Mind
3. The Unconscious Mind
4. The Divine Mind / Spirituality / Intuition
We have the ability to move “up” the scale of conscious awareness, but in order to do so, we have to “break through” the barrier of transcendence. In other words, there are factors that limit our ability to move up to the next level, and it’s not easy to overcome these barriers.
To move from utilizing the conscious mind to a utilization and appreciation of the subconsious mind, we need to become more aware; we need to become still and quiet. We need to listen to our intuition and inner genius.
The biggest obstacle we have to overcome in making that step from utilizing the conscious mind to tapping into our subconscious mind is fear. Fear is a hard-wired emotion that our brains are designed to experience in order to keep us safe. One interesting observation about this is the paradoxical relationship between fear and the subconscious mind; the part of the mind that is designed to keep us safe by endorsing the fearful emotions is that same subconscious mind that we are trying to tap into!
Fear is created through a variety of synapses and networked connections within our more primitive areas of the brain, most notably the amygdala. When the amygdala is stimulated, it calls for stress hormones to be released to help us either defend ourselves or run from danger. This is a reflexive response; we can’t physically will ourselves not to let this happen. Our brain and subconscious mind feels we are being attacked and we need to defend ourselves; it doesn’t distinguish between a deadly threat and a bruise to the ego. The body just knows that we need to defend ourselves. More accurately, it knows we need to prevent the loss of something, and we need to work hard to avoid losing it.
We could fear losing our life; we could fear losing power; we could fear losing control; we could fear losing a positive relationship with someone. We could fear losing money or a job; we could fear losing the status quo. Whatever it is that we fear losing, we work very hard to keep it, but that only amplifies our defense response.
The end result of letting fear hijack our mind is that we become self centered and less concerned or aware of the well being of others. We become concerned with the “ego,” or self preservation of some sort, and we operate out of a fear and scarcity mindset. We live in “Ego Land,” where we only are concerned with self preservation.
The result is that we find ourselves engaging in “low-level” functioning and concerns, much like children do when they argue about something that adults would find to be childish. They haven’t reached a level of spiritual maturity that allows them to transcend above this type of low-level and positivity-sucking, energy-wasting behavior. People who live in “Ego Land” spend their time engaged in spats over minor affairs, listening to and spreading gossip, griping and complaining, being judgmental and opinionated, and other unproductive behaviors. People who live in “Ego Land” waste their mind’s valuable resources on self preservation, so much to the point that they rarely engage in talking about ideas or tapping into their inner genius. They remain rooted in fear and scarcity, so worried about losing something.
It’s time to leave “Ego Land” behind. It’s time to be still; it’s time to be silent. It’s time to listen to our intuition — our inner guidance system — and tap into the subconscious genius that resides within each of us. It’s time to focus on the present moment — not bitter about the past or anxious about the future. When we start living out of abundant forgiveness and compassion, we start living through a “spirit-based subconscious,” and we become more forgiving, generous, and concerned with the goodwill of others.
When you can be still and tap into the wonderful subconscious mind within you, you can then proudly proclaim to yourself, “You are now leaving ‘Ego Land.'” Enjoy the ride!
Photo source: freedigitalphotos.net
By Dr. Victor Schueller | Relationships health family business friends community culture work school life blogs blogging
I was honored to be interviewed by Alex Blackwell at The Bridge Maker, and the interview just posted! I am so humbled, honored, and blessed!
If you would like to read the interview, please click on the link below! Wow! What a thrill! I am giddy!
http://www.thebridgemaker.com/the-professor-of-positivity-and-possibility/
By Dr. Victor Schueller | Brain and mind
Tune in on Mondays at 12 PM Central for Positively Empowered Radio!
My guest on June 11 and 25 at 12 PM Central will be Vipin Mehta
Vipin Mehta, P.E., M.A.P.A. was born in India and raised in Mumbai during the Independence Movement inspired through Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence. Shortly after migrating to the United States in 1969 with only a few dollars to his name, Vipin became a licensed Professional Engineer and established MEHTA Engineering, which has since evolved into a 30-year engineering and construction management firm for roads, bridges, airports, and other infrastructure related projects. After arriving to the U.S., Vipin also received a Masters in Public Affairs from Northern Illinois University and has since played a very active role in local, state and national politics and has been addressed as the Metaphysical and Spiritual Counselor to many politicians – both Democrat and Republican.
Learn more about Vipin by visiting my Weekly Spotlight Page!
I will broadcast my interview with Vipin over two episodes. The first part will air on Monday, June 11, and the second part will air on Monday, June 25, both at 12:oo PM Central!
Don’t miss the interview!
By Dr. Victor Schueller | Brain and mind
Yesterday I was in church with my family, and my six-year old daughter, Brianna, was trying to inch her way up my legs and chest so that I would end up holding her during one of the songs we were singing. As she continues to grow and get heavier, it’s harder to hold her, and while she is six years old, I don’t like to say no to her when she wants me to pick her up. Don’t get me wrong — I don’t carry her around everywhere. Most of the time it’s when I am standing still when she wants to treat me like a jungle gym or wants me to give her a lift.
I know this time in our lives (Brianna and mine) won’t last forever. She won’t be six forever, and she won’t be giving me that look she always does when she wants to be held in my arms. I know too well already that time passes quickly, and she is growing up right before my eyes. This time of precious innocence only lasts for a short moment, and so I know I need to take advantage of these moments with her whenever I can.
As she crawled up into my arms during the service, I playfully stroked the bottom of her feet with my fingers, and she let out a joyful squeal of delightful laughter; she crawled ever higher into my arms, pulled me close, and snuggled in tight. It hit me like a lightning bolt, and my eyes welled with tears. It was an awesome feeling and a moment I absolutely wanted to seize forever. In that instant, my thoughts immediately focused on the present — the awesomeness of the “here and now.” I knew that I was right where I wanted to be; I didn’t care about the past, and I didn’t worry about the future. I just soaked up the wonderful present, and took it all in. It was pure bliss, and I was completely happy and content.
The present is a tremendous gift. It’s so easy to reminisce about the past, or worry about the future. It’s so easy to spend our time focusing on what we lost, or don’t have, or won’t have, or can’t have, that we lose perspective on the wonderful gift we possess every second of every day — the present. The present becomes the gift, but unless we focus on the present, we completely miss out on it.
Are you spending a lot of time obsessing over the losses or mistakes of the past? Are you worrying about the prospects of the future? Let’s try to spend more time simply being present. Let’s focus on enjoying the joys that exist in the here and now. Let’s enjoy what our life is right now, moment to moment, and focus on the gift we possess every instant we are alive.
Yes, sometimes we need to plan ahead, and sometimes we need to learn from the events of the past. However, we need to remember that the present is a worry-free and blissful moment in time. It’s a time to truly cherish the wonderful lives we live. It’s a time to truly enjoy the joys of life, and the wonders of the world. The present provides us with an opportunity to lose ourselves in the moment, and temporarily set aside our worries or concerns.
Take time to enjoy the present that becomes the gift. Take time to love the moment of now!
By Dr. Victor Schueller | Brain and mind
Here are some great recommendations from an article to help you to keep your brain sharp. According to this article, “A recent study shows our brain power can start declining by age 45. One doctor tells us, by age 80 a normal person has lost 40-percent of their memory.But, from your hobbies to keeping your heart healthy, there are many ways to boost your brain power!”
Check it out!