Sometimes little things can make big differences in how your life plays out.  For instance let's look at the difference between pleasure and excitement.  Most people think of them as the same thing.  Both feel good and both are attractive.  But that is where the similarity ends.  They are in fact quite opposite from each other in the body.

Pleasure is actually a physical need the body has to be healthy.  In fact years ago there was quite a bit of literature on the subject of pleasure as a mind-body method to reverse illness or at least improve survival times from many life threatening health conditions.  I recall listening to an audio program by Dr. Paul Pearsall on the subject. 

In terms of health, excitement tears us down while pleasure rebuilds us.  That is why after the adrenaline rush wears off from excitement we feel exhausted, while after a nice pleasurable time we feel refreshed and ready for action.  I think you can guess that I am suggesting that pleasure is the feel good choice for health, not excitement.  Does that mean that all excitement should be avoided? No, it does not.  Excitement has its place as a reward when we feel good after we successfully overcome obstacles in our life.  When we achieve a victory in our struggle to grow and become successful in our lives, the thrill of excitement is a high that feels really good.
   
As a motivator for self-accomplishment, excitement can't be beat.  But the desire for that feeling of excitement has a dark side.  This feeling pathway was designed for motivating us to overcome risky challenges  back before we gathered together into tribes and learned to work together to survive.  The excitement response predates our community forming desire to connect.  Excitement attaches to competing with and beating other people.  It is the basis of the excitement that comes from win-lose interactions with others.  We get excited when we can be right and prove others wrong.  We get excited when we can beat them at sports or business, or even in love.

Excitement is separation based.  Excitement is power based.  In its core and its roots it is about personal survival and winning some sort of power struggle with life.  It is good to win such struggles and feeling good about it builds confidence.  But excitement creates separation rather than connection.  For as good as it feels, it makes us more alone. 

Pleasure is just the opposite.  Pleasure comes from connecting with life, with friends and associates.  As much as the confidence we build from excitement helps us survive, it is our connection with others that gives us the real survival advantage over all other creatures.  It was our ability to work together on group common goals that were not merely personal that empowered us humans to aspire to greatness.  You could say our ability to feel and be motivated by pleasure is what enabled the human race to form civilization.

Pleasure relaxes us and helps us drop the barriers between us while excitement leaves us revved up and ready for action.  Camaraderie may enable us to share excitement with others and support a form of connection.  This is the value in a team relationship.  Even though intimacy and true expression of our feeling self does not happen in a team environment, a sense of belonging based on a common purpose or goal creates a strong sense of connection for everyone that is in agreement with that goal.  Disagree with the goal and you will be tossed out on your ear.

I hope I am communicating that both pleasure and excitement have their place.  The real trouble happens when we get those places confused.  The most common example of this confusion is in love relationships.  In the beginning of a love relationship there is a lot of excitement.  The excitement is all about achieving the goal of hooking up.  We project our desires and hopes and plans onto the other person and truly believe they feel and think and want exactly what we do.  Psychologists call this phase of a relationship limerence.  This is the romantic love stage.  On average people are able to ignore the differences they see in their beloved ones for about 6 months before the "in love" stage falls apart.

In my experience the excitement of this phase is the most powerful drug around.  It uses the same brain circuits as cocaine and methamphetamines.  It creates the illusion of closeness by projecting self onto another person.  No wonder we feel so close - we are seeing a mirror image of the best in ourselves.

After the limerence phase the relationship can go one of two directions - into the pleasure or the power phase.  In the pleasure phase the people relax and start learning to enjoy the differences in their partner.  In the power struggle phase the two people fight to try to make that other person be the image you were projecting on them.  Most people opt for the power struggle relationship.  The craving for the excitement feelings is so strong it is exactly like the craving for drugs.  Some people actually get violent trying to force their partner to be the way they want them to be.  This is not connection or respect for another human being - it is a totally selfish addiction to excitement.

This brings us to the big picture point of this article.  Excitement is for personal challenge of the elements, for exceeding your personal best.  Excitement is not for relationships with real people.  Excitement is physiologically fear based, which shuts down any real connection.  Connecting with your loved one is not meant to be exciting, it is meant to be pleasurable.  Relationships at work and out in the world are meant to be pleasurable, not exciting.  Excitement means you are looking to be a winner and that makes someone else a looser in the process.  Excitement is about getting your way, which means someone else had to give up his or her way.  This is not a respectful way to relate to others.

Because both pleasure and excitement feel good, most people never stop to consider the difference between them.  We just want to feel good because that means all must be well with us.  While as a lone individual that might be true, but as a connected member of a larger community, feeling good is not enough.  Having just snorted a couple lines of cocaine will leave you feeling pretty good, but it does not mean that you are in fact good.  Your survival and future success is greatly enhanced when you learn to live in respect and connection with your community.  Win-win relationships produce long term success. 

Win-lose excitement based living eventually destroys your health.  It is a chronic stress to your body and it will eventually generate inflammation and ill health.  Pleasure-based-living will rebuild and regenerate your health.   Pleasure relaxes your body, slows your heart, lowers your blood pressure, reduces inflammation, and enlivens your digestion.  The stress of the drive to win in the hope of getting the excitement of being a winner will kill you.  Stop competing with others or trying to make them be the way you want.  Only compete with yourself and through pleasure bring yourself to be the way you want.

Take care,

David      

Tuesday afternoons and Fridays

Hidden cause of restless leg syndrome

An in depth study of restless leg syndrome has identified 38 different diseases restless leg relates to, and the key element of all these diseases is inflammation.  This article discusses the basics for reducing inflammation naturally such as eliminating vegetable oils, sugar, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates as well as using anti-inflammatory foods and supplements like those listed.  Check it out.

 

            __________________________________

Psychological side-effects of anti-depressants worse than thought

In a study of almost 2000 people it was found that over half of them reported psychological problems such as feeling suicidal, withdrawn, or sexual difficulties.  Physical side effects are well known for anti-depressants, but the psychological effects have largely been denied or ignored.  Other studies have found the benefits for anti-depressants to be equal to taking a placebo.  Now it appears that the benefits carry a high risk of new secondary problems.

          _______________________________

Avocados!

 

Our address is  9725 Fair Oaks Blvd.

Finding the new location is very easy.  Coming from highway 50 up Sunrise Blvd, you turn left and go up a block.  We are on the right hand side - the building just past the Subway Sandwich shop.  If you are coming down Sunrise from the Mall area then just turn right on Fair Oaks Blvd and up a block on the right.

 

If you are coming from the Roseville area you could come down Sunrise Blvd, but that is a long trek.  It is probably shorter time wise to come down Auburn Blvd - San Juan Ave like you have been for the Sunset office, but instead of turning left at Sunset, keep going straight 3 more lights to Fair Oaks Blvd and turn left.  Go down 2 lights to New York Ave, go through the intersection, and immediately turn into the turn lane once the center divider ends.  We are on the left.

 

About Dr. DeLapp

Dr. DeLapp has been a philosopher, non-force Chiropractor, medical intuitive, and health innovator for over 30 years.  He began experimenting with  medical intuition in 1972 while studying physics at UC Davis.  In addition to physics he designed and completed an individual major in the philosophy and psychology of education.  Shortly after he choose to pursue a career in the only truly health oriented profession available at that time, Chiropractic.  He graduated with honors in 1981 with his doctorate and opened a private practice. 
Since that time he has continued his research into the effects of consciousness and learning on health. 
He developed the Biomagnetic Retraining system for correcting movement abnormalities. 
Since 1991 he has focused on developing a powerful system for uncovering and assisting the mind-body connection in health and personal growth.  The in-depth coaching, guided by the subconscious direction from the body, is called Heartflow and the simpler mind-body retraining for health and unfoldment he has named Gracework.  Both are available at Fair Oaks Health.

Dr David DeLapp DC
Chiropractor

Ellen Flowers FGM
Spiritual Life Coach

 

 

 

Catherine Cummings

 

 

Jin Shin Jitsu

 

 

Lorena Morales

 

 

Massage Practitioner

 

 

 

 

 Is there a sweet that is not poisonous?  Yes!


 Dr Dave Supersweet Drops and 2X Sugar Substitute

 

New Products

 

Coconut Milk

 

 

Avocado Oil