Introduction: Are You Truly in Control of Your Mind?

We all know that feeling.

You open Instagram just to check one message… And 40 minutes later, you’re still somehow scrolling on a stranger’s vacation highlights from 2018. Maybe it’s YouTube, where one video becomes ten. Or perhaps it’s the online shopping cart you didn’t plan to fill.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not weak or lazy. You’re simply human—and your brain is being hacked.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. As someone deeply invested in psychology, personal growth, and financial discipline, I was shocked to realize that the tech I used to learn and evolve was slowly dulling my clarity and focus. Even as I worked on building myself mentally, spiritually, and financially, I noticed how easy it was to fall into patterns of mindless behavior. Behind it all? Dopamine.

So, let’s dive into how this chemical controls our lives—and how we can return the reins.

Dopamine 101: It’s Not About Pleasure, It’s About Anticipation

Dopamine is often referred to as the “pleasure chemical,” but that’s a bit misleading.

In truth, it’s the neurotransmitter of anticipation and motivation. It’s what fuels the urge to act—not the satisfaction from completing it. Evolution hardwired it into us to pursue food, connection, sex, and shelter—basic survival needs.

However, modern life has found cunning ways to hijack this ancient system.

We’re no longer hunting in the wild—we’re hunting likes, retweets, Amazon deals, and quick entertainment hits. Even motivational content can trick us into thinking we’re making progress while just chasing stimulation.

Modern Life’s Dopamine Loopholes

What’s unsettling is that big tech companies now hire psychologists and behavioral scientists to design platforms that trigger our brain’s reward systems.

For example:

• Social media notifications = random, intermittent rewards (like gambling).

• Infinite scroll and autoplay = no built-in stopping cues.

• Online shopping = dopamine hits from browsing and anticipation of delivery.

• Productivity tools (like habit trackers) = rewards without meaningful progress.

As we use these tools more frequently, our brains begin to form a loop:

Craving → Click → Dopamine → Repeat

While this cycle isn’t inherently evil, its unconscious nature makes it dangerous.

What It’s Doing to Our Minds

This is where things start to get deeper.

Constant stimulation from dopamine lowers our baseline satisfaction. Over time, we require more and more to feel the same pleasure. As a result:

• We feel bored without stimulation.

• We struggle to focus.

• Deep work becomes unbearable.

• Rest starts to feel like laziness.

• Joy comes only from external hits—not from within.

I recall one weekend I set aside to write, meditate, and reconnect with myself. Yet, I felt the urge to check my phone every few minutes. Even though I genuinely wanted peace, my brain had been trained to crave novelty.

This isn’t just about distraction—it’s a loss of presence, discipline, and depth.

The Dopamine-Driven Loop We Don’t See

Here’s the real trap: we believe the following notification, purchase, or reel will give us what we’re missing.

Unfortunately, it never does. That’s because it’s not satisfaction we’re getting—it’s just stimulation.

And stimulation is cheap. Satisfaction, on the other hand, takes effort.

This unhealthy loop shows up in every area of life:

In terms of money, we strive for short-term gains rather than long-term prosperity; in terms of psychology, we choose fast fixes and advice over profound healing. We tend to go toward comfort rather than truth in spirituality. Eventually, this behavior disconnects us from ourselves.

How to Break the Trap (Without Becoming a Monk)

Now, this isn’t about eliminating dopamine. It’s about forming a conscious relationship with it.

Here’s what helped me—and it might help you, too:

1. Dopamine Realignment (Not Just Detox)

You don’t have to cut out dopamine altogether. Instead, try to rebalance it.

Consider:

• Taking one screen-free day each week.

• Avoid your phone in the morning until you complete one meaningful task.

• Embracing boredom—it’s often the gateway to creativity.

2. Intentional Tech Use 

Using technology with awareness is revolutionary. You can:

 • Disable all alerts that aren’t necessary.

• You may turn your phone to grayscale or remove apps from the home screen.

• Frequently ask yourself, “Am I using this—or am I using it?”

3. Slow Dopamine = Deep Joy

Scrolling, sweets, and excitement are the sources of “fast dopamine.” On the other hand, “slow dopamine” results from joyful exertion.

Reading a book from beginning to end is one example.

• Keeping a thorough journal.

• Going for long, silent walks.

• Making something from the ground up.

• praying, meditating, or partaking in other spiritual activities.

As someone who consistently invests money and mental energy in long-term growth, I’ve found that the wealthiest joy comes from quiet, intentional moments. Ironically, they don’t look exciting—but they change everything.

Final Thoughts: From Hijacked to Empowered

Your brain isn’t broken—it’s doing exactly what it was designed to do. The problem is that the world around us has changed dramatically.

Understanding the dopamine trap isn’t about self-judgment. It’s about reclaiming choice.

We can choose:

• Meaning overstimulation.

• Presence over urgency.

• Creation over consumption.

This blog is a part of that conscious choice—for both of us.

I write to reclaim my attention, to slow down, and to share what I’ve learned while continuing to build myself—financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

If you’re on this path, know you’re not alone. You’re not “behind” either. You’re simply waking up to the game.

And the moment you realize you’re in a trap? That’s when the real journey begins.

Let’s Reflect

What’s one dopamine trigger you could reduce this week? And what’s one more profound joy you’d love to reconnect with?

Please feel free to write down your thoughts or leave them in the comments section.

Check my Previous blog https://jnanasya.com/the-real-truth-about-craving-love-while-building-yourself/

Also check this video by Andrew Huberman-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS3ddSQLLYs