dopamine: the devil on our shoulder

Hello, I’m @busterbensonHabit LabsHealth Month750 Words 43 Things

The devil on our shoulder

Dopamine

Goal-oriented

Goal-orientedSense of urgency

Goal-orientedSense of urgencyPreference for novelty and risk

Goal-orientedSense of urgencyPreference for novelty and riskCompetitive

Goal-orientedSense of urgencyPreference for novelty and riskCompetitive

Sense of personal destiny

Goal-orientedSense of urgencyPreference for novelty and riskCompetitive

Sense of personal destinyCosmic pre-occupation

Dopaminergic Society Theory

Low High

Bugs crawling on skin

Low High

Bugs crawling on skin

Calm, in the moment

Low High

Bugs crawling on skin

Calm, in the moment

Can’t get out of bed

Low High

Bugs crawling on skin

Calm, in the moment

Motivated, purposeful

Can’t get out of bed

Low High

Bugs crawling on skin

Calm, in the moment

Motivated, purposeful

Can’t get out of bed Bugs crawling on skin

Low High

Bugs crawling on skin

Calm, in the moment

Motivated, purposeful

Can’t get out of bed Bugs crawling on skin

What sets dopamine loose?

Sugar

Salt

Fat

Caffeine

Alcohol

Cute

Hot

Self-medication

Anticipation!

Sugar, fat, salt, coffee, wine, cute animals and sexy people!

Next offramp - 1 mile

It’s all about cues

The first few times something good happens

Something good happens

The first few times something good happens

Something good happens

Dopaminerush!

The first few times something good happens

Something good happens

Dopaminerush!

Tag allpossible

causes as futurecues

Run into a cue

Once a cue has been established

Run into a cue

Dopaminerush!

Once a cue has been established

Run into a cue

Dopaminerush!

Good thinghappens

again

Once a cue has been established

Run into a cue

Correcting false cues

Dopaminerush!

Run into a cue

Correcting false cues

Dopaminerush!

Run into a cue

Nothinghappens

Correcting false cues

Dopaminecrash

Dopaminerush!

Run into a cue

Nothinghappens

Correcting false cues

Run into several cues

Finding the earliest predictor of rewards

Dopaminerush!

Run into several cues

Finding the earliest predictor of rewards

Dopaminerush!

Run into several cues

Good thinghappens

Finding the earliest predictor of rewards

Cues

CuesThe smell of coffee

CuesThe smell of coffeeLucky shirt

CuesThe smell of coffeeLucky shirt

Traffic

CuesThe smell of coffeeLucky shirt

Traffic

Airplanes flying overhead

CuesThe smell of coffeeLucky shirt

Traffic

Airplanes flying overhead

New email indicator

CuesThe smell of coffeeLucky shirt

Traffic

Airplanes flying overhead

New email indicator

Phone ringing late at night

CuesThe smell of coffeeLucky shirt

Traffic

Airplanes flying overhead

New email indicator

Phone ringing late at night

Forecast for rain

CuesThe smell of coffeeLucky shirt

Traffic

Airplanes flying overhead

New email indicator

Phone ringing late at night

Forecast for rain

...?

A cue-filled world

Making, breaking, & keeping habits

Our existing habits are often guarded by an army of thought habits and cues.

Salad

Thought cues

Environment cues

Social cues

SaladThe gym

Thought cues

Environment cues

Social cues

SaladThe gymThe bar

Thought cues

Environment cues

Social cues

SaladThe gymThe barHamburger

Thought cues

Environment cues

Social cues

Four Strategiesfor habit change ina cue-filled world.

Strategy #1Somehow get rid of the cues.

Strategy #1Somehow get rid of the cues.

Strategy #2Fight the cues.Use grit.

Strategy #3Distract yourself from the cues.

Strategy #4Go zen on the cues.Use their power toyour own ends.

Free Gamefor Camp Mighty

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