Don't you love when science backs up your beliefs?

The funny thing about that as it relates to this episode, is that even when science (or someone else) says otherwise, we believe what we believe anyway.

Why is that?

Because we witness proof EVERYWHERE we look!

We actually have a built in mechanism that actually controls what we see around us.  It limits the scope of what we see and experience as it relates to what we believe to be true, or real.

It's called the Reticular Activating System (RAS)

The Reticular Activating System brings to light that which you are looking for.

It is located in the brain stem (just above the spine).  It connects the conscious and subconscious parts of your brain.

It controls our sleep/wake cycles as well as our fight/flight response.  

It's what shoots our eyes wide open and makes us sit straight up when a strange noise jolts us from our sleep.

It controls our REM sleep.  

It's what causes you to not see the ketchup when you open the door of the refrigerator and have the thought that you can't find the ketchup.

Dr. Dan Simons and his colleagues have shared some almost unbelievable research that they have done on the strength of the RAS and the role that it plays in our perception of reality.  I have videos linked below where you can see the footage of the "Invisible Gorilla" and hear his TedX talk on the subject.

It is fascinating!

In this episode, I explain the intricacies of the Reticular Activating System as it applies to how it limits what we see and experience.  In understanding it more fully, we can heal it, support it, and even expand it to grow our consciousness in order to love more broadly.

The Pineal Gland is an important part of the RAS.  One would think, primarily, because it is where your MELATONIN is made.  But there are a lot more things happening in the Pineal Gland that can effect your daily quality of life.  A healthy Pineal Gland means a more compassionate and intuitive existence.  It increases our ability to focus on tasks, problem solve, and combat anxiety.

Early on in my menopausal journey, I noticed if I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten to do, it triggered a hot flash.  As soon as I started paying attention, I could quell the thought and diffuse it before it ever caused discomfort.

Signs of a Compromised Pineal Gland:

• Mental health issues, particularly seasonal symptoms
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mood disorders, including paranoia, pessimism, and anger
• Neurological disorders, including dementia, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease
• Hormonal issues, including changes in fertility, menstrual cycle, and ovulation
• Impaired circadian rhythms, including sleeping too much or too little, feeling active and restless in the middle of the night, and feeling sleepy at unusual times
• Not remembering dreams
• Tendency to over-analyze
• Headache, nausea, and vomiting
• Difficulty with sense of direction or a feeling of spaciness
• Difficulty losing weight

(Source: Jodi Cohen, Vibrant Blue Essential Oils)

This pea-sized, pinecone-shaped gland can disrupt a lot if it isn't functioning properly.  

It is sensitive to a number of environmental toxins because it doesn't have the protection of the blood brain barrier like the rest of the brain.  Nasty buggers come directly from our blood stream into the pineal gland creating calcifications that inhibit its function.

Dietary Items to Avoid:

• Calcium Carbonate (found in many over the counter, synthetically-derived vitamin supplements)
• Fluoride
• Preservatives that contain Aluminum
• Glysophates (used to treat genetically modified crops)
  

EMFs (electro-magnetic frequencies) from phones and computer screens can suppress the function of the Pineal gland.  

In elevating the health of the Pineal Gland, you can enhance the overall expansiveness of the Reticular Activating System.

Here are some of the ways to support it:

Meditation: Ancient Indian sages had Pineal glands the size of lemons where the average human today has a pea sized gland.

Supportive Foods: Spirulina, Chlorella, Wheat Grass, Apple Cider Vinegar (removes Aluminum), and Red Beets.  A diet full of raw, organic fruits and vegetables is going to improve the function of the gland.

Activities: Limit exposure to Blue Light from electronic devices after dark. Lepidolite (crystal near your work station will absorb emfs.)

Essential Oils: Balsam, Lavender, Lemon, Grapefruit, Myrtle, Myrrh, and Tea Tree Oil

What we see is amazingly limited.

             -Dr. Daniel Simmons