If we constantly chase after these short term pleasures, we also find that each subsequent time usually is less pleasurable than the one preceding. Some examples of short term pleasures that hit that dopamine switch include alcohol, entertainment, drugs, social media, and plenty of foods that are tasty but are not good for us. There is nothing wrong with some of these short term pleasures in moderation, though one problem with chasing these short term pleasures is that that the effect is also short term. We get a dopamine hit when we do something that is pleasurable now, and have a harder time imagining the payoff we’ll get in the future. We may also fail when we try to do these things, so we’ll stick with what we know because it’s safe.Another challenging aspect in our quest for self improvement is our desire for instant gratification.

Losing weight, taking up a new workout, learning a new skill all require effort and work. We’re still alive in our current situation, so our brain will naturally gravitate to what it knows. Our brains work really hard to keep us safe. This is why for most of us our bodies are more interested in sitting down for a show on Netflix than going for a run.When we try to change something about ourselves, our minds often struggle to adapt to the new changes that we are trying to make in our lives. But these habits that served humanity over thousands of years are still engrained into us. While we may not be able to afford prime rib every night for dinner, most of us are able to buy healthy food to feed ourselves. Luckily, for must of us, food insecurity is no longer an issue. Expending energy when you didn’t have to could mean the difference between life and death. Because food was often hard to come by, survival depended on smart management of energy. I subtly used my injury as an excuse to quit my daily practice.So why does this happen? Why is does it seem so hard to follow through on these commitments we make to ourselves? What is it in our makeup as humans that we get pulled back to the status quo even though we really do want to make lasting changes in our lives?For much of evolution, humans struggled to have enough to eat. I was also having trouble sleeping, and found my motivation to keep up with things beyond the basics was pretty low. I was doing great with meditating every day for at least 30 minutes, but about a month ago I severely sprained my ankle and was in a lot of pain for a while.

We may have been on track for weeks, only to find a short time later we have dropped our plans as if our resolutions never even existed.Part of the reason why I wanted to make this episode is because this happened to me recently, and I’m trying to get back on track. We may not have even really noticed when it happened. Our good intentions have given way to our default way of life, and we return to the way things were. We approach these things with gusto and excitement as we look forward to how much better our lives will be as we implement these changes in our lives.Fast forward a few weeks or months later and many if not all of those resolutions are just a distant memory. There are all kinds of goals and things you want to do to enrich your life. Maybe it learning a new skill or starting a new business. Maybe that’s cutting down on your drinking or losing weight. But to recognize that if it’s humanly possible, you can do it too. - Marcus AureliusHow often do you find yourself starting something only to notice a few weeks or months later that you let it fall by the wayside? Today I want to talk about why we have trouble keeping commitments to ourselves, and some ideas about how we can get better about keeping those commitments.If you’re like me, you are always interested in improving yourself. Not to assume it’s impossible because you find it hard.

Stoic coffee break