On April 25, 2011, I asked the Lord again for joy for me and my family. I asked because my own heart often ached with pain and life frequently seemed like an attempt to just "survive". I asked because many of those I loved the most were experiencing fear, rage, depression, hopelessness, shame, discouragement, anxiety, anger and emptiness. I asked because God is our hope and joy is part of the fruit of His Spirit. "You have, not if you ask not", so I asked. (See James 4:2)
I was hoping the JOY would just happen, just be given to me and those I love, or joy would just be zapped onto us by our loving God. Five years later, I realize God has been teaching me how to experience joy based on the very way He has made us. We indeed are fearfully and wonderfully made. (See Psalm 139:14)
One way God has made us is for our bodies to produce dopamine. In an article by Deane Alban at bebrainfit.com, she shares that dopomine:
- has been called our "motivation molecule"
- it boosts our drive, focus and concentration
- it enables us to plan ahead and resist impulses so we can achieve our goals
- it makes us competitive and provides the thrill of the chase in business, sports and love.
- dopamine is in charge of our pleasure-reward system
- it allows us to have feelings of enjoyment, bliss and even euphoria
In this same article, a lack of dopamine includes symptoms similar to depression:
- lack of motivation
- fatigue
- apathy
- procrastination
- inability to feel pleasure
- low libido
- sleep problems
- mood swings
- hopelessness
- memory loss
- inability to concentrate
If you are feeling freaked out about right now and think your life resembles more the symptoms of lack of dopamine, here are some ways God has made our bodies to "dope (dopamine) up":
- Eating foods that increase dopamine production such as apples, avocados, bananas, green leafy vegetables, green tea, etc
- exercising
- meditating (as Christians we can mediate on God's goodness, love, faithfulness, word, etc)
- creative hobbies
- listening to music, singing
- taking on a new challenge
- enjoying a quest (HUNT for new music, speciality ingredients to cook, a gift for someone, tips for fun, etc)
- experiencing nature
- practicing thankfulness
Perhaps God "doped up" when He created you and me, or when Jesus made a table out of wood, gave thanks to the Father, prayed, took a walk on the water, ate an avocado or got alone by himself. Perhaps God "dopes up" when He sets out on the quest to draw me close to Him. If I am to be like Him, what if I start "doping up" like Jesus did and in the way He has made my body to do so. I have been doing more of the things listed above and I can truly say my joy has increased. Thank you God for teaching me how to have joy by "doping up" versus just trying to survive especially in moments when my heart aches.
Resources:
http://bebrainfit.com/increase-dopamine/
http://professionalchristiancoachingtoday.com/008-gratitude-the-hidden-benefits-of-thankfulness-with-susan-whitcomb-pcc/