🏆 Why Our Brains Get Bored of "Big Wins"
🧠Why Our Brains Get Bored of "Big Wins" (What to do about it)Â
A fresh perspective on happiness: I recently came across a thoughtful NPR piece featuring Gretchen Rubin that touches on a mystery many of us have faced. Have you ever worked hard for a huge goal—a promotion, a degree, a big move—but when you finally cross the finish line, the joy feels surprisingly fleeting? It turns out, there is a name for this, and the science behind it offers us a new way forward.
In digging into the research...
I found that the chemical mechanism that causes this is dopamine. Dopamine is often described as the "pleasure chemical" that makes us feel good when we get what we want.
But here is the caveat the article points to: Dopamine is primarily a molecule of anticipation, not satisfaction. It spikes when we are pursuing a goal to keep us motivated, not necessarily when we achieve it.
As I understand it, by the time we achieve the goal, our brains have already "spent" the dopamine so we don't get the big high we anticipate at the finish line. The solution? The article suggests that instead of chasing "big events," we should ask, "Will this make me happier in the doing of it?"
The Connection
I love this because it shifts our focus from "feeling good" (a fleeting chemical spike) to what Rubin calls "feeling right" (alignment with our values). She argues that to know what makes us feel "right," we have to know our own nature. The article is a great read on why self-knowledge is the ultimate shortcut to joy.
Action Step
Let's do a "Mini Happiness Audit". Look at one goal this week and ask:
The Hortiki 4P Connection: Learning Through Play đź§
In Hortiki's 4 Pillars of Play™ methodology, Pillar 2 (Learning Through Play) is about dominating the "inner game."Â
Now that we understand that our brains are wired for the "chase," we can stop feeling guilty about that post-achievement slump. Apply this insight to work with your brain.
Focus on enjoying all that you are learning and experiencing on your way to your goal, and reap the dopamine boosts of anticipation all along the journey, not just at the finish line!
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🧩Play in Real Life: What is one 'big win' you are chasing right now? Tell me in the comments below—how can you make the process of getting there something you enjoy?
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