Perpetual Goal Seekers

The Cost of Far-Sighted Dopamine

A high level of controlled, far-sighted [[Dopamine]] activity makes a person underactive in the Here-and-Now (HnN) network. This results in constantly seeking further goals without ever enjoying achievements.

The person becomes trapped in perpetual pursuit—always moving toward the next milestone, never savoring the present one.

Example: Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, was remarkably stoic about the achievement. Despite accomplishing one of humanity's greatest feats, his far-sighted dopamine system kept him focused on what came next rather than allowing him to fully experience and celebrate the moment.

This illustrates the paradox: extreme goal orientation can rob us of the joy of accomplishment.

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Related Topics: [[Dopamine]] [[Stoicism]] [[Tenacity]] [[emotions]] [[mind]] [[brain]] [[Dependence]] [[balance]] [[madness]] [[mindfulness]] [[hedonic treadmill]] [[achievement]]