Neurochemistry and Human Will

Human will is the definitive driving force of creation, without the fuel of passion, we wallow in stagnation. Our willpower defines our capacity to make sound decisions that support our integrity versus reacting automatically to stimuli.

It's a fact that many people act impulsively, without thinking, or reflecting internally, seeking sensory input from their physical body as guide to the decision making process. A solution is the eastern practice of mindfulness, however, our western culture supports seeking a higher power outside of ourselves, rather than developing a relationship to self. Alternatively, if either one of these options isn’t fitting, moral relativism is another direction considered by many today.

Author Dr. David Hawkins states in his book, Stairway to Enlightenment: "Moral relativism is the belief that defining right and wrong is an individual and personal choice, and that denying the presence of absolute law, this ideology teaches that every decision is a matter of personal feeling." We have the ability to select different courses of action from two or more alternatives in most life circumstances that lay the foundation of our destiny. One way to look at this is that if every decision is a matter of personal feeling, the practice of pedophilia is then a matter of choice, dismantling the Golden Rule.

Some time ago the theory of evolution sowed the seeds of moral relativism, supporting the argument that if there is no God, then there is no absolute law. This paves the way for liberal secularists to destroy any absolute law they desire. One question to put forth is: Are we governed by absolute law, or universal law as defined by energy and magnetism?

Fundamentally, freedom as referring to human capacity is not determined by external stimuli, but determined by growth gained through the acceptance of responsibility that our acts of choice provide. How does neurochemistry fit into this?

The most notable role dopamine plays in the brain is that of motivation, and reinforcement of behavior as it relates to the human will. In this sense, dopamine is also responsible for hoodwinking the human will into taking direction that is sensory, versus prudent. The way that this works is that dopamine, the "feel good" hormone, is part of our reward system. We need this system to do the things we need to do to survive, which is, eat, drink, and procreate, therefore, when we do something we find pleasurable, our body releases dopamine. This can cause confusion that promotes taking direction to produce more of the same action that produces release of dopamine, even when the action does not support true health, physical safety, or financial security. This is when we have to stop and ask ourselves if we are making rational decisions, or if we are acting from a chemically induced reward system. Even though this system is operational for everyone, some people get stuck, and when they do, they engage in addictive behaviors that can be very destructive to their life purpose, and mental health. A person can become so addiction prone, that they will violently pursue that which meets their obsession, to the point of self destruction.

Good and bad are perceptions, and are primarily the result of desire or illusion rather than objective reality. If desired, a circumstance may appear good, if not, it may appear bad, therefore reason counterbalances emotionalized distortion with intention to discern truth from fallacy. By use of the intellect, reason and logic should transcend primitive aspects of the ego.

When the apostle Paul said, "for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places," he was referring to people not angels that are deliberate in their pursuit to mislead, and misguide humanity. Without a deliberate distraction away from truth, there would be no reason to seek it. Spiritual maturity develops through integrating our demons (shadow aspects), once we recognize our own demons, we are more likely to act in compassion when recognizing them in others. The best advice ever given was seek the kingdom within, for the garden is lush with riches. In other words, seek Bindu, the point of all creation.

References:

Hawkins, David R. M.D., Ph.D. Transcending The Levels of Consciousness, HayHouse, 2006