I Can’t Get No Satisfaction: Beth Bell On Why So Many Of Us Are Feeling Unsatisfied & What We Can Do About It
An Interview With Drew Gerber
Wake up on your spiritual journey and start living your soul’s plan, and you’ll realize everything you need is within.
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 Beth Bell.
Beth Bell spent 16 years promoting 12 brands in the pharmaceutical industry both nationally and internationally. She later became an international entrepreneur, developing product lines for both eCommerce and a retail store in Bali. She produces and is co-host of the podcast Psychedelic Sages. Her new book, Angels, Herpes & Psychedelics, shares her journey of spiritual awakening and provides a spiritual toolbox others can learn from.
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!
I’ve spent 20+ years deep diving into all things spiritual. I’m a former pharmaceutical industry executive turned entrepreneur with a brick-and-mortar store on Monkey Forest Road in Ubud, Bali. That’s only the beginning of the dichotomies of my life, as somewhere in there I became known as The Flower Whisperer. It was my immersion into Mother Nature’s magic through observational flower photography that helped me know what peace of mind actually feels like. It came unexpectedly as I found that, by pausing to observe, I was experiencing a form of visual and sensual stimulation that quieted my mind. After years of reading spiritual books in between the chaos of corporate life, it was my move to Bali that took me to another level of understanding of how the Universe works and how I fit in. Most importantly, I began embodying on a deeper level the lessons that were blossoming in my life as wisdom to live by.
What lessons would you share with yourself if you had the opportunity to meet your younger self?
Don’t take this earth plane life so seriously. Having fun, feeling happy, and living a good life doesn’t have to involve money, so don’t chase it. Everyone is a reflection of yourself, so learn from each one knowing that you asked them to play that role or part in your life — whether it feels good or bad.
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?
There are many people, and it doesn’t feel right to highlight only one. My parents are always the first because they continuously demonstrate unconditional love. Throughout my life, this has provided an incredible foundation that’s allowed me to love others deeply and learn from my relationships and life experiences. Until my early 20s, I thought my upbringing was the norm for the majority of people. When I began to learn from friends that they had less than ideal situations growing up, I had a new appreciation for the power of pure love. I believe this is what has provided the fire in my belly to want to share love with the world.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think it might help people?
I’ve just launched my book Angels, Herpes and Psychedelics: Unravelling the Mind to Unveil Illusions, which shares my awakening journey. Throughout life, one of my strongest support systems has been close connections with friends who’ve helped me navigate the ups and downs of life. Through this community, I’ve been able to work through my traumas and dramas so that I can experience more peace, love, and joy. This only happens when we feel we have a sacred, safe space to share. The awakening journey can be challenging, and we can often feel alone if others in our inner circle aren’t expanding in the same way we are. My goal with the book is to encourage others to dig deep and blow up the limiting beliefs holding them back. It’s also to encourage people to keep going on the journey, even when they might feel like a unicorn or an outcast. I also have an Awakening and Healing Handbook plus a Five Pearls of Wisdom Workbook promotion on my website that can guide readers as it provides additional insights on tips, tools, and modalities for expanding conciousness.
In a few months, I’ll be launching an online book club membership where more insights and lessons are revealed. Complimenting this will be a live discussion on my YouTube channel for members to support callers in transforming their relationships to love and life.
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?
There are some simple ideas that come to mind — although I recognize that these can sometimes feel complex! Everything we need is inside of us, and only love is real. That becomes complicated when we look to the external world to show us our value or worth. This can be a positive experience or a negative experience, depending upon which storyline someone chooses to create and/or follow.
Whenever we make comparisons of ourselves to others — body image, income, career type — we are making an assessment of a superficial reality that quantum physicists would call the holographic universe. We see fragments of ourselves in others and are creating situations to learn from so that we can know ourselves better — ultimately, to be here in this earth plane dimension and have a human experience.
Once you realize that everything is inside of you and that abundance is your divine birthright, there’s nothing to worry about. However, it requires that you get around the constraints of the mind and surface from the suffering it can hold us hostage to.
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?
Societies have a huge influence on shaping the narratives and thought constructs that people experience and believe to be true. It’s beyond groupthink and is one of the most influential ways that viruses of the mind take hold. Now that we have easy access to cultures and ideas around the globe, we can quickly take on ideas that impact a large number of people. Spreading fear is one of the most detrimental aspects of societies that is not helpful to one’s experience or mental health. When ideas take hold, they can quickly influence the vibration on the planet, positively or negatively.
Living in Asia for seven and a half years, I was able to experience many different cultures. India and Singapore stand out, although they are polar opposites in many ways. One follows a go-with-the-flow, and the other is constrained by a heavy influence of societal norms. Both have different and lasting impressions on people who live in these countries for any amount of time. However, living on the island of Bali has provided me with some of the most unexpected lessons about culture and society.
Interestingly, in many ways, I felt that living in the town of Ubud, Bali had many similarities to growing up in a small town in North Dakota. The main reason is the focus on community and respect for elders. In both locations, we wave to each other, smile, and laugh a lot — for no reason other than to be friendly and enjoy life. The joy of connection superseded worldly wealth, which increased oxytocin levels and decreased cortisol levels. It creates a sense of being cared about, where homelessness is non-existent, and keeps everyone in the higher ranks of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. And it has nothing to do with wealth accumulation. It’s a societal norm where you help each other out, not out of obligation but out of love for one another.
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?
Most industrialized and westernized societies reward people for brain power and their ability to think through the most likely options for financial success. We all know by now that money doesn’t guarantee happiness. It provides many opportunities and luxuries of living, but it does not cultivate inner wisdom, where bliss resides.
As mentioned previously, oxytocin is one of the hormones, along with serotonin, that brings brain chemistry into a happy balance. Oxytocin plays a role in provoking the release of serotonin. This, in turn, impacts the serotonin 1A receptor system. This takes place in several key brain regions, with the amygdala and insula high on the list. The best news is that oxytocin is readily available through hugs, touch, intimacy, and snuggling. And this doesn’t have to only be with people, as our pets play a huge role in helping us feel connected, loved, and safe. This brings us back to the impact the level of community has on societies. When we feel included, loneliness goes away, and we naturally feel a part of something larger than ourselves. In the end, it’s an easy fix if you just follow the famous phrase, “love your neighbor as yourself.” We can solve many problems when we see love as the new currency, and while in that paradigm asking ourselves, “How rich am I?”
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?
Marketing is the mind mess that creates and increases desire, causes FOMO, and creates a false sense of belonging. I come from 15+ years in pharmaceutical marketing and am well versed in how it works. I’m not suggesting it’s all bad, as it can be educational and raise awareness about products and services that can help people.
Where I see it go wrong is creating unnecessary desire or complacency when you should be doing your own research on what’s good for you. Instead, many people are influenced by the enticing displays of societal norms that drive us to think we need something simply by continuous suggestion. In health, for example, there are many natural herbs and remedies that have been used throughout ancestral lineages. However, people don’t often know about them because they are not advertised. Why? Because there is typically no way to patent Mother Nature’s magic, and a company can’t make as large of a financial return. Working with nature involves active participation, requiring an individual to listen to and understand their bodies. Unfortunately, in today’s fast-paced society, we wait too long until conditions have worsened, and popping a pill seems easier.
When we are not in touch with our bodies, we’re most likely not tuned into our inner wisdom. Whether we take numbing agents or simply ignore what our bodies are telling us, both result in disaster. Eating foods that clog our digestive systems and create bacterial overgrowth also reduces the efficiency of our gut instinct. The balance of good and bad bacteria, along with eating clean, healthy, and light-filled foods (think fruits and vegetables), makes all the difference to your second brain’s ability to send effective signals to have a positive impact on brain chemistry. Advertising should not be blamed for marketing to our self-inflicted naivety.
How is the wiring of the brain, body, and beliefs shaped by marketing, language, and how humans trade?
I am not an expert on specific bodily functions as they correlate to wiring in the brain, body, and beliefs based on the effects of marketing. However, words are powerful as they carry a vibrational frequency that impacts one’s mood. One of the issues societies suffer from is looking to the external world to provide dopamine hits to feel good about oneself or to feel like they fit into a group. “Retail therapy” is the most well-known of the environmental issues creating the loop of desire for money and things as opposed to internal wealth based on wisdom.
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?
As much as I’d like to put the onus on marketing professionals to be responsible, I think commerce should remain fair game — meaning that the responsibility needs to remain with the consumer. They need to make a conscious decision to turn off their TVs / commercials and spend that time on the inward journey and connecting with others. This will naturally make them feel better and in return, contribute to the health of the planet.
For you personally, if you have all your basic needs met, do you feel you have enough in life?
I’ve witnessed many Balinese who have no money but have access to food, water, and love, that have more than enough to live a happy and sustainable life. With that said, I love playing in the matrix and consuming beyond basic needs. I just don’t believe we need to chase these items, as it’s important to find inner happiness first, and abundance will come in all ways.
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.” Please share a story or example for each.
- Wake up on your spiritual journey and start living your soul’s plan, and you’ll realize everything you need is within.
- Don’t look to the external environment to provide pleasure.
- Stop thinking you don’t have enough and focus on all you have.
- Stop watching TV and start watching your inner screen.
- Be curious about who you really are instead of who you think you are.
Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that have inspired you to live with more joy in life?
A Course in Miracles is an amazing book that can help you break down mental constructs of the mind that cause suffering.
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. :-)
My mission is to assist in pollinating the planet with love, and I would love it if everyone joined me. We can contribute most effectively by loving ourselves first. Then we can shine the light and show the way for others. You can place your bee of inspiration on the global map at https://PollinatingLove.com
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
Visiting my website https://BethBell.me provides easy access to my blogs, book club memberships, products, books, jewelry, and a myriad of other things. I can also be found on Instagram at @QueenBlissBee
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.
