Jennifer Pope, LMT Therapeutic & Sports Massage

Remember this.

Insight #26: We often think dopamine gives us pleasure.
But really, it gives us pursuit.

Dopamine is that restless energy pulling you towards what isn’t here yet – the next scroll, the next bite, the next achievement.

Mindfulness is the counterweight.
It anchors you in what is here, now.
It lets you notice an urge without needing to obey it.

How to use your dopamine system wisely:
- Pause before acting. Even a single mindful breath gives you space to choose.
- Bundle temptations. Pair what you wish you wanted to do, with what you actually want to do.
- Shape your rewards. Design your goals to create some of that dopamine pull.
- Make the process enjoyable. Movement, learning, work – infuse them with music, beauty, or social connection.
- Savor what’s here, and cultivate gratitude. Training your brain to find delight and meaning in the present balances the chase for stimulation.

Wanting and being.
Together, they help you build a life aligned with your values.

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Sources:
Berridge & Robinson, "What is the role of dopamine in reward: hedonic impact, reward learning, or incentive salience?", Brain research reviews, 1998