The Happy Brain; Loretta Breuning

Loretta Breuning helps people around the world live with a happy brain. She is Professor Emerita of Management at California State University and the author of Habits of a Happy Brain and Why You’re Unhappy: Biology vs Politics. Unsatisfied with conventional theories of motivation, she turned to animal brain chemistry, where she found powerful insights. Her work has since helped thousands worldwide, with her resources translated into twelve languages and embraced by readers seeking natural paths to happiness.

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• Website: https://InnerMammalInstitute.org
• Book: Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, & Endorphin Levels by Loretta Breuning

Most Influential Person

• Sigmund Freud

Effect on Emotions

• I have two thoughts on emotions. One is to know that we're not meant to be happy every minute.
• The other is that when I feel bad, I look for a pattern. For me, it was often the anticipation of criticism. I would project that this person is criticizing me, because I was criticized a lot when I was young. Then I realized, they're not criticizing me. They're just doing their own thing. 

Thoughts on Breathing

• This breathing topic is a real big challenge for me. I've tried all the breathing techniques. Because I have severe scoliosis, my spine and my rib cage are not aligned. My neck and my pelvis are not aligned.
• I'm fine when I'm active, but when I'm resting, it's a problem. Partly, I think it's because I've taken all these breathing classes.
• The breathing classes have caused me to override my natural breathing which is perfect. Then I try to force something that doesn't come to me. 

Suggested Resources

• Book: Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex Among Apes by Frans de Waal
• Book: Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, & Endorphin Levels by Loretta Breuning
• Book: Why You're Unhappy: Biology vs Politics by Loretta Breuning
• More Books: https://innermammalinstitute.org/readinglist/
• App: Duolingo (Language App)

Words of Advice

• I always like to get to the subject of social status. This is something that people blame on society, but every animal group has a status hierarchy, and they drive themselves crazy over it.
• This is a learned content imposed on a natural impulse. The reason we do it is because the mammal brain rewards you with serotonin when you think you're rising in the status hierarchy. In a way, it's like an addiction.
• You feel like you have to keep rising in the status hierarchy to keep getting the serotonin. Once you notice that you're doing that, then you can learn to stop doing that by reading my book, Status Games, or, I Mammal.----more----