Cautiously OPTIMISTIC

What is this strange feeling❓Can it be optimism⁉️ I can’t recall the last time that I felt this while reading an article by a corporate journalist‼️Don’t worry - I am not about to stop exercising 🙂

With Middle East Tour, Trump Reshapes US Foreign Policy

Ms. Emel Akan is a Senior White House reporter who covers the policies of the Trump administration. Her Epoch Times article, with the above title, begins with:

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump’s recent tour of the Middle East sent a clear message that economic interests and deal-making lie at the heart of his foreign policy vision.

Trump spent four days in the Gulf from May 13 to 16, visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, where he secured investment commitments worth trillions of dollars that will benefit U.S. businesses and jobs.

“Trust but verify”

President Reagan famously recommended this mindset whenever you hear or see government policy promises in action. He knew very well that most Americans were wise to ‘count their fingers’ after shaking hands with a politician or senior government officials.

Agents of the Deep State are not easy to identify. They don’t wear a pin on their lapel or a set of matching earrings to signify to whom they are most loyal.

A feel good moment.

Ms. Akan’s article gives me cause for a little optimism. It portrays Donald Trump as a messiah for global peace and well as a the world’s top broker for co-operative international trade.

After many years of seeing endless ‘bad news’ propaganda spew forth from the keyboards of corporate journalists, it’s hard to know how much of this essay is a puff piece ordered by the White House, and how much is factual and cause for real celebration. This is the cautious, cynical side of me sitting on my left shoulder and whispering 🗣️ warnings in my ear 😳

A craving for good new 🎃

In the past, when I watched the “evening news” on TV, it usually left me feeling somewhat depressed. Fortunately, after exercise, I often feel great. Neuro chemistry plays a part in these mental states.

I asked GROK: “If dopamine is known to induce positive feelings in people, is there a neurological chemical that can cause the opposite?”

Yes, certain neurochemicals are associated with negative emotions or stress, though their effects are complex and context-dependent. Cortisol, often called the “stress hormone,” is a primary driver of negative feelings like anxiety, fear, or distress. Released by the adrenal glands in response to stress, it activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate and alertness but also contributing to feelings of unease or discomfort when chronically elevated. In the brain, cortisol interacts with the amygdala, heightening emotional reactivity, and can dampen activity in the prefrontal cortex, impairing rational decision-making.

Another key player is norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which, like cortisol, is involved in the stress response. It heightens arousal and vigilance but can lead to feelings of anxiety or agitation when overactive. Low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, are also linked to negative mood states, such as depression or irritability, as serotonin helps regulate emotional balance.

Unlike dopamine, which directly promotes reward and pleasure, these chemicals don’t simply “cause” negative feelings in isolation. Their impact depends on their balance, the brain regions they affect, and external factors like environment or chronic stress. For example, while dopamine excess can feel euphoric, it can also contribute to agitation or addiction, showing that even “positive” chemicals have nuanced roles.

No single chemical is the “opposite” of dopamine, but cortisol and norepinephrine are the closest in terms of promoting states that feel antithetical to dopamine’s reward-driven positivity.

Ms. Akan’s article leaves me feeling good about Donald Trump, his efforts to MAGA and to make the America’s international relations better than when Biden was the world’s most powerful man.