Episode 87 – Chakras, Sephirot, and the Mesolimbic System
What would life be without friends? As important as friends are in our lives, it can be shockingly difficult to make new friends as adults. This week’s show explores why, and offers some good, practical ideas on how to make new friends in spite of the challenges. This is the first in a two-part show on the topic of friendship.
Podcast available via direct RSS feed –> HERE, or via iTunes –> HERE.
Show Notes:
The theme for this week’s show may seem esoteric, but that’s because it is. But it doesn’t mean that it’s not approachable. Although I eschew some of the spiritual and religious symbologies of the concepts behind chakras and sephirot, there is still a valuable, secular message we can take away and apply to ourselves.
This week’s sephirah is the concept of mercy or kindness. Sometimes referred to as Chesed in Hebrew.
Here are two 2006 studies, here and here, that show how kindness actually affects the brain in tangible, measurable ways.
A 2011 study shows that pro-social giving (giving money charitably) leads to increased happiness.
Women laughing alone with salad. (And the Tumblr version). You’ll have to listen to the show to find out why this is included here though.
The happy story of how a businessman in Vegas helped a homeless man pursue his love of reading by giving him his Kindle.
There are no links in the show notes that relate to this week’s Let’s Get Physical segment, as I haven’t yet found a definitive resource that I am comfortable endorsing at this time. Please do your own research and exercise due diligence. When it comes to nutrition, there is a lot of misinformation out there.
Credits:
Music beds courtesy of Music Alley from Mevio and the Free Music Archive. Thanks to artists: ZeroV, Duane Carter Band, Gepel.