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Good morning!

My fascination with the brain continues to draw me into researching many aspects of how we think, feel, and act.

Recently I was listening to a podcast by Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist, who interviewed an addiction specialist. Their conversation was candid, informative, and useful.

We were made to be addicted….our neurochemicals in our brains are driven to survival, pleasure, escaping pain, and many other deeper aspects of what drives our behaviors.

The interesting aspect of some of those neurochemicals is how they can be useful for intentional behaviors or they can lead us to addictions that can make our lives worse.

Dopamine is one of these chemicals that is a huge part of behavior, reward, and movement. We always need dopamine but in our quick-fix society, we often tap into dopamine “hit” behavior repeatedly without even realizing it. The unfortunate aspect is that when you keep getting hits of dopamine, you lower your baseline dopamine gradually and then you become less motivated, and mental health issues can ensue. Dopamine hits can come from alcohol, drugs, or just overuse of our phones or social media, among other things.

We can reset this though, by being intentional, aware, and maybe even fasting from a behavior. Yes, we have to endure some pain but soon comes the pleasure from simpler things in life. And life overall is more satisfying.

I always consider how Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” This sounds like being addicted to Him and His Word and His ways is a healthy use of an already built-in attribute of being human. We were made in God’s image and we are to bear His image out into a dark world. But I don’t see how that is possible unless we stay attached  to the Vine (i.e. addicted or i.e. dependent!)

Although addiction can often feel shameful, I believe since we all have this propensity, there is so much community and camaraderie that we should embrace, even if we don’t all share the same “addictions.”

Let us never grow weary in learning, growing and understanding, and grasping hands with the others in our world!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5