B.E.E.P.S.
BEEPS is an acronym for:
Behaviors
Experiences
Events
People
Substances
These are all forms of pseudo-joy. They trigger a surge of pleasure in the brain but it comes at a cost. BEEPS tend to develop into a dependency as you become reliant on this artificial “joy.” Healthy attachments are then interrupted, which keeps you from true sources of authentic joy. i.e.
We look to BEEPS when we are in attachment pain and/or when we need joy or rest.
Sky-diving, eating chocolate or attending a concert are not bad things, but they can be used to numb pain. Co-dependency, drugs, etc. are damaging in both the long and short term because they keep us from what we really need!
“Synthetically calming our emotions and ignoring rest signals creates strain and dysregulates the brain. ”
Not all BEEPS are bad in and of themselves, though some are inherently harmful. They also may look different for each generation. Can you relate to any of the following examples?
The good news is that the more relational joy you have, the less likely you are to form an attachment to BEEPS.
“Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.”