Understanding Dopamine to Cultivate Inner Peace
How do we navigate life’s highs and lows without feeling like we’re on an emotional rollercoaster? By managing our relationship with dopamine, we learn from Stanford University Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Anna Lembke. In her book, Dopamine Nation, Dr.Lembke reveals how understanding our quest for dopamine empowers us to make choices that enable us to live in a state of equilibrium. The most important decision is the most straightforward: Choose enduring dopamine over cheap dopamine. Still, willpower rarely prevails in the midst of temptation. Dr. Lembke reveals what’s happening inside of our brains when we participate in addictive behaviors and explains how we can regulate our pleasure-pain balance. She shares a range of tools, from dopamine fasts to self-binding techniques, to gain control over any addictions we may have and replace them with healthy behaviors. In a world of constant striving and stimulation, Dr.Lembke’s work is a breath of fresh air. She reminds us that inner peace is possible and offers a roadmap there.