Have you ever really wanted something ( usually material ) then realized that you don’t feel fulfilled as it probably wasn’t worth lusting over, to begin with? I guess its an indication of your ignorance of what you actually want which highlights the regretful truth that you might not fully know who you really are. Most of us tend to waste a lot of our efforts on going after things that wouldn’t quite make us happy in the end. Have you ever asked yourself why you wanted that new phone or shoes or even a new relationship? I did not really see it as a big deal until I started thinking about becoming a business owner. This goal had forced me into thinking more seriously about who I am and the person I want to become. We might want to be our own boss, but how can we achieve such a remarkable accomplishment if we don’t first tackle Self-improvement and knowing the benefits of it? The Merriam-Webster dictionary interprets self-improvement as; “ The act or process of improving oneself by one’s own actions”. And google’s definition is similar as it states; “ the improvement of one's knowledge, status, or character by one's own efforts”. So, I have to apply my effort to improve my knowledge, status, and character to then become my own boss, instead of wasting effort in going after things that I don’t really want and won’t benefit me in the end. Reading these definitions had reminded me of a book I read by Robert H. Lustig, MD, MSL called “ The Hacking of the American Mind The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains” where he talks extensively about the difference between serotonin and dopamine. He describes serotonin as “ part of the contentment pathway. A neurotransmitter that, when it binds to its -1a receptor on neurons, transmits feelings of contentment; and, when it binds to its -2a receptor, evokes the “ mystical experience.” Then he goes on to define dopamine as; “ part of the reward pathway. A neurotransmitter that, when released, can acutely cause feelings of reward but, when released, chronically reduce the number of its receptors, leading to tolerance”. I understood that serotonin is responsible for keeping us content while dopamine keeps us wanting more, the reward-seeking transmitter, and the more we want and seek, the more we continue to would want and seek. This is why in my opinion we should learn to be more content. He also states that there is only 1% of the serotonin in our brain while dopamine dominates in numbers. This would explain why we seek rewards more than we do contentment. Therefore a lot of effort would have to be put into improving oneself. Hence the reason why I believe that it’s important for us to practice self-awareness to better get to know ourselves, in this way we can achieve self-improvement. While searching for a way to do this effectively, I came across a great article in ways to do just that on positivepsychology.com. I’ll leave the link below. Some things I do daily to achieve self-improvement are reading positive affirmations first thing in the morning. This helps me by filling me with positive thoughts and feelings throughout the day. It’s a little reminder that keeps me going. I also tend to read books such as the one mentioned earlier to learn more about myself from the scientific perspective. Knowing the chemistry of my body helps me decide what to put in my body to help it grow and be at its most optimal. One last thing I focus on daily is drinking plenty of water to keep me hydrated, this way I can stay focus on what’s important. The benefit of self-improvement is limitless as it gives you the tools to become the best version of yourself. I am so happy that I’m on this journey and I hope you find yourself on this path as well.
Robert H.Lustig, MD, MSL “The Hacking of the American Mind, the Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains” (2017) USA, Penguin Publishing Group, 09/18/2018, pp.295-297.pp101
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