Dopamine and Flow 4

“Dopamine is what is released any time an animal or human thinks it’s on the right path.”

Andrew Huberman, Department of Neurobiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine; Joe Rogan Experience #1513

It occurred to me while listening to this interview, that this concept of dopamine release when you believe you’re on the “right path” is probably pinpointed on a challenge/skill graph in the area of Flow.

Every few months I have an epiphany that most of my life is operated outside of Flow. I take on ridiculous challenges that offer very little promise of rewards. Every time I have this epiphany I think, “I really have to quit doing this to myself.” Nevertheless I continue taking on the hardest, toughest challenges, creating the most anxiety for myself, as I sit there, eating metal shavings and rocks for every mental meal, and wonder why I sometimes have trouble focusing. I need more dopamine in my life.

Perhaps this post will remind myself to more frequently attenuate the challenges I take on, so that I only take on the bits and pieces that offer frequent enough reward milestones along the way so that my perception of my own challenges keep me in the state of “flow,” instead of in the state of worry or anxiety.

I don’t consider myself an anxious or worrisome person, but I am human, and humans work best when they are in the flow state. Doubt is a distraction and I will endeavor to construct my future projects to remove as much doubt as possible so that I will shift further to the right and be in the flow state more often.

Time to get on the “right path.” Good luck, self.