I Can’t Get No Satisfaction: Dr Lynn Anderson On Why So Many Of Us Are Feeling Unsatisfied & What We Can Do About It
An Interview With Drew Gerber
Be true to yourself. Live your most authentic and purposeful life. You are a unique human being living out a unique and purposeful life. Find your purpose, live it and you will be satisfied.
From an objective standpoint, we are living in an unprecedented era of abundance. Yet so many of us are feeling unsatisfied. Why are we seemingly so insatiable? What is going on inside of us that is making us feel unsatisfied? What is the brain chemistry that makes us feel this way? Is our brain wired for endless insatiable consumption? What can we do about it? In this interview series, we are talking to credentialed experts such as psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, brain science experts, as well as spiritual and religious leaders, and mind-body-spirit coaches, to address why so many of us are feeling unsatisfied & what we can do about it.
As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Dr Lynn Anderson.
Doctor Lynn Wylnn has over thirty years of experience in teaching, writing and producing books and videos on how to stay healthy, happy, find wealth and discover Inner wisdom of your body, mind and soul. She graduated with a degree in Communication from the University of Maine, and went on to study Naturopathy, Aromatherapy, Herbology, Yoga therapy and Fitness affiliation with ACE. Through her inspiring life journey from her humble beginnings to a wealthy world traveler, published author, international speaker, TV and DVD producer, Doctor Lynn shares with you what it takes to live a healthy, wealthy, happy and peaceful life in your body, mind and soul. Visit the author online at: DoctorLynn.com
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to know how you got from “there to here.” Inspire us with your backstory!
My beginning was humble. I grew up on a small island off the coast of Maine. As such we were poor in material wealth, but rich in culture and heritage. I would say this has always given me a sense of gratitude for what I have and, a sense of, “waste not want not.” The natural world and simplicity have always been a part of my life, so that is most likely what led me to naturopathy and yoga therapy. I’ve spent the last thirty plus years of my life dedicated to the natural sciences, holistic health, and the science and philosophy of karma yoga. Dedication, appreciation and drive is what got me from “there to here.”
What lessons would you share with yourself if you had the opportunity to meet your younger self?
Don’t ever doubt your self-worth and be true to yourself. Enjoy the moments because life really flies!
None of us are able to experience success without support along the way. Is there a particular person for whom you are grateful because of the support they gave you to grow you from “there to here?” Can you share that story and why you are grateful for them?
I had a mentor who was a medical doctor. I was young and complaining about something and he said to me. “As long as you can get up, put your feet on the floor and stand upright you don’t have a problem. The day you can’t get out of bed you have a problem.” Made me think twice about complaining!
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think it might help people?
My books, The Soul Walking series, are being turned into online classes. The Soul Walking series combines karma and Padmidi yoga into a practical guide for living a healthy, radiant and satisfying life.
I think today more than ever we all need a practical approach to living our lives. If I can help others to find health, happiness and peace, I’ve done my job; I’m working my karma.
Ok, thank you for sharing your inspired life. Let’s now talk about feeling “unsatisfied”. In the Western world, humans typically have their shelter, food, and survival needs met. What has led to us feeling we aren’t enough and don’t have enough? What is the wiring? Or in other words, how has nature and nurture played into how humans (in an otherwise “safe and secure” environment) experience feeling less than, or a need to have more than what is needed for basic survival?
Well first we know that humans are hardwired to seek pleasure, and part of seeking pleasure is to be satisfied. Nature provided us with neurochemicals such as dopamine and serotonin to instill the drive for survival. That drive is the basis for our needs to be satisfied; such as the need to eat and to procreate. For humans to be able to survive we needed that innate drive that seeks pleasure and satisfaction. Today pleasure and satisfaction come from a different level. Our needs are met, but we are still hardwired with the desire to seek pleasure and satisfaction. And so, we consume more in hopes of experiencing the pleasurable experience we get when we are satisfied.
Striving for pleasure and being satisfied is not a “bad” thing. Without dissatisfaction innovation, medicine, inventions and the continual evolution of life would not happen. It is our dissatisfaction that provides us with the drive to both endure and to thrive.
Although our basic needs are met, marketing and social media keep telling us we need more so that we will be accepted and apart of the cultural norm. We don’t feel safe and secure and so we want more. Self-acceptance is the ultimate in satisfaction.
How are societies different? For example, capitalistic societies trade differently than communists. Developed nations trade differently than developing nations. In your opinion, how does society shape a human’s experience and feelings of satisfaction?
I have been fortunate to have traveled the world and to break bread with many people from many different cultures. What we all have in common is a drive to better our lives, which we believe will lead to satisfaction. The difference is that capitalist societies operate on continual striving for more. Goods have very little time before they are obsolete. This feeds the system, which of course, want to survive, so it can procreate! It only survives if we consume more.
Look at the fashion industry in the U.S; clothes are out of fashion before they even take hold! In other societies there is a respect for quality over quantity and an appreciation for things. Capitalism breeds dissatisfaction and entitlement, however it also creates great wealth, opportunity and quality of life. Wealthy societies have greater access to education, medical care, education and the arts. If properly used wealth can satisfy many human needs and wants.
With a specific focus on brain function, how has the brain and its dominion over the body and beliefs been impacted by the societal construct?
The brain functions on neurochemicals, or messages that tells us how to operate. So, the brain is basically our computer. The consciousness and mindfulness of the individual is something very different. This is where we harbor our beliefs. The constant stress and drive coming from the mind, to have more, impacts the functioning of the brain. It puts it in overdrive. An example would be sleep. Our constant drive and over stimulation are a major reason people are sleep deprived. When sleep deprived the whole body is impacted. Constantly seeking satisfaction leaves one with little time to rest and enjoy. We need rest to rejuvenate the body, the mind and soul. Today’s societal construct depletes us of energy. The over production of the neurochemicals that drive us to seek satisfaction eventually cause the body to break. We call this burnout.
Do you think the way our society markets and advertises goods and services, has affected people’s feelings of satisfaction? Can you explain what you mean?
Absolutely. Marketing and advertising play into our sex drive. The sex drive is our most primitive drive, pushing us to seek satisfaction. Humans have two basic drives; survival and procreation. Both of these involves the sexual drive, also known as the drive for satisfaction. Advertising plays into this because sex sells. The underlying message in advertising is the drive for satisfaction. If we buy these jeans, eat this food, wear this jewelry, drive this car, or own this house we will be satisfied; we will fulfill that primal sexual drive.
How is the wiring of the brain, body, and beliefs shaped by marketing, language, and how humans trade?
The brain again, is hardwired for seeking pleasure. There is nothing wrong with seeking pleasure. We take pleasure in art, music, love, sex, food and friends. However, the way goods and services are marketed makes us believe that something is missing and things in the material world will give us satisfaction. But it never does and so we keep seeking more. It’s part of human nature to want more.
When it comes to trade, we exchange one element for another in hopes of an even trade. However, the human drive to survive sometimes comes at the expense of others. Greed and power take over. When this happens, trade is said to be unfair. Marketing language reminds us to stay competitive, or we won’t survive.
I work in marketing so I’m very cognizant of this question. In your opinion, how do you think marketing professionals can be more responsible for how their advertising shapes humans’ health and experience of happiness overall?
Integrity over profit. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Do you want someone to lie to you about a product or service you purchased? Do you want to purchase something defective or destructive? Start here and then create a marketing program that speaks to people with respect. You’ll prosper.
For you personally, if you have all your basic needs met, do you feel you have enough in life?
I feel fortunate to have my basic needs met. I have also wanted, strived for, and consumed my share of material things. I’m very fortunate. I live a comfortable life. I’m very content and appreciative. But what I seem to not ever have enough of is time. Life is very interesting and I want to consume all of it. I have so much more to learn. I hope life gives me enough time.
Okay, fantastic. Here is the main question of our interview: Can you share with our readers your “5 things we can each do to address the feeling of not having enough.”
1. The first is to practice gratitude for one thing each day. You’d be surprised how full and complete you will feel by being grateful for even the smallest of things. Gratitude gives us a sense of satisfaction.
2. The second is generosity. When we give, especially to those worse off, we get in exchange an inner feeling of happiness and fulfillment. When fulfilled we are satisfied.
3. Be content with who you are; body, mind and soul. Contentment is an inner peace independent of any external force. It means to be independently happy and satisfied no matter what enters, or exits your life. When content you are at peace with yourself. When at peace with yourself and the world it’s easy to find satisfaction.
4. Be true to yourself. Live your most authentic and purposeful life. You are a unique human being living out a unique and purposeful life. Find your purpose, live it and you will be satisfied.
5. Don’t focus on the material world to find satisfaction. I think this ancient Chinese Proverb says it best, “although you may amass a million gold coins, when you depart this world, you cannot take with you even one copper penny.”
What you do take with you is the love you have given and the love you have received. When we are loved, we all feel satisfied. Love, laugh and enjoy, and you will find true satisfaction.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that have inspired you to live with more joy in life?
The Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. The second sutra says it all. If you can control the emotions, feelings, craving and desires of the body and the mind you will discover true satisfaction.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Daily Habit Movement — do these five things every day; be grateful for one thing; be generous to one person; be kind to one person; be joyful for one thing, and be at peace for one minute. Think about what would happen if everyday everyone practiced these five habits?!
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Instagram http://instagram.com/doctorlaa/ and http://www.doctorlynn.com
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.
About The Interviewer: For 30 years, Drew Gerber has been inspiring those who want to change the world. Drew is the CEO of Wasabi Publicity, Inc., a full-service PR agency lauded by PR Week and Good Morning America. Wasabi Publicity, Inc. is a global marketing company that supports industry leaders, change agents, unconventional thinkers, companies and organizations that strive to make a difference. Whether it’s branding, traditional PR or social media marketing, every campaign is instilled with passion, creativity and brilliance to powerfully tell their clients’ story and amplify their intentions in the world. Schedule a free consultation at WasabiPublicity.com/Choosing-Publicity.
I Can’t Get No Satisfaction: Dr Lynn Anderson On Why So Many Of Us Are Feeling Unsatisfied & What… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.