Welcome to the Mind Matters podcast. I’m your host. Do you ever feel restless or always chasing more? According to Michael Long in his book Taming the Molecule of More, dopamine is the culprit. It’s not the “happiness” molecule but our curiosity engine, pushing us toward every new possibility—even when we already have what we need. As Long warns, “Dopamine often promises more than reality can deliver,” leaving us addicted to scrolling or chasing perfect relationships that don’t exist. Yet dopamine is also a gift. “Dopamine really is the source of creativity and analytical power that allows us to create the future,” he writes. The trick is balancing anticipation with presence—learning to “enjoy every sandwich,” as Warren Zevon said—while finding meaning in work that helps others. Because when “you’re making life better for others … the days feel brighter and life acquires purpose,” and that, Long argues, is how we tame the molecule of more.
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