... the beauty that still remains.

I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.  

~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl



In light of the tragedy of this day many years ago, these words are appropriate not only in their meaning but also from whom these words are attributed to.   With tragedy comes sorrow, anger and disbelief.  Yet in order to survive and prevail, the beauty  that still remains must be appreciated, protected, and championed. 

Molecules of Emotion/ Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)d

      My original intent was to write about what I have learned from reading the book "Molecules of Emotion" by Candace Pert, Ph.D, but now I find myself reading her most recent book "Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)d.  This is a fascinating read.  An accomplished, respected scientist who has made the connection between the workings of the body and the mind.. explains her research simply and clearly.  The connection comes down to the simple cell and it's workings.   The functioning of the body(mind) is directed by individual cells (their signals and reactions), based on their interaction with ligands (neurotransmitters, hormones and enzymes). This is the basis of the bodymind communication system.

Ligands are responsible for  98% of all data transfer in the body and brain. Each cell has surface receptors that move and shake creating a vibration, which will resonate with a ligand vibrating at the same frequency. At this point the binding action of the cell and ligand creates the signal for the cell to take action; grow, divide, repair etc.    This cellular vibration is a force of attraction.

Molecules of Emotion -Ligands

What you experience as a "feeling" is the attracting vibration and the connection of cell and ligand is the manifestation of that feeling.

Mind Body Connection #2

When you have a thought, your mind sends out signals. This can be in hormones, growth factors, or other chemicals which stimulate oscillations of nerve cells which create a field that influence other nerve and neurons.

In the book, The Emotional Brain, neuroresearcher, Dr. Joseph LeDoux talks about how emotions are hardwired to stimulate our Central Nervous System, which in turn stimulates our Autonomic Nervous System. This is how a sight or even the thought of a sight, cause a bodily reaction.

Do it now--think of something that you dislike or that frightens you.   

How does it physically Feel?

This is how bodily symptoms are related to emotions. Emotions and feelings are not the same. You may not even know (be aware of) that an emotional response is happening. You may have the signs or symptoms of anxiety, such as high blood pressure or sweating for example, but not “feel” anxious. Our emotions are often not at a conscious level.