"﻿Enlightenment can't be attained with efforts alone , It requires a shift in one's perception of reality "The more we let go of attachments to desires and fear , the more peaceful and contented we become .

Enlightenment 

<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Our Mind is Like the Surface of water when it's quite and stable it reflects things clearly without any distortion .</li><li class="ql-align-justify">When it is disturbed it reflects back distorted image i.e your perception becomes distorted .</li></ol>" Calm your mind and see the world with greater clarity "

Calm Mind &  Perception 

" Look the Life the way it is "

In this era of complete chaos we never pause and look our thoughts and mind these ideas will remind us to take pause and see the things the way they are and attain stillness .

a short story to lift your spirits and gift you inspiration for your day... Here is the Link for my E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPQYT3WH https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BPQYT3WH Support me: https://paypal.me/daretodomotivation Listen to your heart...be happy...don't give up and always believe! Click Here For The Power OF The Universe Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFbGr1c6XXE&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2Xk62ry_rLeRKCKhXRzEd9n Click Here For Samurai Stories Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSc-DGQ0fHY&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2UYmEt7nKnxCuQxAGseNrFJ Click Here For Buddha Stories Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xgPUYBl9JE&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2X6lEMDtMMw_Dq5QTyywnq3 Click Here For Tao Wisdom Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoDjfwKAOlQ&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2VDaEoDp9B3DGgeSUgFG9KG Click Here For Meditations And Affirmations Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEKvOB-rhc4&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2U7GprFLyCOe4FVqGqIv5Bt Click Here For Motivational Quotes Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luyozCd_SFU&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2VuY3rtbSasYwhZZI__XBD8 ===================================================================================================================== Hi everybody i write and speak most of the speeches myself, so if you need some material or want to do some sort of collaboration, feel free to contact me : kori.sarian@hotmail.com Speaker: Dare to do.MOTIVATION https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5VP2Yr-U7PHyDKHQQfkH9w?disable_polymer=true ===================================================================================================================== Music Search: artlist, videoblocks ====================================================================================================================== *FAIR-USE COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER* Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. 1)This video has no negative impact on the original works (It would actually be positive for them) 2)This video is also for teaching purposes. 3)It is not transformative in nature. 4)I only used bits and pieces of videos to get the point across where necessary. DARE to do. MOTIVATION does not own the rights to these video clips. They have, in accordance with fair use, been repurposed with the intent of educating and inspiring others. However, if any content owners would like their images removed, please contact us by email at KORI.SARIAN@HOTMAIL.COM

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

mindfulness

Mindfulness

mentalhealth

Mental Health

meditation

Meditation

a short story to lift your spirits and gift you inspiration for your day...
Here is the Link for my E-book:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPQYT3WH
https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BPQYT3WH
Support me: https://paypal.me/daretodomotivation
Listen to your heart...be happy...don't give up and always believe!

Click Here For The Power OF The Universe Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFbGr1c6XXE&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2Xk62ry_rLeRKCKhXRzEd9n

Click Here For Samurai Stories Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSc-DGQ0fHY&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2UYmEt7nKnxCuQxAGseNrFJ

Click Here For Buddha Stories Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xgPUYBl9JE&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2X6lEMDtMMw_Dq5QTyywnq3

Click Here For Tao Wisdom Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoDjfwKAOlQ&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2VDaEoDp9B3DGgeSUgFG9KG

Click Here For Meditations And Affirmations Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEKvOB-rhc4&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2U7GprFLyCOe4FVqGqIv5Bt 

Click Here For Motivational Quotes Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luyozCd_SFU&list=PLWXeU3K0sz2VuY3rtbSasYwhZZI__XBD8   

=====================================================================================================================
Hi everybody i write and speak most of the speeches myself, so if you need some material or want to do some sort of collaboration, 
feel free to contact me : kori.sarian@hotmail.com

Speaker:

Dare to do.MOTIVATION   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5VP2Yr-U7PHyDKHQQfkH9w?disable_polymer=true

=====================================================================================================================
Music Search:

artlist, videoblocks


======================================================================================================================

 *FAIR-USE COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER*
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism,
 commenting, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
 Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. 
1)This video has no negative impact on the original works (It would actually be positive for them)
2)This video is also for teaching purposes.
3)It is not transformative in nature. 
4)I only used bits and pieces of videos to get the point across where necessary.
DARE to do. MOTIVATION does not own the rights to these video clips.
They have, in accordance with fair use, been repurposed with the intent of educating and inspiring others.
However, if any content owners would like their images removed, please contact us by email at KORI.SARIAN@HOTMAIL.COM

Hi I'm Koriun and i'm a Video Editor/Speaker/Artist from Austria  creating some inspirational  Videos
Dare to do.  
Dare to dream. 
Dare to live.
Support me: https://paypal.me/daretodomotivation?locale.x=de_DE

Dare to do. Motivation

Taro - The Zen Student (a motivational zen story for your life)

Human beings are one of the creatures on the Mother Earth. Nature are also one of the part of the Earth which help us in any kind of situations and they also teach us Many lessons about - love , gratitude, loss and grief comfort , happiness, beset with difficulties, hope and many more.

The seed becomes plant with the help of sunlight, water , air just like as small baby grows up and learns to talk , walk with the help of their parents and community. We have to understand that this community provides the basic necessities to fulfill our life and betterment , they also teach the basic values and learnings. Here we saw that parents and community plays vital role to shape our lives.

After becoming plant (adult) - the parents leave the child to attain the strengthening roots by which the child will become a good tree. Wind and water , wind strengthens the stem and water leads to powerful roots. Wind and water are the basic necessities to vitalize the roots - which helps the child to combating with hurdles & pressures which comes under the route to success. Adult is the age when child start exploring the outer world and explore many ideas & thoughts. Here, Wind and water symbolise the hurdles in our life but it's also helps to keep strong from inner self.

Plant grows rapidly and becomes a tree but for that plant needs some fertilizer & manure. Here , fertilizer and manure symbolise the motivation and awareness respectively. If plant choose the wrong way so it can be fatal to it and leads to death. Plant needs the right guidance to attain the path to success.

Lesson - the art of simplicity to reach the path to success - it needs dedication , patience , perseverance . Plants will only become a prosperous tree by all these three important elements of life. Patience is very important because it enhance the learning and understanding ability through our community.

In a Nutshell , rapid and continuously growing is far better than quickly growth because it changes the perspective toward our lives. Environment and nature is the best tool to teach & reach the whole community.

Hope you liked the article by your soothing. I tried my best to write this page. If you like then comment, share and follow.  Thank you ---------------------------------------------------- 🌸

philosophy

Philosophy

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

The Art of Slow Living

Embrace your inner greatness, overcome limiting beliefs, and take responsibility for your life to achieve success and happiness.

The Importance of Self-Love and Confidence

Shift your beliefs, adopt a positive mindset, and overcome self-doubt to unleash your full potential and achieve your goals.

The Power of Mindset

Understand the law of attraction, align yourself with the universe, and manifest your desires by leveraging the cosmic forces at play.

Harnessing the Power of the Universe

Mastering Your Mind: Take control of your thoughts, use visualization techniques, and harness the power of affirmations to shape your reality and achieve success.

Mastering Your Mind

Overcome fear of failure, step out of your comfort zone, and embrace challenges to unlock personal growth and achievement.

Conquering Fear and Taking Action

Transform your money mindset, attract abundance, and create financial freedom by developing a positive and empowered approach to wealth.

Building a Healthy Relationship with Money

Embrace your authentic self, practice self-care, and build confidence and self-worth to live a fulfilling and empowered life.

Cultivating Self-Love and Acceptance

Cultivate gratitude to attract abundance, manifest positive experiences, and create a joyful and fulfilling life.

Gratitude and the Law of Attraction

Trust your instincts, develop your intuition, and make aligned decisions guided by your inner wisdom.

Tapping into Intuition and Inner Guidance

Achieving Financial SuccessSet financial goals, take strategic action, and overcome money blocks to create wealth and financial independence.

Achieving Financial Success

These ideas are important as they empower individuals to overcome self-doubt, embrace our potential, and create lives we love. They provide practical tools and insights for personal growth, building confidence, attracting abundance, and achieving success in various aspects of our lives.

Book in minutes, provide short summaries of books. Learning shouldn't take days when you can have the best ideas of your favourite books in minutes.

books

Books

You Are a Badass By Jen Sincero

Life is a journey filled with ups and downs, love and heartbreak, success and failure. Throughout this journey, there are certain universal truths that we must come to terms with in order to find happiness and fulfillment.

The Power of Perception: Embracing Change and Growth

Love is a complex and ever-evolving emotion. While it may seem comforting to believe that we will fall in love with our partner forever, the reality is that love can change over time. Rather than clinging to the notion of eternal love, it is important to embrace the concept of love as a fluid and dynamic force.

No love is permanent

Time is a precious and finite resource, and how we choose to utilize it determines the quality of our lives. Regardless of our circumstances, whether in moments of joy or in times of hardship, time continues to move forward.

Time will pass anywhere

Our beliefs shape our perception of reality and profoundly impact our actions and outcomes. While hard work is undoubtedly important, our beliefs play an equally vital role in our journey toward success.

Your beliefs determine your success and failure in life:

Words possess immense power. The language we use, both in our interactions with others and our internal dialogue, has a profound impact on our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Choosing words that are positive and uplifting sets the stage for a more optimistic outlook on life.

Use words wisely

Forgiveness is a transformative act that liberates us from the burdens of anger, resentment, and pain. Holding onto grudges and refusing to forgive keeps us trapped in a cycle of negativity, poisoning our relationships and hindering personal growth.

Forgiveness

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

The Power of Perception:  Embracing Change and Growth

"Into the Wild" is a non-fiction book written by Jon Krakauer that tells the captivating story of Christopher McCandless, a young man who embarked on a solitary journey into the Alaskan wilderness. McCandless's story is a powerful exploration of freedom, self-discovery, and the pursuit of a meaningful life. Here are seven life lessons that can be gleaned from the book:

7 Life Lessons from "Into the Wild"

McCandless's journey reflects the importance of embracing the spirit of adventure in life. Taking risks, exploring the unknown, and pushing our boundaries can lead to personal growth and transformative experiences.What risks are you willing to take in order to pursue a life filled with adventure and new experiences?

1. Embrace the Spirit of Adventure

McCandless sought to escape societal expectations and discover his true self. His story reminds us of the significance of introspection, self-reflection, and the pursuit of authenticity in order to live a fulfilling life.

2. Seek Authenticity and Self-Discovery

While McCandless valued self-reliance, his journey also underscores the importance of human connection and the need for meaningful relationships. We should strive to strike a balance between self-sufficiency and the support and companionship of others.In what ways can you foster meaningful relationships while still maintaining your independence and self-reliance?

3. Balance Self-reliance with Human Connection

Nature served as McCandless's teacher and sanctuary. The book highlights the transformative power of the natural world and the lessons it can teach us about ourselves, resilience, and the interconnectedness of all living beings.

4. Learn from Nature

McCandless's rejection of societal norms and materialistic pursuits encourages us to critically examine the values and expectations imposed upon us. It encourages us to question the meaning of success, happiness, and the pursuit of wealth.

5. Question Societal Norms and Materialism

McCandless's minimalist lifestyle in the wilderness reflects the beauty and freedom found in simplicity. The book reminds us to appreciate the little things, detach ourselves from material possessions, and find contentment in the essentials.

6. Embrace the Beauty of Simplicity

McCandless's story compels us to live with purpose and passion. It reminds us to pursue our dreams, follow our passions, and live life to the fullest, while recognizing the consequences and responsibilities that come with our choices.

7. Live with Purpose and Passion

I hope these life lessons, inspired by "Into the Wild," serve as a guide to navigating your own journey and finding meaning in your life.

Conclusion 

As someone who enjoys nature and dreams of escaping the confines of today's society, the book Into the Wild resonates with me.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In April 1992 a young man from a well-to-do family hitchhiked to Alaska and walked alone into the wilderness north of Mt. McKinley. Four months later, his decomposed body was found by a moose hunter. This is the unforgettable story of how Christopher Johnson McCandless came to die. "It may be nonfiction, but Into the Wild is a mystery of the highest order." —Entertainment Weekly McCandess had given $25,000 in savings to charity, abandoned his car and most of his possessions, burned all the cash in his wallet, and invented a new life for himself. Not long after, he was dead. Into the Wild is the mesmerizing, heartbreaking tale of an enigmatic young man who goes missing in the wild and whose story captured the world’s attention.  Immediately after graduating from college in 1991, McCandless had roamed through the West and Southwest on a vision quest like those made by his heroes Jack London and John Muir. In the Mojave Desert he abandoned his car, stripped it of its license plates, and burned all of his cash. He would give himself a new name, Alexander Supertramp, and, unencumbered by money and belongings, he would be free to wallow in the raw, unfiltered experiences that nature presented. Craving a blank spot on the map, McCandless simply threw the maps away. Leaving behind his desperate parents and sister, he vanished into the wild. Jon Krakauer constructs a clarifying prism through which he reassembles the disquieting facts of McCandless's short life. Admitting an interest that borders on obsession, he searches for the clues to the drives and desires that propelled McCandless.  When McCandless's innocent mistakes turn out to be irreversible and fatal, he becomes the stuff of tabloid headlines and is dismissed for his naiveté, pretensions, and hubris. He is said to have had a death wish but wanting to die is a very different thing from being compelled to look over the edge. Krakauer brings McCandless's uncompromising pilgrimage out of the shadows, and the peril, adversity, and renunciation sought by this enigmatic young man are illuminated with a rare understanding—and not an ounce of sentimentality. Into the Wild is a tour de force. The power and luminosity of Jon Krakauer's stoytelling blaze through every page.

travel

Travel

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

Jon Krakauer

Into the Wild

Humility empowers us to embrace the opportunity for continuous learning from everyone around us, recognizing the greatness in others. It reshapes our worldview and fosters a profound sense of contentment in our lives.It allows us to let go of ego-driven desires and comparisons, freeing us from the constant pursuit of external validation. Instead, we find solace and satisfaction within ourselves, leading to a greater sense of inner peace.

Humility And Contentment

writing

Reading & Writing

Tranquility

The importance of embracing vulnerability as a means to connect with others and experience true belonging. Let go of the fear of being imperfect and to allow themselves to be seen.

Embracing Vulnerability

We should be authentic and genuine in our interactions and relationships. Brown emphasizes that embracing our true selves and being comfortable in our own skin is key to living a fulfilling life.

Cultivating Authenticity

Perfectionism is rooted in the fear of not being enough, we should let go of unrealistic standards and embrace our imperfections.

Letting Go of Perfectionism

We should treat ourselves with kindness, understanding, and forgiveness, acknowledging that everyone makes mistakes and faces challenges.

Cultivating Self-Compassion

Setbacks and failures are a part of life, and resilience allows us to bounce back and grow stronger from those experiences.

Nurturing Resilience

The book delves into the concept of shame and its impact on our lives. Brown suggests that shame can be overcome by embracing vulnerability, practicing self-compassion, and cultivating a sense of joy and gratitude.

Letting Go of Shame and Embracing Joy

The book emphasizes the significance of building and nurturing meaningful connections with others. Brown encourages readers to engage in genuine and open communication, establish boundaries, and surround themselves with supportive and authentic relationships.

Cultivating Meaningful Relationships

Ultimately, the book encourages readers to embrace who they are, imperfections and all, and to live a wholehearted life characterized by authenticity, vulnerability, and self-compassion.

Living a Wholehearted Life

'This important book is about the lifelong journey from 'What will people think?' to 'I am enough.' Brown's unique ability to blend original research with honest storytelling makes reading The Gifts of Imperfection like having a long, uplifting conversation with a very wise friend who offers compassion, wisdom, and great advice.' —Harriet Lerner, New York Times best-selling author of The Dance of Anger and The Dance of Connection'Brené Brown courageously tackles the dark emotions that get in the way of leading a fuller life; read this book and let some of that courage rub off on you.' —Daniel H. Pink, New York Times best-selling author of A Whole New Mind'Courage, compassion, and connection: Through Brené's research, observations, and guidance, these three little words can open the door to amazing change in your life.' —Ali Edwards, author of Life ArtistIn The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown, a leading expert on shame, authenticity, and belonging, shares ten guideposts on the power of Wholehearted living—a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we'd no longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the while thinking, What if I can't keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn't everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself?In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown, Ph.D., a leading expert on shame, authenticity and belonging, shares what she's learned from a decade of research on the power of Wholehearted Living – a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness. In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much is left undone, I am enough, And to go to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And, yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable, but that doesn't change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.

communication

Communication

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This tenth-anniversary edition of the game-changing #1 New York Times bestseller features a new foreword and new tools to make the work your own. For over a decade, Brené Brown has found a special place in our hearts as a gifted mapmaker and a fellow traveler. She is both a social scientist and a kitchen-table friend whom you can always count on to tell the truth, make you laugh, and, on occasion, cry with you. And what’s now become a movement all started with The Gifts of Imperfection, which has sold more than two million copies in thirty-five different languages across the globe. What transforms this book from words on a page to effective daily practices are the ten guideposts to wholehearted living. The guideposts not only help us understand the practices that will allow us to change our lives and families, they also walk us through the unattainable and sabotaging expectations that get in the way. Brené writes, “This book is an invitation to join a wholehearted revolution. A small, quiet, grassroots movement that starts with each of us saying, ‘My story matters because I matter.’ Revolution might sound a little dramatic, but in this world, choosing authenticity and worthiness is an absolute act of resistance.”

Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Foundation – Brené Brown Endowed Chair at The Graduate College of Social Work. Brené is also a visiting professor in management at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. She has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and her latest book, Dare to Lead.Brené hosts the Unlocking Us Podcast and the Dare to Lead Podcast. Her TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with over 50 million views.

Brené Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection

Don’t make like a banana & split

Don’t be like a lemon and sour your mood.

vs. those grapes that just wine about evvvvvvvvverything.

Always be raisin’ your spirits!

Orrange your priorities to include a zest for life. Or at least for a slice of it.

Peel back the masks you wear.

Don’t be one. Just be berry awesome like all the other boysen girls.

Strawberries get picked on.

Be a cherry. Pop & stay on top.

Be sweet on the inside, you prick.

Be a pineapple, will ya?

Branch out and explore! *she leaves*

Don’t fall far from the tree.

In a moment where all experience tells me to embrace my feelings, I have discovered yet another opportunity to distract myself.

food

Food

Fruit-flavored Wisdom 🍎

<ul><li>Pride</li><li>Envy</li><li>Greed</li><li>Wrath</li><li>Lust</li><li>Gluttony</li><li>Sloth</li></ul>

Why does being bad feel so good?

Research explains where these behaviors come from and help us understand why we continue to engage in them—and often celebrate them—even as we declare them to be evil.

Techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which highlights metabolically active areas of the brain, now allow us to view the biology of bad intentions.

The most enjoyable sins engage the brain’s reward circuitry, including evolutionarily ancient regions such as the nucleus accumbens and hypothalamus; located deep in the brain, they provide us such fundamental feelings as pain, pleasure, reward, and punishment.

More disagreeable forms of sin such as wrath and envy enlist the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex. This area, buried in the front of the brain, is often called the brain’s conflict detector, coming online when you are confronted with contradictory information or even simply when you feel pain.The more social sins (pride, envy, lust, wrath) recruit the medial prefrontal cortex. Found just behind the forehead, this region helps shape the awareness of self.

No understanding of temptation is complete without considering restraint, and neuroscience illuminates this process as well. As we struggle to resist, inhibitory cognitive control networks involving the front of the brain activate to squelch naughty impulses by tempering their appeal.

Meanwhile, research suggests that regions such as the caudate—partly responsible for body movement and coordination—suppress the physical impulse. It seems to be the same whether you feel a spark of lechery, a surge of jealousy, or the desire to pop somebody in the mouth: The two sides battle it out, the devilish reward system versus the angelic brain regions that hold us in check.

It might be too strong to claim that evolution has wired us for sin, but excessive indulgence in lust or greed could certainly put you ahead of your competitors.

“Many of these sins you could think of as virtues taken to the extreme. From the perspective of natural selection, you want the organism to eat, to procreate, so you make them rewarding. But there’s a potential for that process to go beyond the bounds.”

There is no sin centre in the brain, no single node of fiendishness that we might be able to shut down with drugs or electrodes. With the advent of modern imaging techniques that peer into the brain as it functions, though, we at least gain some perspective on our bad habits. At the same time, we can indulge in another wickedly gratifying pastime: As other people misbehave, we can sit back and watch.

In the annals of sin, weaknesses of the flesh—lust, gluttony, sloth—are considered second-tier offenses, less odious than the “spiritual” sins of envy and pride. That’s good news, since these yearnings are notoriously difficult to suppress.

Lust

Watching pornography calls upon brain regions associated with reward, sensory interpretation, and visual processing. It enlists the amygdala and the hypothalamus, which deal with emotional information; it also stimulates the reward processing ventral striatum, probably due to the satisfying nature of watching erotic stimuli. All said, the most notable thing about lust is that it sets nearly the whole brain buzzing.

These responses are so unique and distinctive that, in the context of an experiment, it is possible to determine whether a man is aroused just by looking at an fMRI brain scan. “These are huge effects,” Safron says. “You’re looking at the difference between something that elicits intense desire and something that does not.” (Women show a less spectacular response, Safron says, and it is unclear exactly why.).

If lechery is all-consuming, how do we ever manage to control it? As with other powerful impulses, we try to shut down arousal by calling upon the right superior frontal gyrus and right anterior cingulate gyrus, according to research led by Mario Beauregard. He and others propose that these brain areas form a conscious self regulatory system. This network provides us with the evolutionarily unprecedented ability to control our own neural processing—a feat achieved by no other creature.

Today it is difficult to regard overeating as a sin, considering the overwhelming evidence of the powerful role of physiology in appetite. Physician Gene-Jack Wang has studied the brains of overeaters since 1999, when he and colleague Nora Volkow originally observed that obesity and drug addiction alter the same brain circuits.

Gluttony

These pathways, which rely on the neurotransmitter dopamine, are often referred to as the reward system, but they are also involved in motivation, attention, decision making, and other complex functions. In their studies, Wang and Volkow found that both drug addicts and obese people are less sensitive to dopamine’s rewarding effects. Being relatively numb to the pleasure and motivation signal may make them more likely to chase after a stronger thrill: more food or a bump of cocaine. Excessive stimulation further desensitizes dopaminergic neurons, and the compulsion snowballs.

In some of his experiments, Wang asks his volunteers to come hungry. He then torments them, asking them to describe their favorite food in detail while he heats it up in a microwave so that its aroma wafts through the room. When they go into a positron-emission tomography (PET) scanner, Wang sees the motivation regions of their brains go wild. Parts of the orbital frontal cortex, which is implicated in decision making, also light up.

In the brains of obese people, the regions that regulate sensory information from the mouth and tongue are more active, suggesting that overweight people may experience the sensations of eating differently. Other research shows that their reward sensitivity is lower. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and other areas involved in inhibitory control are underactive; the heavier the person, the lower the activity there.

“Our brain evolved for us to eat in excess, in order to survive. This kind of excess is built into the brain.”

Mere laziness seems out of place among the deadly sins. It helps to know that this moral failing was originally conceived of as acedia, a term that suggested alienation and tedium, tinged with self-contempt. Acedia afflicted jaded monks who had grown weary of the cloistered life. Their sin was turning away from their moral obligations and toward selfish pursuits—a monastic form of ennui.

Sloth

Today, paralyzing lassitude is often seen as a symptom of disease rather than of turpitude. Apathy is a classic sign of frontotemporal dementia. In this neurodegenerative disorder, the frontal lobes of the brain are slowly eaten away, causing social and mood changes as well as cognitive decline. Patients with such dementia often become increasingly withdrawn.

Sadness and listlessness are also hallmarks of major depression. With frontotemporal dementia the symptoms are caused by dead and dying cells; in depression the root cause is still unknown. In both conditions, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has an unusual pattern of activation.

Related to its ability to inhibit impulses, this region has a role in sustaining attention over the long haul. Abnormal function in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex might be connected to the lethargy associated with both conditions. Conversely, activity in this area may keep a lid on negative emotions; in some studies, depression lifted with stimulation of that part of the brain.

Early theologians saw pride as the fundamental sin—the “queen of them all,” according to Pope Gregory the Great, who codified the list of seven deadly sins in the sixth century. Indeed, psychologists say that arrogance is second nature in Western society. Most of us perceive ourselves as slightly smarter, funnier, more talented, and better-looking than average.

Pride

These rose-colored glasses are important to mental health, functioning as a psychological immune system that protects us from despair. “Those who see themselves as they truly are—not so funny, a bad driver, overweight—have a greater chance of being diagnosed with clinical depression,” says Julian Paul Keenan.

For most of us, it takes less mental energy to puff ourselves up than to think critically about our own abilities. In one recent neuroimaging study, volunteers who imagined themselves winning a prize or trouncing an opponent showed less activation in brain regions associated with introspection and self-conscious thought than people induced to feel negative emotions such as embarrassment. We accept positive feedback about ourselves readily,

“Compared with guilt or embarrassment, pride might be processed more automatically.”

Pride gets its swagger from the self-related processing of the medial prefrontal cortex, which Keenan calls “a very interesting area of the brain, involved in all these wonderful human characteristics, from planning to abstract thinking to self-awareness.”

Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in which a magnetic field applied to the scalp temporarily scrambles the signal in small areas of the brain, he was able to briefly shut off the medial prefrontal cortex in volunteers. With TMS switched on, his subjects’ normal, healthy arrogance melted away. “They saw themselves as they really were, without glossing over negative characteristics”.

Righteous humility has traditionally been depicted as the virtue that opposes pride, but the work of Keenan and others calls that into question. He is using TMS to disrupt deliberate self-deprecation—the type of unctuous, ingratiating behavior that seems humble but is actually disguised arrogance.

Patterns of brain activation during self-deprecation are fundamentally the same as those during selfdeceptive pride, Keenan is finding. “They’re in the same location and seem to serve the same purpose: putting oneself ahead in society."

Despite the enormous pool of potential research subjects, greed has not yet been systematically investigated in brain research. However, neuroscience does offer insight into a related phenomenon, the indignant outrage of the cheated.

Greed

Our hatred of unfairness runs deep, even trumping rational self-interest. In the lab, researchers frequently use the “ultimatum game” to test our responses to injustice. One of two partners is given a sum of money and told that he must offer some amount of his own choosing to his partner. If the partner rejects the offer, neither gets to keep any of the cash.

On a rational basis, the receiving partner should accept any nonzero offer, since getting some money is always better than getting none at all. But people’s sense of violation at unfairness is so strong that test subjects reject offers of 20 percent or less about half the time.

In response to unfair offers, the brain activates the pain detection process. It also engages the bilateral anterior insula, an area implicated in negative emotions such as anger, disgust, and social rejection. The overall picture that emerges from fMRI is that of a brain weighing an emotional response (the urge to punish the guy who is cheating you) against a logical response (the appeal of the cash).

When Lieberman increased the money being offered, he found that accepting a share that was larger but still unfair—say, $8 out of $23—was linked with increased activity in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and downregulation of the anterior insula, changes that are often seen during the regulation of negative feelings. People seemed to be swallowing their outrage to accept a reward that was inequitable but appealing.

Similarly, getting a fair offer—even if it was small in absolute terms—activated regions in the brain that are involved in automatic and intuitive reward processing. Justice apparently feels good.

The sin of pride turned on its head, envy is the most social of the moral failures, sparked by the excruciating awareness of someone else’s supreme talent, stunning looks, or extremely expensive car. For that reason, it is also the least fun of the deadly sins; feeling jealous provides no dirty thrill.

Envy

Only one imaging study (conducted by Takahashi’s group in Japan) has probed the neural basis of envy. Volunteers in fMRI machines were asked to read three scenarios. In the first, “student A” was portrayed as similar to, but better than, the volunteer in every respect. “Student B” was depicted as equally successful but very different from the subject, and “student C” sounded pretty much like a loser.

Reading about the awe-inspiring student A activated the volunteers’ conflict-detecting brain region, perhaps responding to the gap between the default setting of self-aggrandizing pride and the ugly truth of someone else’s triumphs. This same region is enlisted when feeling pain, suggesting to Takahashi that envy is a kind of “social pain in the self.”

On the other hand, indulging in schadenfreude—delight in someone else’s downfall—can be downright bliss. Aquinas termed this “morose delectation” and condemned it as a failure to resist a passion. Indeed, Takahashi found that rejoicing in a rival’s defeat brings pleasure just as surely as envy does pain. In the second phase of his study, volunteers read about student A’s downfall, causing the ventral striatum to light up.

The striatum is part of the so-called reward system, which can be activated by such pleasures as money, food, or sex, Takahashi says. The stronger the activation of the brain’s conflict detector in the first study, the stronger the striatum response in the second.

It may not have been the original sin, but rage is certainly primordial: Much of the brain circuitry active during anger is very basic and very fast. In humans, anger also enlists the conflict-detecting dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, which immediately alerts other regions of the brain to pay attention. The more upset you get, the more it activates, according to Tom Denson, a psychologist at the University of New South Wales in Australia. In people with short fuses, this part of the brain seems to be primed to feel provocation and personal slights, Denson says.

Wrath

Some of us are more easily enraged than others, but few are able to stifle rage completely. Instead we may convert overt hostility into angry brooding.To investigate the difference between short fusers and brooders, Denson antagonized his volunteers, insulting them while he scanned their brains. “Within seconds you see differences,” he says.

The medial prefrontal cortex, associated with self-awareness and emotional regulation, quickly lit up in angry brooders. So did the hippocampus, involved in memory. As they fume, people repeatedly relive the insult in their minds. Denson found that the degree of hippocampal activation predicted how much people tended to ruminate.

Probing the underpinnings of vengeful behavior, a German group led by neuropsychologist Ulrike Krämer allowed people who had been provoked during an experiment to punish their antagonist with a blast of extremely annoying noise. While the subjects pondered how loud to set the volume, the dorsal striatum, part of the brain’s reward circuitry, lit up at the prospect of retaliation.

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