This has been of interest to me since there are SO MANY of us people who have had barbaric surgery become alcoholics AFTER the surgery. The mind gut has been questioned in this realm.
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That is really interesting. My ex-SIL had bariatric surgery years ago and she became addicted to painkillers… to this day. I can see this surgery playing a big role in that.
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Whenn I checked into rehab years ago, the nurse talking my history shook her head when I told her I had gastric bypass. She said that HALF of the people checking themselves in for alcoholism had gbs! Shortly after discharge, I started my research on it. Then I relapsed, for years and stopped. I also know a friend of the family who ended up passing away young from pain killer overdose after gbs. She didn’t have the problem before surgery. There are some studies but it’s not talked about much 
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It must screw around with the gut-brain axis. I don’t see how it wouldn’t affect it. If you learn any more about it, please share. I find it interesting. And I’m happy you’re beating the odds! 
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Same same! If you see anything, let me know! 
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Wordsworth believed that nature plays the role of giving joy to the human heart, of purifying the human mind, and of having a healing effect on sorrow-filled hearts. I’ve found this to be absolutely true. We don’t need drugs or alcohol or any stimulants of the sort to find true joy and happiness. We can use what’s been freely given to us… nature and our imagination. 
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Dance, dance, dance!!! It’s great for your brain!
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“With meditation, your brain is effectively being rewired: As your feelings and thoughts morph toward a more pleasant outlook your brain is also transforming, making this way of thought more of a default… The more your brain changes from meditation, the more you react to everyday life with that same sense of calm, compassion, and awareness.” - Jessica Cassity
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“… drop your “I’ll Be Happy When” mindset. As soon as you notice yourself saying these words, stop and correct your thoughts. Find a reason to be happy right now.”
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This is so true. It makes me think of the wisdom of Yoda:
“A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. [Luke Skywalker] a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away…to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing.”
Be present. Be where you are - and find the value in that 
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I like this article, thank you 
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I love that.
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Thank you, Eric. @Dazercat This goes perfectly with dropping our attitude of “I’ll be happy when…”
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Very interesting !
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In the same way repetitive exercises improve our physical health, positive affirmations are exercises that improve our mental health. Positive mental repetitions can reprogram our thinking patterns so that we can eventually overcome negative thoughts. Mind tools… we need them.
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GRATITUDE BRINGS HAPPINESS
One of the major differences between happy people and unhappy people is their level of gratitude.
Conventional wisdom teaches us that being prosperous, accomplished, and strong equates to being happy. I tend to believe the opposite. Happiness is actually what fuels us to be successful… in our relationships, in our careers, and in our physical and mental health.
When we have positive thoughts, our brains react with increased and enhanced creativity, stronger resilience, and fruitful production. So how do we reach the point of creating our own happiness? It all begins with our perception. It’s not reality that shapes us, it’s the lens through which our brains view our world that shapes our reality. And we can change that viewing lens with gratitude.
Being in recovery, I’m all about changing my habits and negative thinking by retraining my brain to see new and better perceptions. One way to accomplish this is through conscious, repetitive gratitude. Realizing the good that already exists in our lives, and bringing that goodness to the forefront of our minds on a daily basis, is a practice that creates happiness within. The daily basis part is the trick.
There’s a myth running around out there that it only takes 21 days to form a new habit. I’ve seen it in quotes, in self-help books, in 21-day challenges, and although it’s a good start for creating a new habit, a change in perception, it’s simply not true. There are too many variables to take into consideration, so it’s an incalculable equation. One variable is the reward value of the behavior. When we provide our brain with something that causes intense feelings of pleasure, such as drinking alcohol or doing drugs, that’s going to quickly become a learned behavior. There isn’t as much pleasure involved in changing our bad behaviors, so those are going to take a lot more work. Our brains like things to be easy and comfortable.
I share my gratitude here, and I love doing that. But I want the joy I receive from sharing to become an integral part of my life. I struggle daily with depression and anxiety, and I know it’s due to the cloudy lens my brain views the world through. I’m going to start physically handwriting my gratitude each day, bringing that extra bit of energy that flows from my brain down my neck, shoulder, arm, and out through my fingertips. I’m going to start slowly, writing down at least 3 good things in my life and taking no more than 2-3 minutes to do this. It may take months for this to become an automatic habit, but that’s what I’m working towards… happiness through gratitude.
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I’m not sure how I missed this when you first posted it, I absolutely love it and couldn’t agree more. The power of positivity is real.
Not too long ago, I read the book written by the brothers who own Life is Good (the company). It has a lot to do with the power of positivity. You would probably really like it if you haven’t read it already. I’ve recommended it to people here before but I can’t remember what thread that was…Check it out if you want
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I haven’t read it, yet. Thanks so much for suggesting it. I actually have access to a couple bookstores this weekend, so I’ll look for it.
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