This month we are going to dig a little deeper into our Contentment system. In the last two blogs we learned that our brains have three systems:
- Danger System: This powerful system protects us from harm, fueled by stress hormones like adrenaline.
- Drive System: Fueled by dopamine, this system pushes us to seek rewards and avoid pain.
- Contentment System: According to Dr. Knabb, the hormone Oxytocin is increased when we learn to engage the Contentment System. Studies show that oxytocin reduces stress, anxiety, and cravings, while boosting positive emotions, social bonding, and even sex life.
Taming the Drive System
An overactive drive system can lead to impulsive behavior and a constant chase for more. Dr. Anna Lembke, author of Dopamine Nation, explains that our brains have a baseline dopamine level. When we experience pleasure, our dopamine levels increase, but our brains are designed to maintain a balance of dopamine. As dopamine increases the brain tries to return the levels to our baseline. It does this by offsetting the feeling of pleasure with pain, disappointment or feelings of stress.
We naturally seek pleasure to avoid discomfort, but this can lead to a tolerance, requiring more and more to feel the same satisfaction. This is why the tenth movie in a series might not be as thrilling as the first, or why that giant slice of cake loses its appeal halfway through.
The Power of Contentment
The good news is, we have a built-in reset button: the Contentment System. By engaging this system, we can regulate dopamine spikes and prevent the drive system from becoming unbalanced which can result in cravings and addictions.
The Apostle James offered similar advice in the Book of James 1:1-17. He encouraged perseverance and contentment concerning God’s wisdom and provision through trials, explaining that we are naturally drawn away from God by our desires which can lead to sin and eventually to death. This aligns with the concept of an imbalanced drive system fueled by our natural urge to escape discomfort.
Finding Contentment: Three Practices
Here are three ways to activate your Contentment System:
- Meditation: Spend 10 minutes silently meditating on the word "Lord"
- Gratitude Breathing: Practice heart-focused breathing for five minutes while focusing on things you're grateful.
- Reflection: Take 10 minutes to write down how God has watched over and provided for you in the past.
Additional Resources
Dr.Joshua Knabb's podcast on contentment.
Dr. Anna Lembke's recap on dopamine. (I hold to a biblical understanding of creation and sin.)
Source:
Ito, E., Shima, R., & Yoshioka, T. (2019). A novel role of oxytocin: Oxytocin-induced well-being in humans. Biophysics and physicobiology, 16, 132–139. https://doi.org/10.2142/biophysico.16.0_132
Knabb, Joshua. (2018). The Compassion-Based Workbook for Christian Clients: Finding Freedom from Shame and Negative Self-Judgments. 10.4324/9781351123549.
Lembke, A. (2021). Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence (Unabridged). Books on Tape.
Add comment
Comments