Dopamine and the way to become a superhero

What does it take to be a superhero?

Who says you need a special suit to be a superhero? Dopamine, the drive hormone, is our secret power, the one that turns us all into little superheroes, capable of overcoming tough challenges and achieving the unimaginable.

The way we manage our inner dialogue has a decisive impact on our lives. Every thought, emotion, and perception shapes our behavior, our sense of satisfaction, and our quality of life. When we learn to manage this inner dialogue, we influence dopamine levels and open the door to significant changes in our lives.

How do you increase dopamine levels?

Imagine you're considering signing up for a new and challenging course. Fear and anxiety might overwhelm you. The way you approach this challenge is what matters. If you choose to focus on the difficulty and fear, to stay in your comfort zone, and to avoid signing up by using various excuses or thinking you can't handle the challenge, you're likely to damage your self-esteem.

But if you choose to sign up for the course anyway, despite the difficulty, and see it as an important opportunity to grow and develop, your body's response will be completely different. Your brain will release dopamine – the drive hormone – which will help you focus on your goal and persevere. This dopamine doesn't come because the course is easy or because you love to study, but because of the importance you attach to the act of signing up for the course and the hard work involved. This dopamine, in turn, turns into adrenaline, giving you the energy and drive to keep moving forward.

Increasing dopamine levels is like putting fuel in the engine of life.

I'm doing something important now

Imagine someone trying to start exercising regularly. The beginning is difficult, the muscles ache, and the desire to give up is great. But this person decides to do one more set, despite the difficulty. They stop for a moment and remind themselves how important it is for them to be healthy and strong. This extra set, despite the difficulty, moves me towards my goal of being fit. I'm doing something important now, every small effort leads to a bigger result. This moment of recognizing the importance, of focusing on the bigger goal, causes them to release dopamine. This dopamine gives them the energy and motivation to continue exercising, even when it's hard.

What's so special about dopamine?

The amazing thing about dopamine is that it's produced in our bodies. We don't need to look for it from an external source, our dopamine levels are influenced by an internal factor, namely our thoughts and attitudes. All we need to do is create situations that cause us to release dopamine. We can significantly influence the levels of dopamine our brain produces by giving importance in our inner dialogue to overcoming challenges.

How can you harness this power?

• Start small: You don't have to change your whole life at once. Start with small, gradual changes.
• Focus on the process, not the result: Enjoying the journey is as important as reaching the destination. The achievement itself, doing something despite the difficulty, is the great reward we receive. We did something important, and this is something we should pause and note to ourselves.
• Surround yourself with supportive people: Social support is a significant factor in success.
• Get professional help: A CBT or ACT therapist will guide you on how to do this effectively and give you the tools you need to do so.
• The power to change your life is within you. All you need to do is manage what you do with your thoughts and how you approach your achievements (even the small ones).

The connection between ACT and CBT therapy and dopamine

Dopamine is part of the brain's reward system. This system is responsible for reinforcing effective behaviors. Cognitive-behavioral therapies such as ACT and CBT teach us how to identify ineffective thoughts, change our attitude towards them, and develop more effective thoughts. By changing our thought patterns, we can influence our behavior and our dopamine levels. These therapies help us learn to see life's challenges as opportunities for growth, thus increasing our sense of satisfaction and pleasure, leading to increased dopamine release.

In addition, these therapies help us develop coping skills, increase tolerance for frustration, and connect with our values. All of this contributes to personal empowerment and improved quality of life.

Summary

Dopamine is the key to motivation and success. By changing the way we approach life's challenges, we can influence our dopamine levels and increase our drive to achieve our goals. Therapies like ACT and CBT provide practical tools for changing our thought and behavior patterns, allowing us to live fuller and more satisfying lives.

Important note: This information is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional advice.