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When we’re feeling bad, overwhelmed, tired… Sad, lonely, depressed, uncertain, afraid… Worn out, stressed out, needing a reward, a way to feel better…

It’s good to remember that GARDEN/notes/Dopamine isn’t that great and the things we think will make us feel good often just give us a squirt of dopamine. GARDEN/notes/Dopamine is about expecting to feel good, not actually feeling good: dopamine inputs give us a little instant gratification, a craving and a satisfaction that seems like feeling good. But GARDEN/notes/Wanting something is not the same as enjoying it. Sometimes the things that would make us actually feel good require a little bit of effort, an initial stage of not feeling so good.

So when we’re seeking, craving, looking for a way to feel better: It helps to consider what will hype up our craving and make us believe we’re about to feel better, and what might actually help us feel better.