Another excerpt from my book Life Patterns (Draft)

At conception you had no self awareness or conscious awarness because of no sensory perception but through pregnancy the unborn child recognises familiar voices and sound. But remember you are still part of another self your mother. The biggest transformation is at birth when you are separated from another self (mother) is when your true journey begins. The baby Ego alerts the mother for food by crying and the patterns of the Ego is learning is for survival.

Being a parent of 4 children most parents recognise when the child grows it becomes the battle of the wills or Egos. Through experience the Ego has to navigate the choices it encounters and learns by experiences of consequences that are rewards or aversions. 

Parenting is very difficult because every child has its own temperament , genetic predispositions and with a multitude of other learning process for both. The Ego survival mode is switched up to the next level when the child enters school with even more reward and aversion choices. The school environment with the educational system shapes the social brain to the choices of them and us preception. The Ego life patterns are becoming a part of the self often dictating the familiar safe choices with the social cues from education, friends, enemies and bullies etc. Returning home the Ego has to navigate the family systems that involve multiple extensions from religious , family , cultural and economic challenges. 

The Ego or self becomes the patterns or moulds that it has been subjected to by others Egos. For example the son will often imitate the men in their lives and in similar fashion the girls the women who been part of their life or vice or versa. Conversely the bad experiences or examples may teach the young Ego to avoid such behaviours with disgust. The Ego is driving the self and as it becomes more familiar with the same patterns or routines it becomes second nature or propels the self on autopilot. The scientist call this the default mode network (DMN) this explains why driving or playing an instrument can become effortless for those who practice such activities. 

Neuroscience has scanned the brain revealing Self-referential processing as a mechanism related to the DMN. The complexity of how we make decisions is not an easy to answer. The different structures in the brain involve many parts of a person personality. Illustrate it in simple way I will give you an example but there is much more involved in the cognitive process.

Imagine the Ego( Self) is going shopping with a desire to buy a new pair of shoes. The Ego always buys the same pair of shoes so it goes to the same shop. The Ego arrives at the shop and sees the shoes in the shop then decides to buy them. The shop assistant says the shoes have gone up in price by 20% due to lack of demand. Now the Ego is so busy and believes it might miss the last bus by focusing attention on it. The Ego brain doesn’t contemplate the 20% increase because it focus is on catching the bus in the future and is not present with the transaction. The Ego does not want to walk home so it hurries with the purchase. In essence the Ego is not self aware of the implications of increased cost that will impact the monetary stability of the Ego as it is too busy in other cognitive processes. The DMN is in autopilot mode not even considering an alternative pair of shoes for lesser price but continues with the same standard pair as usual like pattern. The brain is continuing making evaluations with the best outcomes quickly for the present and future self.

Questions you could ask the Ego by being self aware                                                         

Why don’t you choose different pair of shoes?

Why do you have to have these shoes now?

How does the Ego feel buying other brands?

The questions you could ask the Ego will go back to a life patterns the brain has adapted. This is a simple equation of buying a pair of shoes but the historical journey of the Ego will have often already made the decision before by confirmation bias and other biases on its cognitive journey.

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Like water which can clearly mirror the sky and the trees only so long as its surface is undisturbed, the mind can only reflect the true image of the Self when it is tranquil and wholly relaxed. Indra Devi

Since the industrial revolution our time has been monopolised by governments and enterprises. The concept of doing nothing is alien to many in secular societies. The secret to happy life is to watch and learn from nature lessons.

The seasons , the night and day create natural cycles of time, a time for work and a time for rest. In many cultures religious practices became holidays and even the famous sabbath became a time of rest. The demands on our brain is ever increasing outside of the work environment from social media to technologies that entertain us.

Observing nature today as part of my weekly meditation process reminded me the importance of downtime of being present with self and the environment, many call it mindfulness. Ekhart Tolle observed that being present isn’t a mind full of anything. Maybe a better better term is to relax the mind and body, not doing but being. The weather has been very wet this weekend in the UK limiting my opportunity to be with nature who soothes my soul. I noticed during this time and asked the question: Where are the animals and birds? Obviously they were sheltering somewhere from the wet weather and not worrying about their daily activities while resting. The land rests during the winter being regenerated for the spring offering a bundle of joy for all to enjoy then.

There is a lot of science and psychological research showing the benefits on having downtime for the brain and the body. One really good concise article below for further reading.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mental-downtime/

When your plans change for whatever reason don’t get anxious take the opportunities to rest your mind and body. New mantra to adopt: Don’t get stressed have some rest.

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There is an overload of information about the virus from Politicians, scientists and the media. The overwhelming effect the virus has had on society worldwide is something I have never experienced. Noticing all ages reacting in different ways to the threat of catching the virus and spreading it to others. I have taken a neutral stand and have gathered information from a non bias perspective. I have literally cut and paste relevant information from reputable sources with the web link below the information so no conjecture from me. This way you can make an informed choice on how it effects you and your immediate future. I loved science and have A level human science qualification so I apologise if it is too technical. If you don’t understand some of the information investigate the source article and do a little research. The simple facts are usually the most important ones. I hope you enjoy this post and it is helpful resource

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight

Sun Tzu

Disease called coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Viruses are microscopic parasites, generally much smaller than bacteria. They lack the capacity to thrive and reproduce outside of a host body. 

Predominantly, viruses have a reputation for being the cause of contagion. Widespread events of disease and death have no doubt bolstered such a reputation.

The 2014 outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, and the 2009 H1N1/swine flu pandemic (a widespread global outbreak) likely come to mind.

The primary role of the virus or virion is to “deliver its DNA or RNA genome into the host cell so that the genome can be expressed (transcribed and translated) by the host cell,” according to “Medical Microbiology.” 

Viruses need to access the inside of a host’s body. Respiratory passages and open wounds can act as gateways for viruses.

Once inside, viruses release their genomes and also disrupt or hijack various parts of the cellular machinery. Viral genomes direct host cells to ultimately produce viral proteins (many a time halting the synthesis of any RNA and proteins that the host cell can use). Ultimately, viruses stack the deck in their favor, both inside the host cell and within the host itself by creating conditions that allow for them to spread. For example, when suffering from the common cold, one sneeze emits 20,000 droplets containing rhinovirus or coronavirus particles, according to “Molecular Biology of the Cell.” Touching or breathing those droplets in, is all it takes for a cold to spread.

https://www.livescience.com/53272-what-is-a-virus.html

Indivduals at high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable)

People at high risk from coronavirus include people who:

• have had an organ transplant
• are having chemotherapy or antibody treatment for cancer, including immunotherapy
• are having an intense course of radiotherapy (radical radiotherapy) for lung cancer
• are having targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system (such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors)
• have blood or bone marrow cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma)
• have had a bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the past 6 months, or are still taking immunosuppressant medicine
• have been told by a doctor they have a severe lung condition (such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma or severe COPD)
• have a condition that means they have a very high risk of getting infections (such as SCID or sickle cell)
• are taking medicine that makes them much more likely to get infections (such as high doses of steroids or immunosuppressant medicine)
• have a serious heart condition and are pregnant

People at moderate risk (clinically vulnerable)

People at moderate risk from coronavirus include people who:

• are 70 or older
• have a lung condition that’s not severe (such as asthma, COPD, emphysema or bronchitis)
• have heart disease (such as heart failure)
• have diabetes
• have chronic kidney disease
• have liver disease (such as hepatitis)
• have a condition affecting the brain or nerves (such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy)
• have a condition that means they have a high risk of getting infections
• are taking medicine that can affect the immune system (such as low doses of steroids)
• are very obese (a BMI of 40 or above)
• are pregnant

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/

Do adults younger than 65 who are otherwise healthy need to worry about COVID-19?

Yes, they do. Although the risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 increases steadily with age, younger people can get sick enough from the disease to require hospitalization. And certain underlying medical conditions may increase the risk of serious COVID-19 for individuals of any age.

People of any age should take preventive health measures like frequent hand washing, physical distancing, and wearing a mask when going out in public, to help protect themselves and to reduce the chances of spreading the infection to others.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-basics

Antibodies, Antigens and Antibiotics

They may all start with ‘Anti’, but they mean very different things…

Antibodies are proteins that recognise and bind parts of viruses to neutralise them. Antibodies are produced by our white blood cells and are a major part of the body’s response to combatting a viral infection.

Antibody – Body protection

Antigens are substances that cause the body to produce antibodies, such as a viral protein. Antibodies bind antigens very specifically like a lock and key, neutralising the virus and preventing its further spread.

Antigen – Antibody Generator

Antibiotics are substances that kill bacteria. 

Vaccination – Giving your immune system a head start

Have you ever wondered what exactly is in the needle when you get a vaccine, or how that works to protect you against a disease? A vaccine against a virus actually contains virus – usually either a dead, weakened, or slightly different version of the virus it protects you against. Deliberately injecting a virus may seem like a very strange approach to preventing infections, but is a really effective strategy, because your immune system reacts to the vaccine and makes lots of specific antibodies with the right shape for the vaccine virus. Once you’ve made antibodies to a target, your immune system ‘remembers’ the shapes of antibodies that were effective. This means that if you’ve had the vaccine and then get infected by the real virus, your immune system has a head start and quickly makes lots of the right kind of antibodies, which destroy the virus before it has the chance to spread through your body and make you sick.

The first successful vaccine was developed in 1796 against the smallpox virus, which killed about 500 million people in the 20th century. The vaccine was extremely good at protecting people from infection, and was given to people around the world, so that in 1979 smallpox was officially declared to be extinct. This is an amazing example of how powerful vaccines and antibodies can be in protecting us against infection.

https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/viruswars/viruses.php

15 Foods That Boost the Immune System

Alternative options for vegetarians next to the foods                                                       

1. Citrus fruits

2. Red bell peppers

3. Broccoli

4. Garlic

5. Ginger

6. Spinach

7. Yogurt

8. Almonds

9. Sunflower seeds

10. Turmeric

11. Green tea

12. Papaya

13. Kiwi

14. Poultry / salmon / bannas

15. Shellfish/ Legumes

https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/foods-that-boost-the-immune-system

• Don’t smoke.
• Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
• Get adequate sleep.
• Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.
• Try to minimize stress

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system

Sleep will boost the immune system

Sleep and the circadian system are strong regulators of immunological processes. The basis of this influence is a bidirectional communication between the central nervous and immune system which is mediated by shared signals (neurotransmitters, hormones and cytokines) and direct innervations of the immune system by the autonomic nervous system. Many immune functions display prominent rhythms in synchrony with the regular 24-h sleep–wake cycle, reflecting the synergistic actions of sleep and the circadian system on these parameters. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256323/

When we’re stressed, the immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced. 

That is why we are more susceptible to infections. The stress hormone corticosteroid can suppress the effectiveness of the immune system (e.g. lowers the number of lymphocytes). Stress can also have an indirect effect on the immune system as a person may use unhealthy behavioral coping strategies to reduce their stress, such as drinking and smoking. Stress is linked to: headaches; infectious illness (e.g. ‘flu) Kiecolt-Glaser et al found that immune responses were especially weak in those students who reported feeling most lonely, Those who were experiencing other stressful life events and psychiatric symptoms such as depression or anxiety.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/stress-immune.html

Identify what’s causing stress. Monitor your state of mind throughout the day. If you feel stressed, write down the cause, your thoughts, and your mood. Once you know what’s bothering you, develop a plan for addressing it. That might mean setting more reasonable expectations for yourself and others or asking for help with household responsibilities, job assignments, or other tasks. List all your commitments, assess your priorities, and then eliminate any tasks that are not absolutely essential.

Build strong relationships. Relationships can be a source of stress. Research has found that negative, hostile reactions with your spouse cause immediate changes in stress-sensitive hormones, for example.7 But relationships can also serve as stress buffers. Reach out to family members or close friends and let them know you’re having a tough time. They may be able to offer practical assistance and support, useful ideas or just a fresh perspective as you begin to tackle whatever’s causing your stress.

Walk away when you’re angry. Before you react, take time to regroup by counting to 10. Then reconsider. Walking or other physical activities can also help you work off steam. Plus, exercise increases the production of endorphins, your body’s natural mood-booster. Commit to a daily walk or other form of exercise—a small step that can make a big difference in reducing stress levels.

Rest your mind. According to APA’s 2012 Stress in America survey, stress keeps more than 40% of adults lying awake at night. To help ensure you get the recommended seven or eight hours of shut-eye, cut back on caffeine, remove distractions such as television or computers from your bedroom and go to bed at the same time each night. Research shows that activities like yoga and relaxation exercises not only help reduce stress, but also boost immune functioning.

If you continue to feel overwhelmed, consult with a psychologist or other licensed mental health professional who can help you learn how to manage stress effectively. He or she can help you identify situations or behaviors that contribute to your chronic stress and then develop an action plan for changing them.

https://www.apa.org/topics/stress-health

Meditation and Stress 

Throughout the day, when we experience stress, our bodies automatically react in ways that prepare us to fight or run. This is your body’s stress response, otherwise known as your fight-or-flight response. In some cases of extreme danger, this physical response is helpful. However, a prolonged state of such agitation can cause physical damage to every part of the body.

Meditation affects the body in exactly the opposite ways that stress does—by triggering the body’s relaxation response. It restores the body to a calm state, helping the body repair itself and preventing new damage from the physical effects of stress. It can calm your mind and body by quieting the stress-induced thoughts that keep your body’s stress response triggered.

When practicing meditation:

• You use oxygen more efficiently.
• Your adrenal glands produce less cortisol.
• Your blood pressure normalizes.
• Your heart rate and breathing slow down.
• Your immune function improves.
• Your mind ages at a slower rate.
• Your mind clears and your creativity increases.
• You sweat less.

https://www.verywellmind.com/meditation-4157199

The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind. Paracelsus

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Part 4

Sebastian Stoskopff “The 5 senses”

The young maiden looked at Athos in disbelief and said” How do you know his name was Blaise?” Athos quickly said” my was heart  pulling my brain but it it couldn’t understand and it was confused. Then a voice whispered into my ear, the young maiden Sommer is our daughter.” Sommer grabbed Athos tightly and threw her arms around the stunned musketeer who was in shock.

D`Artagnan went off in a huff heading towards Porthos and couldn’t believe Athos stealing his potential lover. Still under the influence of alcohol D`artagnan didn’t realise it was deep affection Sommer was showing not passionate romance towards Athos. 

Porthos was in deep conversation with the famous artist who came especially for Porthos home to celebrate his new prestige title. Sebastian was a good friend of Porthos while he was living in Paris between 1622 and 1639. Porthos loved the high life with the famous and incredibly talented individuals that flocked to Paris who could live an opulent lifestyle with their talented gifts. The aristocracy were pretentious fueling the greed of the Parisian Monarchy who had a passionate love affair with the Papacy regents and bureaucrats. The gifts of intimacy between the arts , politics and religious embezzlement swayed the elite to indulge in their hedonistic earthly vices. This flow of resources made Paris a honey pot for young lucrative artists who wanted to make their mark in history. 

“Sebastian I love your delightful gift its a true masterpiece. You could of sold that painting for so much money, thank you so much”. Sebastian said to his old acquaintance “ I am so grateful for your help when I arrived in Paris. It was a difficult time for me being a stranger in Paris after several disappointments in my life. My father died at a young age , then I had to move and learn my skills as artist. Then my master died and I had responsibilities looking after his workshop and my mother… it all became too much for me. When I came to your home for help you really listened to me. My mind was tangled in a spiders web of emotions stopping me from focusing on my work. Thanks to you my dear counsellor, my mind and body came alive again and I did some of my greatest work. It was gift from you to be truly alive again smelling the flowers in the garden. Listening to the sweet sound of the violin and touching the essence of life I became alive with a new soul. The painting I named for you is called the five senses”. 

Aramis joined the lively conversation with Porthos and Sebastian while D`Artagnan was sulking in the background muttering under his breathe. ”Hello my good friends its a great banquet Porthos and everybody seems to be enjoying the occasion”. D`Artagnan speaks up in nonchalant tone with a hint of sarcasm “nearly everybody”. The two musketeers acknowledged D`Artagnan comment but mistakenly believed its was the alcohol speaking. 

Aramis said to his fellow musketeers “Who is that young maiden with Athos she seems to be quite affectionate towards him. She is young enough to be his daughter, maybe its old acquaintance he hasn’t told us about”. Porthos spoke up and said in an assertive but calm compassionate tone “That is Blaise sister Sommer the daughter of Catherine”. Aramis all of a sudden became very emotional because he loved Athos as a dear friend. The tears of joy and sadness mixed with the excitement and compassion filled his body”. Does Athos know who she is Porthos?” Meanwhile D`Artagnan flame of love started to burn again realising Athos was no longer a challenge for his fantasies of romance and passion for Sommer. Porthos said ”I expect he does now”. As they all looked across the room towards Athos and Sommer in lively conversation. The 3 musketeers walked over towards Athos and Sommer with keen anticipation of discovering the true nature of her relationship with Athos.

Athos introduced Sommer with his arm embraced around her with a mighty proud glee of honour and love.” This is my daughter Sommer the twin of Blaise”. D`Artagnan impulsively blurted out “You are a rose among thorns with a meadow  and brooke flowing along a wilderness…” “Thats enough D`Artagnan the flow of your intentions now are not the time or place, this is Porthos guest and Athos daughter” Aramis said in an angry tone.

“Attention please” Mousequeton said to all the guest.” we have the distinguished guest of honour the Parisian official painter for the king, Simon Vouet”. Everybody applauded and listened with keen anticipation. 

“Ladies, Gentleman and honoured guest what a delight to be living in Paris at this time. French kings and Cardinals have left a legacy for the whole world to admire , they covet wishing they were Parisians. The world shall know we are the fathers of Gods children on earth. By our intellect , our talents and passions the simple man in France can receive the mercy of God and the king of France. The ambition of France is in the hands our the church and the saviours of the kings army. We are thankful for the salvation from heathens in England and the devils adversaries in Europe for the greater good of God and country. Raise your glasses in unison to the protectors of our faith the musketeers. Porthos is now offically Paris prerogative distinguished gentleman”.

Time is the enemy of many busy people juggling their own expectations , employment responsibilities and family life. Time can be similar to money and before you know it the money is all spent like the end of the day is finished. Todays hectic pace in a modern civilisation can be challenge with limited resources and the most expensive resource is time. Compounded on top of that is the necessary evils is what I call them or many use the word chores. Being a single parent running a business , having two teenagers and doing the necessary evils in the home and the garden can be a challenge. Im sure after a busy day at work and doing a few necessary evils around the home we can ignore other responsibilities I know I do.

For me I love researching and learning then writing about it is not a problem even when I am tired. After a hard day at work or other responsibilities the last thing I want to do is the garden. If you love gardening and it is therapeutic you are on a winner it can be rewarding. A dear friend who is a full time carer for his young wife phoned me recently. I have used his idea and call it the 15 minute miracle because it works. His wife needs constant care and it is very sad situation for them both, because of that he can’t leave her for very long. He said he was a 15 minute gardiner. Each day for six days he sets his watch for 15 minutes and does a little each day because that is all he has. He grows some of his own food and it gives him a break from his 24 hour care having just 15 minutes with nature.

I came home from work set my watch for 15 minutes started on my garden , wow I was surprised what I did. The 15 minute miracle could be any responsibility you find a challenge. For me personally it takes the sting out of a big responsibility to reduce it to increments. Interesting definition of increment : increase the act or process of increasing causing growth.

Researchers did 6 year study of doctors productivity and this is direct quote from the results but they recognised more research was needed Breaking down complex projects into small milestones can help give workers the completion high they get from easy tasks while still supplying the challenge and opportunities for development.

In summary break the avoidant cycle of necessary evils (chores) to the 15 minute miracle and you will see what wonders you can accomplish in a month.

https://www.businessinsider.com/research-tackle-hard-tasks-first-be-productive-2019-11?r=US&IR=T

Part of my book Life Patterns I am working on

At conception you were smaller than a full stop at the end of this sentence. As an adult that small dot has become a living breathing human with tremendous power in many domains. The most powerful domain or feature of any human compared to all other living organism on earth is the mind. The mind is the creation of your thoughts and in essence it is you. When you strip away the mind of an individual the body can not fully operate. The debilitating diseases that effect the mind are often called mental heath disorders. For the simplicity of this post let’s say the mind is a separate entity that is connected to the whole body. Illness can effect the mind and bring the body to a stand still either mental or physical illness. Majority of operations of the body systems are controlled in the brain many believe the concept the brain is the mind. The fact is that a small full stop can grow to be a mighty warrior and be defeated by mental or physical illness to a nobody basically nothing.

For the continued survival of a human being the Psychological health is an important ingredient. There are many different concepts, theories and definitions of Psychology. The health of a human Psychological perspective to flourish and enjoy existence is a heathy mind that influences the body. At this juncture there are important values or labels that science and society say are necessary but that is another story for another post. What is a heathy mind and how can a living organism be optimised for their potential having a great life? The secret is not a straight forward answer and one shoe doesn’t fit all approach. The book Im working on will unravel some ideas on how and why we have these life patterns as humans. To live a life you want to live is first to identify your own life patterns and reflect on them. Personal questions to ask: Why did I (Ego) do that? Am I (Ego) happy with that action and my life I (Ego) live?

The expression Ego is from the Latin I meaning from one dictionary definition the self especially as contrasted with another self or the world. There are many theories relating to the Ego originating from Sigmund Freud work even though he never used the word Ego. My objective in this post is to identify the Ego as the self or you as an individual entity separate from everything else. The origins of who you are were shaped by your childhood experiences. The foundation of your Ego or self is in your genetic hereditary and environment biological development.

The Ego had to survive with different needs driven by the mind subconsciously and consciously. For example the need for oxygen the mind or Ego drives your body systems to breathe. But we can choose to control our breathing by pausing while swimming under water. The Ego after a short period of lack of oxygen underwater will drive you to surface for air for survival. Understanding the Ego role in your life has a powerful enlightenment of who is actually in control, is it You or your Ego. As a child your Ego was instructed by many programs that your Ego gravitated toward. This Ego is part of your personalty, who you in your life in society , family and at work. Ego enemy is self awareness who reveals the programs the Ego is masquerading.

The stereotype of a Psychopath is usually the role of a male in a lot of media over the years. There has not been as much research in the female counterpart of a male Psychopath. The thought of a mother being a Psychopath is probably a difficult concept for many to contemplate. This post will explore few different perspective of a female Psychopath and their origins including the role of a mother who is a psychopath.

Researchers have found evidence of at least two categories of female psychopaths. Identified by interpersonal deception, sensation seeking, boredom, and a lack of empathy. Other patterns of early behavioral problems are promiscuous sexual behaviour and antisocial behaviour. Abandonment and neglect of biological children is also a symptom of female psychopaths.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) is another reason why Psychopath females treat their children in negative parenting patterns. They thrive on the attention from having a sick child even if that includes them being responsible. They may derive attention from doctors , nurses and in their community. This confers to personality traits — narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy (DTP) DTPs tend to see children as an extension of themselves and a possession. The sad results of the child victims that can grow up without a sense of self or identity as being mummy puppet or trophy.

One resource said Machiavellianism is a personality trait involving a cold, calculating view toward others, and the use of manipulativeness and deceit to achieve one’s goals. Machiavellians have limited empathy for others, both on a cognitive and emotional level, and appear to have a reduced theory of mind. They strategically plot against others in order to get ahead in life and achieve their goals.

Reflecting on these difficult challenges that face society especially the innocence children welfare. Big questions I would ask: Why did you have children? Do you know the many sacrifices that parents make for their children? Did you know that every child is an individual?

End of part one

References

https://www.academia.edu/1636859/The_Last_Frontier_Myths_and_the_Female_Psychopathic_Killer#

https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw180537

https://www.businessinsider.com/narcissists-cannot-love-their-children-2017-7?r=US&IR=T

https://psychcentral.com/lib/machiavellianism-cognition-and-emotion-understanding-how-the-machiavellian-thinks-feels-and-thrives/

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Poetry can inspire, connect and reflect with the author and its readers. The feelings and emotions of human experience in western civilisation are neglected often for many personal and social reasons. Throughout history in religious texts , different cultures been an array of different forms of poetry. The evolution of expression from humanity experiences helps us understand the world at that time. Today the youth express poetry in the popular rap format that evokes the inner struggles of the artist and the audience can identify with the sentiments.

Through my ordeal witnessing my beloved wife fighting cancer then dying at my side evoke the deepest despair of her and my feelings. I have always been a creative individual through my life. Poetry been medium to express my sorrows and horrors on paper was a way of releasing my emotions to the world as it can be a therapeutic experience.

Published my personal experiences on Amazon kindle few of my poems for the world to be part of my inner world. I pray that nobody has to go on a similar journey.

The power of advertising is a weapon that the industry giants have used for a long time. The subliminal undertones of secret advertising is not a secret anymore. One reference said we perceive an ad for a brand, we make an instant judgement of its emotional value and store this subconsciously as a marker for future reference. If the emotional value is positive (kind, warm, sexy, cool, successful and so on) we are subconsciously “conditioned” to invest the brand with this positivity. The consumer patterns of our life are the ticket that retailer love. Just stop and reflect for a moment on the goods you have purchased and at times you probably didn’t really need them. The expression retail therapy is a common household term. When you go shopping are you thinking actively for every item you purchase or is it your subconscious?

One research study said subconscious is automatic, effortless and unaffected by attention. The brain doesn’t have the capacity to pay attention to (every) image, even images that act on our subconscious simply do not get registered. Because of this subliminal advertising is banned in the UK. I was reading another research paper and on how the public is manipulated in their purchasing patterns or habits. This direct reference in part from the paper The behavioural and cognitive perspectives tend to examine the consumers’ psychogenic needs in a rational way and what is missing here is the irrational behaviour, which constitutes almost ninety per cent of our unconscious behaviour in everyday life. Advertising and marketing people apply psychoanalytic concepts to create unconscious desires into the consumer’s mind in order to sell products that are not needed but that they can make us feel better.

For centuries religion has had a hold on the masses with the use of fear and reprisals. Subconscious responses to God is a subheading in another article I found. It went onto say how even our beliefs can effect us : A study in Finland explored how religious and non-religious people responded to the idea of God. The researchers used electrodes to measure how much sweat people produced while reading statements like “I dare God to make my parents drown” or “I dare God to make me die of cancer”. Unexpectedly, when nonbelievers read the statements, they produced as much sweat as believers — suggesting they were equally anxious about the consequences of their dares.

This year the media has highlighted the minority plight against racism. Despite being educated in western civilisation some individuals fail to recognise their subconscious behaviour in racism and inequality. These unconscious biases develop at an early age. The biases emerge during middle childhood and appear to develop across childhood as unconscious biases that have effects on their behaviour. The Unconscious biases can be reduced or eliminated by taking steps to minimise the impact of unconscious bias in society.

references

https://theconversation.com/how-advertisers-seduce-our-subconscious-60578

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070308121938.htm

https://www.academia.edu/6479218/Consumerism_consumer_behaviour_and_the_manipulation_of_the_human_mind

https://diversity.ucsf.edu/resources/state-science-unconscious-bias

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We don’t choose who we are and very often we don’t even have a choice with our behaviour. Our genetic code was predetermined by our parents. Including the height , size and other traits that even may go back several generations. According to Brittanica.com Behaviour genetics, also called psychogenetics, the study of the influence of an organism’s genetic composition on its behaviour and the interaction of heredity and environment insofar as they affect behaviour

One academic paper showed by its experiments personality characteristics consistently associated with addiction disorders. Brain reward processes are therefore likely to exert their influence on addiction risk by their role in the development of relatively stable personality traits. The paper went on to say neurons in the midbrain can reinforce behavioral responding without the presence of any additional incentive, thereby implying that the level of DA signaling is directly related to the degree of experienced reward.

In my previous post mentioned behaviour patterns are related to this research reinforcing the Expected Emotional Outcome EEO. The fascinating paper reaffirmed this idea by saying increased dopamine signaling in the ventral striatum would relate positively to a composite measure of addictive behaviors.

Our genes are impacted by life events such as stress that can also effect our behaviour . One research paper explains PSTD changes our biology by effecting the chemistry in the body and the gene expression. One key regulating gene of this system is FKPB5. A recent study revealed that polymorphisms in FKBP5 moderate PTSD on exposure to childhood sexual abuse.

The more I research the tremendous influence that genetic has on our behaviour fascinates me to no end. I was listening to a lecture the other day on Happiness and the Psychology Researcher Professor said that our happiness state was dictated by 10% circumstances 50% genetic disposition and 40% perception and behaviour.

Today genetic engineering is a hot topic debating the ethics of the future of changing the DNA and genes. Gene Therapy is used to treat disease, or even to try to enhance a person life. A exciting opportunity that is close to my heart on treating cancer. The genetics and society says editing a person’s immune cells to help them better fight cancer is a welcomed endeavour for many.

The possibilities of enhancing our performance and behaviour patterns could be remarkable in the future. Imagine that personalty trait you want to modify or change. Imagine you want be no longer controlled by your genetic impulsive eating or drinking patterns. Imagine being the best version of you by a few genetic tweaks becoming the new you gentically.

references

https://www.britannica.com/science/behaviour-genetics

https://www.academia.edu/3257780/Addictive_Behaviours_and_Addiction_Prone_Personality_Traits_Associations_with_a_Dopamine_Multilocus_Genetic_Profile

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3681167/

https://www.geneticsandsociety.org

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The moment we wake from a nights rest the brain ( you ) will start the day probably with familiar routines. Through out the day human nature and behaviour is often a sequence of small patterns and cycles of habits with some conscious but many unconscious thoughts. At the end of the day as we prepare to sleep with another familiar routine afterward we have a night of sleep cycles of patterns.

Reflection at the end of the day is a good practice to review the sequences of events we had experienced with some good and maybe not so good. During these reflecting moments we could think of better or different choices to make next time. In my journal for each day I have the title at end of each day called Reflections and Resolutions. Being human is part of life journey acknowledging our mistakes. Humanity often continues to make the same mistakes or even ridiculous choices and I include myself in that statement. This post will explain some of the mechanism why we don’t always make the right choices and that is what makes us human.

Basal Ganglia

Basal Ganglia is part of the Limbic system in the brain and some of its functions are implicit learning and habit formation linked to behavior and emotions.

Cerebral Cortex

Cortex part of the brain functions include thinking, perceiving, producing, and understanding language. Most of the body information processing including sensory perceptions.

Theory of Expected Emotional Outcome EE0

In the prefrontal cortex the brain makes decisions what I call the analytical mind of Sherlock Holmes. Then Sherlock asked Watson for his input about an idea or choice and I will call this the emotional mind. Watson memoirs or past emotional experiences often include the irrational consequences are read out to Sherlock so they can take the necessary actions. This is the basal ganglia part of the brain communicating with the cortex. For example Watson remembers the lovely meal they had with Mariotti before they discovered he was an enemy of Sherlock. Watson convinces Sherlock by his emotional memory all the positive events they had during the meal so they can repeat the positive expected emotional Outcome with Mariotti. Now there a twist in the story. The memory of Watson and Sherlock the mechanism in the brain try to consolidate the stories they have accessed and recorded by confabulations by choosing meet enemy for a meal again.

Confabulations

Extreme cases of Confabulation is a neuropsychiatric disorder. Brain generates a false memory without the intention of deceit. The person believes the statement is to be honest The theory says the brain generates information as a compensatory mechanism to fill holes in one’s memories. We have all probably done it and called it a little white lie or slightly twist the meaning or miss important information out. We sometimes assume that our own choices were guided solely by the conscious explanations that we conjure, and reject or ignore the possibility of our own unconscious biases. Go back to our story of Sherlock and Watson, to avoid embarrassment or any other confabulations with another meeting with their enemy Mariotti Watson suppressed the memory or twist information that enemy is not an enemy but was a positive experience thinking it will be ok.

Habits become Patterns of Behaviour

Habits or behaviour models in the brain can be habitual and goal-directed control with different chemical messengers including serotonin , dopamine and other opiates that operate the reward and aversion systems. This is another layer how the brain operates in making choices.

The habits or behaviours can be explained as sequences of actions that have been pieced together through simultaneous cortical and basal ganglia loop system. When the brain is making predictions to create associations between cause and effect for best action result neurones are involved in the information processing that underlies motivation. Scientist call the sequences cognitive pattern generators that is organize by neural activity.

Conclusion

I have tried to simplify the complexity of human behaviour from a neurologist perspective with some psychology to help you understand that our patterns of behaviour is not as simple to identify and change. Next time someone says to you change an aspect of your behaviour or life style don’t be too hard yourself because its just not that simple. As you understand a little more about the biology of the brain is the first step in making better choices,

references

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543080/

https://www.academia.edu/40575995/The_Role_of_the_Basal_Ganglia_in_Mental_Laziness_and_Procrastination

https://www.academia.edu/1587500/Introduction_to_Confabulation_Views_from_Neuroscience_Psychiatry_Psychology_and_Philosophy

https://www.edge.org/response-detail/11513

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00039/full

https://www.academia.edu/44083168/The_neurochemical_substrates_of_habitual_and_goal_directed_control

https://www.thoughtco.com/anatomy-of-the-brain-cerebral-cortex-373217

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