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Why we pursue more and more without it bringing us any closer to real happiness
Dopamine is part of the wanting system [in your brain]. It propels you to take action. The liking system makes you feel satisfied and therefore pause your seeking. But the dopamine wanting system is stronger than the liking system. You tend to seek more than you are satisfied.
~ Susan Weinschenk, Ph.D
When it comes to happiness, we’re all a little lost.
Most of us set goals and then tirelessly chase after them, hoping that once they’re attained, we will achieve some kind of lasting happiness. Or, at least, some measure of peace.
Of course, both our experience and intuition tell us this will never be the case. Not long after we get whatever we’ve been wanting, the pleasure fades, and we’re back to restlessly thinking about the next thing we want.
Why?
It turns out that the neurotransmitter dopamine provides an answer. Dopamine is involved in all kinds of activities to do with the human brain, but what’s relevant here is that it causes us to feel the pleasure of wanting more.
