Dopamine
I love engaging with things I never would have sought out myself, so randomized playlists and curated selections of things are very much my jam. The Sample sends you a different newsletter each day so you can taste-test a bunch and subscribe to the ones you like.
(Sponsorships allow me to produce this missive and send it out to everyone for free—so a big thanks to the sponsors, and if you’re keen to sponsor an issue of AG please respond for details) :)
Dopamine
It's understandably de-motivating when your energy levels run dry and your attempts to learn something new, pursue a new career path, or stick with a valuable habit flounder or fade away.
Part of what we struggle against any time we aspire to something beyond our default is our biological wiring, and the many components of our internal ecosystems that want us to do things we don't necessarily want to do.
Dopamine and other pleasure-chemicals are fundamental to our bodily reward systems, but they can also nudge us toward outcomes we don't want to see and make our pursuit of difficult-but-beneficial things all the more difficult.
More on dopamine and its influence: https://www.outsideonline.com/health/wellness/health-dopamine-culture-evolutionary-mismatch/
—
You can support Aspiring Generalist for the cost of a cup of coffee each month ($3/month) via the link below (which also gives you access to periodic bonus emails) or via Buy Me A Coffee.
You can also choose to support all my work by becoming an Understandary member.