https://www.quitterscircle.com/story/the-three-link-chain-of-addiction-physical-mental-and-social

The Three-Link Chain of Addiction: Physical, Mental and Social

The addiction to cigarettes is a complicated matter. The American Lung Association says it’s a “three-link chain” of physical, social and mental addictions, and that smokers have a better chance of quitting and staying smokefree if they address all three parts of the chain. What do they mean by this? Let’s break it down:

Physical addiction: You may already know that cigarettes contain an addictive chemical called nicotine. In the brain, nicotine causes the release of a chemical called dopamine, which makes you feel good. Once nicotine is gone, your body wants more, which means smoking another cigarette.

Mental addiction:  The act of smoking is often a part of one’s daily routines. Smokers light up at specific times of day—when drinking coffee or driving—or when they’re feeling a certain way, like stressed or tired. Cigarettes can become a crutch, almost like a steady friend a smoker can rely on. Quitting smoking means a quitter will have to relearn and adjust these behaviors, which can be a mental hurdle to overcome.

Social addiction: Many smokers develop social groups around smoking—people will head out for a smoke break with friends or coworkers. Smoking can also be used as a social icebreaker by asking, “Got a light?” Going smokefree can mean readjusting your social groups and reevaluating where you spend your recreational time.

Don’t let this chain weigh you down! When you make a quit plan that addresses all three aspects of your addiction, you’ll be well on your way to quitting for good.

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http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2015/06/15/elisabeth-elliot-1926-2015/

ELISABETH ELLIOT (1926-2015)

Elisabeth Elliot (née Howard; born December 21, 1926) died this morning (June 15, 2015) at the age of 88.

She was a beautiful woman of whom the world was not worthy.

Here is her brief testimony, told in her typically understated way:

My parents were missionaries in Belgium where I was born. When I was a few months old, we came to the U.S. and lived in Germantown, not far from Philadelphia, where my father became an editor of the Sunday School Times. . . . 

Our family continued to live in Philadelphia and then in New Jersey until I left home to attend Wheaton College. By that time, the family had increased to four brothers and one sister. My studies in classical Greek would one day enable me to work in the area of unwritten languages to develop a form of writing.

A year after I went to Ecuador, Jim Elliot, whom I had met at Wheaton, also entered tribal areas with the Quichua Indians. In nineteen fifty three we were married in the city of Quito and continued our work together. Jim had always hoped to have the opportunity to enter the territory of an unreached tribe. The Aucas were in that category—a fierce group whom no one had succeeded in meeting without being killed. After the discovery of their whereabouts, Jim and four other missionaries entered Auca territory. After a friendly contact with three of the tribe, they were speared to death.

Our daughter Valerie was 10 months old when Jim was killed. I continued working with the Quichua Indians when, through a remarkable providence, I met two Auca women who lived with me for one year. They were the key to my going in to live with the tribe that had killed the five missionaries. I remained there for two years.

After having worked for two years with the Aucas, I returned to the Quichua work and remained there until 1963 when Valerie and I returned to the U.S.

Since then, my life has been one of writing and speaking. It also included, in 1969, a marriage to Addison Leitch, professor of theology at Gordon Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts. He died in 1973. After his death I had two lodgers in my home. One of them married my daughter, the other one, Lars Gren, married me. Since then we have worked together.

She was the author of several books, many dealing with themes of suffering, loneliness, singleness, manhood and womanhood, and family.

Among her best-known books are those that told the story of her first husband, Jim Elliot, and their mission together in Ecuador: Through Gates of Splendor (1957), Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot (1958), The Savage My Kinsman (1961), and The Journals of Jim Elliot (1978).

She also wrote a biography of Amy Carmichael (A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael) and an influential book on purity (Passion and Purity: Learning to Bring Your Love Life Under God’s Control).

http://savingourfuture.com/2015/06/surprise-scientists-crack-code-to-happiness/

Surprise! Scientists ‘Crack Code’ to Happiness

By Matt Barber

I love this quote by illustrious NASA scientist Dr. Robert Jastrow (1925-2008): “For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountain of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.”

I would just add to Dr. Jastrow’s keen insight, that it’s not merely theologians at large who have long lounged atop Mount Understanding. It is, more precisely, Judeo-Christian theologians. Indeed, with time and chance, even science can eventually catch up to God’s Word.

Case in point: Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic is one of the world’s most prestigious health institutions. With much fanfare, researchers there announced last week that they have “cracked the code to being happy.” “Imagine scientists coming up with an actual formula for happiness – a specific recipe for lifelong contentment and joy,” they tease.

Well, my forlorn little friends, imagine no more. These scientists boast of having “created just such a formula based on neuroscience and psychology.” For a mere $15.95 – less than your daily dose of Zoloft and vodka – they’ll rush off to you “The Mayo Clinic Handbook for Happiness,” a “four-step self-help process” to finding “a lifetime of joy and contentment.”

“Happiness is a habit,” says the study’s chief researcher Dr. Amit Sood in the Daily Mail. “Some of us are born with it; others have to choose it.”

“Previous research has shown that our minds are hard-wired to focus on negative experiences. For our ancestors,” continues the report, being perpetually PO’ed, “helped them stay alive, providing an evolutionary advantage in the face of danger.” (Some of us attribute this to mankind’s fallen, selfish, sinful nature, but we can go with that whole evolution thingy if it makes them feel better.)

Concludes the Daily Mail: “The book makes readers focus on a different positive emotion each day, such as gratitude, forgiveness and kindness.”

Wait. Hold the Mayo. This is déjà vu all over again. What “book” are we talking about here? Where have we heard all this before – talk of gratitude, forgiveness, kindness and whatnot, leading to joy, contentment, happiness and so forth?

Anyway, click over to Mayo’s related “How to be happy” page and you’re given a little more detail.

“People who are happy seem to intuitively know that their happiness is the sum of their life choices, and their lives are built on the following pillars:

• Devoting time to family and friends
• Appreciating what they have
• Maintaining an optimistic outlook
• Feeling a sense of purpose
• Living in the moment

Look, I’m glad you’re getting the message out, guys, but, c’mon, plagiarize much? This isn’t a revolutionary “formula” “created” by “scientists” and “based on neuroscience and psychology.” While it’s all true, you’re a bit late to the game. Dr. Jastrow’s theologians have been well acclimated to this lofty altitude for, oh, about 2,000 years. You guys have more degrees than a thermometer. You should know to cite your original source.

So, let’s break it down. Though there are many to choose from, and while the following is in no way comprehensive, let’s contrast Mayo’s “breakthrough” happiness pillars to but a few of their long-established counterparts in the original “handbook for happiness:”

Devoting time to family and friends

“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24-25).”

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).”

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:12-13).”

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17).”

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor (Romans 12:10).”

Appreciating what they have

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5).”

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world (1 Timothy 6:6-8).”

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content (Philippians 4:11).”

Maintaining an optimistic outlook

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).”

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).”

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).”

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds (James 1:2).”

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22).”

Feeling a sense of purpose

“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me (Psalm 57:2).”

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10).”

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands (Psalm 138:8).”

“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay (Habakkuk 2:3).”

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23).”

Living in the moment

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34).”

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them (Matthew 6:31, 32).”

“As it is said, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion’ (Hebrews 3:15).”

Still, ultimately, Jesus Himself sums it all accordingly: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me (John 14:1).”

The Mayo Clinic’s pilfered wisdom notwithstanding, that, my friends, is “the actual formula for happiness.”

Matt Barber is founder and editor-in chief of BarbWire.com. He is an author, columnist, cultural analyst and an attorney concentrating in constitutional law. Having retired as an undefeated heavyweight professional boxer, Matt has taken his fight from the ring to the culture war. Follow Matt on Twitter @jmattbarber

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http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/47-percent-of-americans-could-not-pay-for-and-unex/nmbtJ/?ecmp=ajc_social_facebook_2014_sfp#f3ced801.3948627.735761

47 percent of Americans could not pay for an unexpected $400 expense

The economic struggles of ordinary Americans are getting a good airing this presidential season and a statistical finding from the Federal Reserve provides ammunition for a candidate in either party who wants to make the case that too many people have been left behind.

Washington Post reporter Hunter Schwarz plugged some Fed data into a little segment called “By the numbers”, in the newspaper’s June 8, 2015, edition:

“47: The percentage of Americans who can’t pay for an unexpected $400 expense through savings or credit cards, without selling something or borrowing money, according to the Federal Reserve.”

The dollar figure caught our eye. It seemed surprisingly low. Other researchers have tried to gauge the financial vulnerability of American households to an economic setback, but typically, the amounts they test are much higher, in the thousands of dollars. We thought we’d take a closer look.

The Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking

A few years ago, the Federal Reserve Board began asking Americans how well they’re doing financially. In May, the Fed released the 2014 results. The questions ranged from retirement planning, to how people managed any student debt they might have, to whether they think their overall situation is headed up or down.

To measure participants’ sense of financial vulnerability, the survey asked them to imagine they had an emergency expense that cost $400, and it asked them how they would cover it. The better-off group said they would use cash-on-hand or a credit card that they would pay off in a month. Others said they would use a credit card but take time to pay it off, or they might borrow from a family member or a pay-day loan company, or they might sell something. And some said there was no way they could cover an unexpected $400 expense.

Across the more than 5,800 people who completed the online survey, 53 percent said they would be able to pay essentially immediately. That left 47 percent who said they could not.

“Specifically, respondents indicate that they simply could not cover the expense (14 percent); would sell something (10 percent); or would rely on one or more means of borrowing to pay for at least part of the expense, including paying with a credit card that they pay off over time (18 percent), borrowing from friends or family (13 percent), or using a payday loan (2 percent),” the report said.

Interestingly, making over $100,000 a year was no guarantee of security. About a quarter of the more affluent group said that at the very least, they would pay off the $400 over time.

George Washington University business professor Annamaria Lusardi and two colleagues (Daniel J. Schneider at Princeton University and Peter Tufano at Oxford University) conducted a similar survey in the depths of the recession in 2009. Their study asked people how they would handle a sudden $2,000 bill that they had to pay in 30 days.

About half the respondents said they would probably or certainly be unable to cope with such an emergency out of their own funds.

Lusardi said she considers the results comparable.

“The Federal Reserve had a lower amount, but it had to be paid right away,” she told PunditFact. “We gave people more time, so I think the percentages are consistent.”

In fact, even with five years separating the surveys, it is the similarity in the responses that caught her eye. Lusardi said it is a sign of the recession’s deep damage to the typical American’s balance sheet.

“Until recently, the labor market and wages have been stagnant,” Lusardi said. “In the recession, many families used up their reserves of liquidity. It takes a long time to reestablish a good financial situation.”

There are other indications that most Americans live with a limited financial cushion. When the government shutdown for two weeks in 2013, a University of Michigan research team tracked a hefty drop in household spending among government workers. Even though their paychecks were interrupted only a short time, households cut their outlays in half, and many delayed paying their mortgages and credit card bills. Some racked up high cost credit card debt that took them up to nine months to pay back.

Lusardi’s 2009 research included a number of other western nations. For the record, the United States ranked sixth out of eight in residents saying they would certainly or probably be able to manage a sudden $2,000 bill.

Our ruling

Schwarz said 47 percent of Americans can’t pay for an unexpected $400 expense through savings or credit cards, without selling something or borrowing money.

The only caveat here, and it’s a very minor one, is that figure represents the number of people who say they can’t make that payment, based on a Federal Reserve Board survey. The Federal Reserve Board results are in line with a similar study and related research.

We rate the claim True.

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aying These 8 Things To Your Kid Every Day Could Change Their Life

http://blog.thebreastcancersite.com/say-these-8-things-every-day/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=bcsfan&utm_term=20150601&utm_campaign=say-these-8-things-every-day

Saying These 8 Things To Your Kid Every Day Could Change Their Life

Image Via Flickr with modifications

Kids. They grow up so fast, and before we know it they are out in the real world, and we are left wondering if we’ve done enough to prepare them for what’s out there! Here are a few simple things you can add to your daily conversations with your kids that can change the way they think about themselves, and others.

Image via Flickr

1. Try It!

Encourage your little one to experience new things, and learn to enjoy getting outside of their comfort zone. You may have to hold their hand at first, but don’t be afraid to let go, and see how they do on their own. It’s a big, beautiful world out there, and your child should grasp every opportunity to delight in it!

Image via Flickr

2. It’s Your Choice

Giving your child choices to make even early on in life will instill confidence in themselves. Knowing that they have choices, the freedom to choose, and your support all along the way is priceless.

Image via Flickr

3. You Are Safe And Loved

This may seem an odd or clunky thing to say, but letting your kid know that they are safe when they are with you is pretty important. While ensuring their safety and happiness is always the goal as a parent, verbalizing it every once in a while shows how much they are valued, and reassures them of their security.

Image via Flickr

4. You Make Me Happy

While it is true that our kids bring us endless joy, they sometimes cause a few headaches. We tend to only vocalize the times that they need to be quiet, or sit down, or go to bed. Instead, make a point to let your child know how happy they make you, and how you couldn’t imagine a life without them.

Image via Flickr

5. I Trust And Believe In You

Your kids never grow out of needing your approval. So start early, and don’t stop! This doesn’t mean letting them do whatever they want, but rather boosting their confidence when they make good choices, and being open to discussing options with them. Your words can build them up or tear them down, and either way, eventually your kids will grow up find their place in the world. Don’t you want to be the one who gave them their wings?

Image via Flickr

6. Have A Great Day, Don’t Forget Who You Are

Your kid is struggling to find their identity every day, and it’s happening sooner than you think. In this fast paced world we live in, it seems the angsty teenage years start at 10! It’s never too early to help build your child’s identity, and help them figure out what values to hold on to. Reminding them of who they are and how special and important they are before they leave the house – well, that’s just icing on the cake!

Image via Flickr

7. Mistakes Happen

When I was a kid, I swear I spilled a glass of milk at least once a day. I cried every time. That’s right, I literally cried over spilt milk. I’m sure it got annoying, and I’m sure when my parents started poking fun at me it was all in good humor. But I became so very self-conscience about my clumsy hands and my bumbling feet that I didn’t want to hardly move for fear of knocking something over! Instead of getting upset over spilt milk, it is far more productive to teach your kids that mistakes happen, and it’s how we deal with them that matters. You may even have an opportunity to show them how to handle a mistake in your own life!

Image via Flickr with modifications

8. I Love You

Because you knew it had to be on this list somewhere, right?

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Death Is Nothing At All

Henry Scott Holland

Death is nothing at all. 
It does not count. 
I have only slipped away into the next room. 
Nothing has happened. 

Everything remains exactly as it was. 
I am I, and you are you, 
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. 
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. 

Call me by the old familiar name. 
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. 
Put no difference into your tone. 
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. 

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. 
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. 
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. 

Life means all that it ever meant. 
It is the same as it ever was. 
There is absolute and unbroken continuity. 
What is this death but a negligible accident? 

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? 
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, 
somewhere very near, 
just round the corner. 

All is well. 
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. 
One brief moment and all will be as it was before. 
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Source: http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/death-is-nothing-at-all-by-harry-scott-holland#ixzz3cE3PTQ6f 
Family Friend Poems 

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/09/15/opinion/sunday/its-not-mess-its-creativity.html?referrer=

It’s Not ‘Mess.’ It’s Creativity.

Gray Matter

By KATHLEEN D. VOHS

MESSY or tidy — which is better?

Historically, the evidence has favored the tidy camp. Cleanliness, as the proverb says, is next to godliness. The anthropologist Mary Douglas noted almost 50 years ago a connection between clean, open spaces and moral righteousness. More recently, psychologists have shown that the scent of citrus cleaning products is enough to raise people’s ethical standards and promote trust. Conversely, in another study, people were found to associate chaotic wilderness with death. 

But if messiness is so bad, why do so many people tolerate, and even embrace, it?

Not long ago, two of my colleagues and I speculated that messiness, like tidiness, might serve a purpose. Since tidiness has been associated with upholding societal standards, we predicted that just being around tidiness would elicit a desire for convention. We also predicted the opposite: that being around messiness would lead people away from convention, in favor of new directions.

We conducted some experiments to test these intuitions, and as we reported in last month’s issue of the journal Psychological Science, our hunches were borne out.

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