Loretta Breuning, a professor and founder of The Inner Mammal Institute, dives into the science of happiness and brain chemistry. She explains how our early experiences shape our neural pathways and the challenges of habit formation after puberty. Loretta discusses the roles of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in shaping our emotions. The conversation also tackles breaking addictive habits and the importance of rewiring our brains for resilience. Get ready to understand your inner mammal and reclaim your happiness!
01:19:45
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insights INSIGHT
Dopamine and Reward
Dopamine is released when a reward is anticipated.
Each step toward the reward triggers dopamine, not just obtaining it. Think of a lion chasing gazelle.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Small Steps, Big Rewards
Structure your life with small, achievable steps toward rewards, rather than focusing on distant goals.
This stimulates dopamine and builds positive expectation circuits in the brain.
insights INSIGHT
Addiction as Distraction
Bad thoughts trigger after happy chemicals are metabolized, and you feel 'neutral'.
Addictions such as overeating provide distraction, masking these negative emotions temporarily.
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Almost 30 is all about tools, tricks, and insights that anyone can use to feel happier and more aligned as they navigate the big transitions in their life… but we’ve never really talked about WHY people feel happy. Like what’s going in these mammal brains of ours? So Lindsey + Krista sat down with Loretta Breuning, PhD, a professor, an author, and the Founder of The Inner Mammal Institute. Loretta teaches people how to build power over their mammalian brain chemistry and understand nature’s operating system.
Because if we understand the science of what’s happening when we form habits or feel a certain way, we have the power to manipulate those chemicals, rewire our brains, and ultimately, live a better life. Are you ready to make peace with your inner mammal?
We discuss…
Early brain development
Why it’s so difficult to create new neural pathways in our brains after puberty
Our impulse to want more
Serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, & endorphin
The medical model VS the animal world
Ups + downs being NORMAL
Do animals have memories like we do?
Why the size of your brain directly correlates to the length of childhood (and the animal with the biggest brain)
The amazing miracle of reproduction
Breaking an addictive habit
Getting back to neutral after experiencing trauma
Endorphins + GABA
Every single person being wired for an individual experience (and feeling a little different from the herd)
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Almost 30